Part of the appeal of Jasmine Dragon Pearls is the dry leaf. The olive green, silver-streaked pearls are so neatly rounded that it’s hard not to be impressed by the deftness of their harvester’s skills. When brewed, the rolled leaves uncurl and open slowly, like fingers beckoning you to watch. Then, of course, there’s the jasmine fragrance. Teasenz’s is already present before brewing; the exotic scent floats out of the package each time I open it. Not too strong, nor too subtle, creating the perfect balance for both long-time jasmine lovers and newbies to jasmine tea.
Following Teasenz’s instructions, I use about 1 teaspoon of Jasmine Dragon Pearls and steep it in just-under-boiling water for 1 minute. It doesn’t sound like much time, but the results douse all skepticism. The pale gold cup gives off a jasmine bouquet that’s richer than the dry leaf yet sweet and calming. What I smell is also what I taste. Each sip blossoms with the right amount of jasmine flavor, an enticing smoothness, and a pleasantly grassy finish.
At 90 seconds, the second steep (about 90 seconds) of Jasmine Dragon Pearls is just as excellent as the first one. The signature floral perfume and flavor still tantalize my senses. Steep #3 (2 minutes) takes on a bolder yellow color, and the green tea’s vegetal undertones mingle more evenly with the slightly weaker jasmine essence that’s still delicious. Even as this tea evolves cup after cup, balance continues to the key.
By the fifth steep (about 3 minutes), the tea offers a more grassy taste with a light and pleasant bitterness. The jasmine fragrance is gone by now, which I had expected. What I didn’t expect, though, was that hints of jasmine’s distinctive sweetness would still peek through when I roll the liquid around on my tongue. I prefer the earlier brews of Jasmine Dragon Pearls, but for a final brew this is a nice surprise.
Read the full review here: http://bibliophilesreverie.com/2014/09/24/tea-time-at-reverie-teasenzs-jasmine-dragon-pearls/
Flavors: Floral, Grass, Jasmine, Smooth, Sweet
