No. 99 Jasmine Pearls

Check out my review for the No.96 Jasmine Silver Tip—the same review applies to this select blend, however, this Jasmine Pearl is a bit more fragrant and there is an exceptional aftertaste that is slightly sweet [somewhat reminiscent of vanilla] yet very pleasing. Once again, I would most highly recommend this tea and this Premium brand.

So, it has been quite some time since I have reviewed a jasmine tea. There is a reason for that. I really don’t tend to like them. It’s not that I dislike the aroma or flavor of jasmine, it’s just that many of the jasmine teas I have tried have gone too heavy on the jasmine for me. I tend to dislike one-dimensional teas, so when all I get out of a tea is one specific thing, it tends to be a huge turnoff for me. Well, I have recently found a couple of jasmine teas I really love and figured I would go about providing the world with reviews for each of them. It should come as no surprise that both come from a vendor I tend to rate highly. This is the first of the two.

I prepared this tea using a Western infusion and I actually tried several different variations on my usual method. Keep in mind that on the rare occasions I choose to drink floral teas, I don’t normally perform additional infusions. That is not always the case, but I usually just limit myself to one. It is a personal choice based on my previous experiences with floral teas. Usually, the floral aromas and flavors are so overwhelming to me that I have no desire to press on with additional infusions, or when I do, there is not much else left to discover, so I tend to be let down when I attempt additional infusions. That was not the case here. For my first preparation, I steeped 1 teaspoon of pearls in 8 ounces of 190 F water for 3 minutes. I have also attempted a longer infusion of around 4 minutes and two step infusions going from 3 to 3.5 minutes and 3 to 4 minutes respectively. All have been very good. This review primarily concerns itself with the initial preparation, though I will briefly comment on the others.

The first thing I have to say about this tea is that the uninfused pearls smelled lovely. The smell of jasmine was clear, distinct, delicate, and natural. I also picked up very subtle aromas of ripe peach, grass, and straw. Following the infusion, the liquor showed a pale gold in the cup. Soft aromas of jasmine, grass, straw, and peach were very obvious on the nose. In the mouth, the jasmine was immediately evident, though it soon allowed traces of squash blossom, ripe peach, nectar, straw, and grass to show themselves. The finish presented a delicate integration of peach, grass, and jasmine notes with the slightest hint of minerality. If one were to choose to attempt a longer infusion, then one would be rewarded with stronger, more distinctive peach and jasmine aromas and flavors. If one were to attempt a second infusion, one would be greeted by more pronounced grass, straw, squash blossom, and mineral notes, though the jasmine would still be evident as a balancing factor.

This is a truly fantastic jasmine tea. I have had jasmine pearls from other vendors in the past, and I have usually been let down on some level, even if I know the vendor is at least semi-reputable and even if the particular tea I am trying has a good reputation. This tea, however, is delicate and poised. There is more to it than the jasmine. It has just enough depth to remain intriguing, but is just simple enough to remain approachable and drinkable. That is a tough balancing act to pull off, but this tea manages with ease. If you are a fan of jasmine pearls or any sort of jasmine green tea, then you owe it to yourself to try this one. I highly doubt you will be disappointed, and even if you are for whatever reason, I can’t say that I would care. There would just be more of this lovely tea for me.