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Barbara

Jasmine Silver Needle (King Grade) from tea-adventure

Barbara drank Jasmine Silver Needle (King Grade) by tea-adventure

I received a free sample of this with my order from Tea-adventure. This one was included as “extra” sample in addition to the two free samples of your choice you get with every order anyway. Thanks so much!

If I’d had a choice, I wouldn’t have chosen a Jasmine tea sample and I would have missed out on something worthwhile. I’m not really a big fan of Jasmine or other flowers as sole means of perfuming/flavouring tea. That doesn’t mean I can’t stomach jasmine, but in my experience flower scented teas are prone to boardering on ‘soapy’. In general I prefer fruits and spices with or even to flowers.

Anyway, as I received a sample, I felt compelled to try it. Afterall, one never knows… and as they say good deeds reap rewards. I actually really liked this jasmine tea. The white needle base has an inherent sweetness that balances the jasmine very nicely. I find this tea much more tasty than the classic green tea based jasmine.

All in all a pleasant surprise. I may just order this tea sometime in the future, maybe for the summer.

2013-02-21 14:26:07 -0500

180 °F / 82 °C

4 min 0 sec

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6 comments

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Comments

Ysaurella 2013-02-21 17:25:50 -0500

I only have the idea to drink a cup of Jasmin tea when I have lunch in a Chinese or Japanese restaurant…I am weird, it’s such a delicate flavour

Barbara 2013-02-21 17:45:45 -0500

I understand what you mean. For me the two always seemed intertwined as well. After all it’s the main tea served at chinese restaurants, at leat here in the Netherlands. But that jasmine tea is definately of a much lower quality.

cteresa 2013-02-21 18:06:32 -0500

The cheap chinese jasmine tea is really cheap (I have bought big tins for 2 euros something) but still amazing value for money all things considered because it still is pretty drinkable. But great jasmine tea, ah that is something else altogether – my favorite right now is from a small traditional shop that I do not know from where they order.

But there is a very good and expensive authentic chinese restaurant around (macau and all that) and they serve really wonderful tea with dim-sum. Jasmine as well – but not sure if dim-sum really is the time for great tea, you keep having strong tasting things (so far, have avoided the jelly fish, though the chicken legs surprisingly have potential, pity about the bones) and getting the pot refilled

cteresa 2013-02-21 18:07:15 -0500

chicken feet I mean! (and it´s not as bad as it sounds. The jelly fish will not comment on)

Barbara 2013-02-22 12:54:21 -0500

As a student I used to work for a chinese boss. His family had a restaurant around the corner from where I worked and somethimes his family would arrange for dinner to be bought in to him. He loved his chicken feet. I thought they didn’t really look very appetizing (esp. the claws) so I’ve never tried.

cteresa 2013-02-22 17:03:46 -0500

They are not a favorite of mine, but they are surprisingly better than you think it would be. I love dim-sum.

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Bio

What to say about myself and my tea drinking habits? I’ve been staring at the screen, reading other’s bio’s and still can’t come up with something worthwile. I’ll just stick to the basics.

I generally prefer white, green and oolong teas to black teas. As I read a scientific report that stated that black teas lower the level of stress hormones in the blood, I try to add a few cups of black tea every day.

Overall I prefer black teas to be flavoured. The white, green and oolongs may be flavoured or straight.

I brew my teas per cup, mostly in my – much loved – Kati mug with Cha Cult strainer. I’m rather a stickler for brewing time and temperature, so I use a tea timer and watercooker with temperature indication.

I also love a good cup of coffee and especially cappuchino. As far as I’m concerned, a good cappuchino requires a real milk/foam topping, not something made with skimmed milk, powder or the like. Unfortunately a lot of cafes still haven’t caught on to that one and serve low quality coffee and tea (type vending machine and bagged fannings). I hate it when, on a cold winter day, the choice is restricted to bad coffee, bagged fannings or a cold softdrink… :-(

As for rating teas, I more or less make the following distinction:

100:
Nothing is perfect. Probably won’t be using it ever.

98 – 99:
Nearly too good to be true.

90 – 97:
Exceptional.

80 – 89:
Excellent.

70 – 79:
Good. May rebuy depending on price and availability.

60 – 69:
Ok I’ll finish the cup and maybe even have a second, but probably won’t finish the entire package as I have other – (far) better teas in my cupboard.

< 60:
I feel cheated. I won’t ever be buying this again.

< 50:
This really is no good.

< 30:
I hate this. I want my money back.

1:
Beyond horrible!

PS: Recalibrated my ratings according to this index on 23 feb 2013.