Jasmine Jazz

I feel accomplished! I got a swap to Jennkay and the T&C box shipped, I got groceries, and I cleaned out Mom’s car. All while sick! I’m much better today, though, as evidenced by my burst of energy.

This time I heavily doctored this: low temperature, short steep, underleafed by half, and added a handful of chrysanthemum flowers. The theory is that it’d turn out at least somewhat like the tea from the Thai restaurant nearby that’s so delicious. Short answer: it worked. It’s not quite identical to the blend I love, but it’s pretty close and delicious. I’d rate this cup 85/100 but the tea itself remains as-is. I think next time I’ll tweak it with just a little extra leaf to the same amount of chrysanthemum.

very tasty for the 1st steep. outshone the pearls, actually. but no more taste by the 2nd…and i do love to resteep my teas. BUT if you want a really strong jasmine…this is a one steep goodie :)

Loose
Appearance: bicolor, dark, light green Mild curl to leaf
Aroma when Dry: salty jasmine
After water is first poured: deserty jasmine floral
At end of steep: soapy, floral
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: faint green
Staple? Type yes, won’t buy brand again
Preferred time of day: any
Taste:
At first?: soap, followed by jasmine notes
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? yes, floral soap presence in the palate

Short review on this one

They certainly smell the part, but the taste is like a poor clone of my treasured Phoenix Jasmine Pearls. A washed out, shallow flavor. It’s still easy to drink but I miss th depth I normally get with jasmine green teas.

I had this at Madhatter’s Teahouse while on vacation in San Antonio. I’ve always been intrigued by jasmine tea but wasn’t sure if liking the smell would translate into liking the taste. I really liked this tea and somehow, 3 oz ended up following me home to Chicago. Adding artificial sweetener made it taste weird though.

I assume a teahouse would know how to properly brew teas and they brought me a little timer but it may have gotten too hot as it was in cast iron and we were sitting in the (yay!) sun. That may have been why it started tasting weird.

This is my go to Jasmine tea. Nothing too special about it. It tastes like Jasmine but nothing extravagant. It’s my cheap-and-want-to-chug-jasmine-tea-now kind of tea. I double steep my tea BUT I mix it. I put it all in a 20 oz insulated water bottle so I can sip it hot/warm within an hour or two. I always double steep my tea but mix it all together and that is what I did here.

Tasting #1 – Steep Time 2 Minutes
Strong floral aroma, very light flavor.

Tasting #2 – Steep Time 4 Minutes
Strong floral aroma, and the taste of the jasmine is coming through quite strong.

Tasting #3 – Steep Time 6 Minutes
Strong floral aroma, the tea is finally starting to balance the flavor of the jasmine so it isn’t so overpowering.

Overall, I do prefer jasmine pearls rather than this because I get more tea flavor over the jasmine. But, if green tea is something that intimidates you because of the grassy flavor or bitterness, this would be a good way to get into green tea since the jasmine will mask those flavors.

Cold Brew (PREFERRED)
1TBSP + 1TSP Tea, 32oz Water
I am changing my recommendation from “no” to “YES” after tasting this cold brew. I’m not a fan of the floral or any other additional flavors in tea. I much prefer my tea to be grassy and earthy. But when cold brewed, I think this tea in particular has the perfect balance. I can still taste the green tea underneath the brightness of jasmine, which adds some complexity to this tea for me. Absolutely delicious and refreshing!

Backlogging. I love this tea every time I drink it.