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Black Dragon Pearls from Adagio Teas
60

I still consider myself to be new to the tea game. Now that Steepster has me reading all of your wonderfulness, I find myself googling things [or binging things – I’m an equal-opportunity search engine user] on a consistent basis. If a year ago, someone had asked me if I liked Ceylon, I would have said, “Is that like a robot?” And if someone had asked me if I wanted to try some Black Dragon Pearls, I would have said, “What is that? Dragon testicles?”

BECAUSE I’M CLASSY.

But really. These balls are huge. [Snicker, snicker.] Maybe I just haven’t had a lot of “pearl” tea, but these seem exceedingly large to me. Is that how Black Dragon Pearls are done traditionally? I am enclosing a picture for reference. [There’s a rotate button on the top right. I can’t get it to turn on my phone.] My wallet is not for reference, I just think it’s funny.

http://twitpic.com/jw8dc

The taste of the tea wasn’t nearly as impressive as the size of its balls [okay, okay, I’m done]. If I say that it had taste but was rather flavorless, would that make sense? Maybe I didn’t let it sit long enough, but I found the whole experience to be relatively bland. The cocoa was a lot more apparent on the nose than the tongue, but I did get a couple of glimpses of it towards the very end after it had cooled considerably.

Additionally, any tea that I can watch unfurl is always enjoyable for me because I’m easily entertained. I’m on the edge of giving this a thumbs up, but it’s not quite there. Maybe it’ll grow on me. Or maybe I just need more balls.

That’s what she said.

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Comments

Carolyn
Carolyn 2009-10-01 21:10:31 -0400

If you are easily amused by tea unfurling, you absolutely must try display tea. I find that i can stare at a goblet with a display tea unfolding into a flower for a half hour.

takgoti
takgoti 2009-10-01 22:43:39 -0400

I have a few that are lying in wait! I’m saving them for a rainy [or possibly snowy] day. I can only imagine the minutes upon minutes of enjoyment that shall ensue.

Auggy
Auggy 2009-10-02 10:35:11 -0400

Love the picture. And not just because the wallet made me laugh. Those are really huge balls! And there’s just no way to way that that won’t make me snicker.

takgoti
takgoti 2009-10-02 11:03:45 -0400

Thank you! I saw the wallet in a shop in San Francisco and I knew immediately that it would have to be mine.

And the balls ARE huge, aren’t they? I thought that maybe it was just due to my inexperience in pearl tea, but I opened the tin and was all, “Holy crap!” Also, it comforts to me that I have company in the area of subject matter that makes me giggle. STILL.

TeaCast
TeaCast 2009-10-02 15:20:52 -0400

Haha nice wallet! I cannot believe how big those are though! Wow, the biggest I have had are about the size of a pea, rolled up tea leaves and jasmine flowers. Unfurling tea gets SO much more flavor than dried leaves, no question about it. Making me want some! haha

takgoti
takgoti 2009-10-02 17:18:36 -0400

Hee, I do love my wallet. It’s gotten me a lot of conversational mileage over the year or so I’ve had it.

So far as pearl tea goes, that’s about as big as the ones I’ve had have always been – pea-sized, and now that you mention it I do tend to get more flavor from them. Huh. Unfortunately, the flavor called in absent for this particular one. Gonna try to put more in next time.

Rena Sherwood
Rena Sherwood 2009-11-14 21:03:56 -0500

BECAUSE I’M CLASSY.

Need to put that on a tea mug or tea shirt.

Dax Pamela Dean
Dax Pamela Dean 2010-04-18 15:00:39 -0400

I have some green jasmine pearls which are almost that large [not boasting; just sayin’]. Have seen the black ones on eBay. Using large Yunnan gold tip leaves makes a larger ball inevitable. [easy now]
To get the tea to “stick,” they steam it until soft, roll it in some kind of fabric (traditionally silk or paper) and let dry. With mechanized ways of faster drying, modern balling might no longer utilize fabric [unless fixated].

ilovetea1
ilovetea1 2012-07-07 05:24:33 -0400

u are really funny. i liked your ;Additionally, any tea that I can watch unfurl is always enjoyable for me because I’m easily entertained.

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Profile

Bio

Former coffeeist, turned teaite. Lover of writing, reading, photography, and music. Traveler of life. Known to be ridiculous on occasion.

Location

Virginia, USA

Website

http://takgoti.tumblr.com

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