Since finals are over, I get time to actually use my gaiwan set that has sadly been neglected.
The dry tea is shaped into little balls (ditto), very cute. It’s also very relaxing to see the tea unrolling itself during the steeping.
First steep: the brew is a pale, transparent yellow and very aromatic. The jasmine is pretty prevalent, you get it from the smell, the brew, and it leaves you with a pleasant jasmine aftertaste.
It sort of cleanses the palate after you eat stuff, too.
Not astringent, not sure about the caffeine, but I always sleep better after it.
Second steep: the brew gets slightly darker, the smell is also more intense.
Okay, I got about 10 steeps out of this, but then it’s gaiwan sized, so that might not account for much. Stopping at 10 steeps not because it can’t stand another steep or two, but because I’m starting to crave some sweet stuff..
Enjoyable.
