Jasmine Dragon Pearls

I am currently sipping on this tea as a type and honestly this is really different tasting Jasmine Dragon Pearl. First off I noticed that the pearls are darker than most, but no biggie; I’ve seen darker pearls before and they’re still yummy! Second thing I noticed that it produced a nice amber/honey colored tea. Now fast forward to now and this tastes… well, I don’t know really. I can’t really taste the green tea, but I do pick up a faint bitterness. The jasmine tastes like a jasmine perfume versus jasmine flowers :-| Seems, a bit artificial and to be lacking something somewhere. I’m still a bit confused by this tea…

Steep Information:
Amount: 29 pearls, 4 g (~twice the recommended)
Water: 175°F 500ml filtered water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (green, custom)
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: feint jasmine
Steeped Tea Smell: barely jasmine
Flavor: a little floral and sweet, barely there
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent honey colored yellow-brown

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes!

I find the labels on the tea samples to be perfect, they include the company name, tea name, tea type, and steeping directions. I have been informed that the samples that you buy on the web site, or any teas purchased on the site, will come in food safe, plastic lined, kraft bags which keep light out and keep the tea fresh for about 4-5 months. Tea is best stored in tins which are not clear and air tight, since light activates the steeping process and moisture as well. The sample bags I received were about 2-3 cups each, where purchased samples are larger.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, a little sweeter not much more change

Perhaps I should have steeped longer?

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/07/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-green.html

Won this in AmazonV’s Art contest. These are the tightest jasmine tea pearls that I’ve ever used. We always like to watch the tea uncurl but with these it was definitely slow motion. It made a great ice tea. I wanted to drink this warm but just couldn’t with our very hot weather. I took about 3 sips and reached for the ice.

These are more like plastic mardi gras beads than pearls, lacking the depth and refinement of jasmine. Still, they’re natural enough to fit the rainy day headache cure I give to jasmine teas. It helps one apreciate old favorites in true form.