Jasmine Phoenix Pearls

Single cup, 1st brew, 2 raw sugar

I was mourning the fact that I was out of my Jasmine #9, but then realized that I have a sample tin of this still hiding in my cupboard. So I busted it out and have been enjoying it today – it works very well in my JoeMo (unlike the Rosy Earl Grey which is a fail in travel mugs – it tastes like soap). It still has a sweeter taste than I like (a la Tootsie Roll Pops), but ahhh…it’s jasmine. ::contented sigh:: NE

And a quick update: I found out the other day that I got the Assistant Library Director job! So starting in November I’ll have a single full-time job! Woohoo! I’m going to have days off again! :D

Is it wrong to be seriously considering seasoning a Yixing pot for jasmine scented oolong?

I read pretty much every Yixing related thread on the discussion board and so I know that at least a couple of folks around here drink jasmine oolong out of Yixing clay implements. I like jasmine flavored tea quite a bit, so I don’t think it would be a waste in that sense as I’d surely use it. The main question I have is whether it would be a waste in the sense of not really providing much addition to the flavor since there’s not as much variation in jasmine flavored teas as there there seems to be in their unflavored equivalents.

Something to ponder.

In any case, today is apparently national pancake day or some such nonsense and they’re giving away free pancakes at IHOP. When the BF brought no. 1 home from baseball practice, I’d already shed my work clothes and got into my PJs, as had no. 2, but the BF decided everyone should go for pancakes. I declined citing the fact I’d have to get dressed, but no. 2 went in his PJs. It’s so great being 8. You can do stuff like that without getting arrested or thrown out of Walmart or whatever it was that was so scandalous about the woman in her bathrobe a while back.

With the house quiet and everyone gone, I can oolong-out. I came very close to trying the maestro version of the Adagio jasmine pearls, the Fujian Jasmine, which is sitting on my counter along with the rest of my Adagio samples, which are getting to be fewer and fewer. But I decided to do this one so as to bring another sample closer to sipdown range.

I really like steeping pearls in the gaiwan because they stay put, whereas other teas squirm out when I shift the lid and pour. I may have mentioned my gaiwan style leaves much to be desired. Tonight, these are fresh, floral, and calming and I’m too blissed out to be annoyed by the slightly bitter downturn in the aftersip.

Now can I please go on vacation?

So I had this last night since I had just had Teavana’s Jasmine Pearls the night before (my taste buds and memory were still fresh)! I know I really should just do a side by side comparison, but I think I am just too lazy…or perhaps I simply don’t have the patience to do so? Eh, either way it hasn’t happened yet so this is the best I can do LOL. Now, the first time when I had this it had been a while since I made a cup of Teavana’s Jasmine Pearls and I think I may just been yearning for a strong jasmine flavor to it. Well, after last night I must say that this jasmine is a bit too perfumey for me and just didn’t have the same spunk and balance as Teavana’s Jasmine Pearls… it just did not compare! So for this reason and for the noticeable perfumey taste I will have to knock my rating down; I think the first time I tried them I was just in a jasmine pearl withdrawal and any pearl would have just knocked my socks off!

i got this from Ricky :D Thanks Ricky!!! along with a couple of Pu-Erh’s which i think ive found that i like pu-erh lol but on to the jasmine #12 review

well didnt like it lol. it had that really floral scent and it is a very pretty colored tea. i tried it both unsweetened and sweetened and it almost reminds me of drinking body spray rather than perfume because it wasnt over powering. my fiancee snatched my cup right up and happily finished it :)

Made this for myself while visiting w/ my friend Helen. Decide to steep it a lil shorter this time to see what’d happen. Pleasantly surprised at the flavor punch! Yummy. I think I’ll keep steeping it at 3min from now on.

It’s been a while since I’ve treated myself to this. I had forgotten how much I like it. I think they key for this one is to steep it for only 4 minutes, as opposed to the 5 minutes that Adagio recommends.
This is a very calming tea, delighting all the senses. I bet it would taste good sweetened and iced.

I spent the most money I have ever spent on a tea buying a 5 oz tin of this Jasmine ($25) but it is worth every penny. The flavors are outstanding and the leaves re-steep so well. Typically I’ll get three awesome steeps out of this and the 4th and 5th are a bit weaker but they are very sweet tasting. Given the fact that I’m getting so much out of every serving of this tea the cost breakdown isn’t too bad. Plus, the visual experience of starting the leaves in ball form and watching as they expand is really fun. I’m always amazed at how large the leaves really are and I have a hard time imagining how difficult it must be to roll this tea into the pearls.

Something that has worked for me for re-steeping this particular tea is to add anywhere between 30 seconds to 1 minute to the steep time suggested by Adagio. So start with a 5 minute steep then go up to 6, 7, 8, and so on depending on how many steeps you do with this tea. I really feel like the more I re-steep this, the sweeter the tea gets so each cup is significantly different.

I simply love Oolong and as this tea taught me, I love the smell of Jasmine. I’m sitting down, writing this review with a big hot cup of this.

The liquor is dark tangerine. The scent is pure hot humid Jasmine and Oolong, which together are wonderfully sweet. The taste itself is sweet as well, kind of like a liquid birthday cake…Or really like liquid Honeysuckle. I’ve NEVER needed sugar or honey drinking this. There are the usual copper notes of a well-treated Oolong, but ultimately, this tea is all about the Jasmine.

So, what I really wanted was to finish off my sample of Yunnan Jasmine White from Verdant. But then my hoarding mode kicked in..SAVE IT!!! For when you really need it! So, I am trying the Jasmine Phoenix Pearls from Adagio again instead. Because its one of those nights when I just need some jasmine tea.
Last time I followed Adagios directions and I found it incredibly pungent, so this time I followed the standard green tea rules. One minute steep, 175 degrees. And it is MUCH better. I think jasmine should be fragrant and flavorful, but also delicate. This hit the spot tonight. Not as good as the yunnan white, but still a wonderful sleepy time tea. Upping the rating a bit. When treated gently, you can get multiple good infusions out of these pearls. JUST DON’T FOLLOW ADAGIOS DIRECTIONS. :)

Edit: Holy cow this tea is sensitive to temperature and steep time. Second steep I went for close to two minutes and it was a bit bitter. Keep the subsequent steeps short as well as the first one!