May 07
Dan’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "A silver needle white that pairs perfectly with the jasmine for a sweet, delicate infusion that's as tasty as it is subtle."
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Rishi Tea is big on providing organic and fair trade teas and appears to friendly with socially and environmentally sensitive practices, all while aspiring to high quality products. As of yet, I have nothing but good experience with their products. Their jasmine silver needle is another fine offering from the company. To note: this tea is organic, but is not noted to be fair trade.The preparation of jasmine teas seems fairly simple, yet adds a more complex process to the art of tea making. Flowers are picked in the early morning, when the petals are closed tight. They are then stored until evening, when the leaves re-open, and then placed into machines with a "parent" tea with which the jasmine flavor is meant to be imparted. Here, the parent tea is a delicate silver needle, which I feel pairs perfectly with the jasmine as opposed to the usual green or oolong varieties that jasmine accompanies. A white tea seems a much better partner with the jasmine, as it allows the jasmine more room to breathe. Once married, the flavors infuse for several hours, and then the tea must be re-dried, as it has absorbed moisture from the jasmine.
It its dried state, I'm a bit puzzled with this blend, as silver needle teas are supposed to be of the utmost in quality - only the finest buds provided, each slender and bright white, with a fuzzy appearance. While some of Rishi's leaves included in the sample met this criteria, a good portion of the mix was of a much darker hue, and seemed to contain a fair amount of stems - pretty much a faux pas in the presentation of silver needle tea, from what I can surmise. A small amount of jasmine leaves were present as well.
I am not (yet) a silver needle snob, so I won't let the tea's appearance get in the way of my enjoyment of its flavor. I kept to about 10 to 20 degrees below boiling point with my brews, and at about 4 minutes a piece. This infusion time worked well for me, as my enjoyment of the tea was quite high. When I'm overwhelmed with black teas - my go-to choice for a cup of brewed beverage - I love switching to a white tea for a refreshing change of pace. This tea suits that purpose beautifully. The light floral notes injected by the jasmine seem to be just the right touch without overpowering the delicate silver needle flavors. Subtly sweet, as to be expected, and a gentle but forthright flavor. Perhaps I am not schooled enough in the ways of fine silver needle teas, but I've had my share over the years, and this is one of the tastier versions I've encountered. Well worth seeking out.
— To purchase Rishi Tea Silver Needle Jasmine, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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