Dec 17
Sophie’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "A nearly perfect blend of the sweet and the floral, guaranteed to please any jasmine tea lover."
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9.3/10
Jasmine tea is one of the staples in my tea cabinet so I was particularly happy to receive a sample for this tea. Winner of 2 gold stars at the 2009 Great Taste Awards, the website explains that it is “laid beneath a bed of fresh jasmine flowers for seven consecutive nights”. With this dreamy image in mind, I begin my tea tasting!Looking at the sample, the tea consists of beautiful silvery grey leaves of varying lengths, some being slightly broken. The furry lining of the inner leaves is visible. The sample gives off the expected strong floral smell, with a slight sourness underlying it.
I boiled filtered water and let it cool for 30 seconds or so before putting the leaves in. Experts seem to agree that even the best white teas become bitter when steeped in water that is too hot. I put one teaspoon of tea for 6 ounces of water and let steep for 3 minutes for a first infusion. The odour from the brew is more faint compared to the dried leaves but still enticingly floral. Bearing a slightly golden colour, the result is light and airy tasting but still compelling. The presence of jasmine is obvious without being overbearing or soapy-tasting. The sweetness of the white tea nicely complements the presence of the jasmine, giving it more oomph. Although the taste is very delicate, it lingers for a surprisingly long time on the tongue!
For my second infusion, I let the tea stand for 6 minutes, intrigued to see how the flavours would develop with a longer steep. The smell of jasmine from the cup is still just as strong. The tea comes more fully into it's own this time. What was initially simply sweet has become more modulated, acidulated notes rounding off the finish. There is a faint bitter edge to the tea that seems to let all the other flavours in the tea shine. Again the taste lingers on and on in the mouth. This is definitely delicious tea!
For my third infusion, I decided to let the tea steep for 9 minutes. Again the smell of jasmine develops strongly. These leaves definitely have lots of staying power. Even now the balance between the white tea and the jasmine is delicate yet thrilling. Although the flavour is still pleasantly floral and sweet, it seems like it was at it's most complex during the second steep. The bitterness of the tea is now more present, giving it a more malty taste overall.
This is an inspired combination, the sweetness of the silver needle perfectly supporting the jasmine. Warm, fragrant nights have been distilled into this blend to make a near perfect cup of jasmine tea. For more information on this product or to make a purchase, please visit http://www.wearetea.com/tea.php?range=4#Jasmine+Silver+Needle+(Award+Winning).
— To purchase WeAreTea.com Jasmine Silver Needle, 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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