I am excited to see if my temperature tweak improves this tea. I am making it 10 degrees cooler than last time, but keeping the steep time the same as last time. I was having trouble with bitterness.
sip, sip, sip…
Yes – it is definitely less bitter. It also has a little less flavor than I remember – but I’ll take it rather than have bitterness.
The second steep is more of the same. I am disappointed because these were not cheap.
I don’t know – I think these plain ole jasmine pearls stuck a few feathers and scales on themselves and are masquerading as jasmine dragon phoenix pearls!!! I have definitely had better. I will drink my little tin up, but I will not repurchase. Rating downward! I still think Adagio’s Jasmine #12 were the best I’ve ever had!!!!
EDIT: I have one more tweak to try before I get tooooo mopey – making them in my lil oolong pot sans paper filters (maybe they couldn’t unfurl properly with the paper and that is why I’m not getting great flavor?). In any case I’m getting some bitterness as it cools, so I’m not getting my hopes sky high… ah, ya can’t win em all.
EDITAGAIN: Ooooooooh the end of this second steep is so bitter I just can’t even finish it. How very sad. I think this tea is going to have to hit the highway!
EDITONCEAGAIN: I gave it to my coworker for his partner who loves tea – bleh bleh bleh! Life is too short.
Awww this is such a sad story!!! I do agree though, Adagio’s so far are my favorite! But I am not stopping my quest to try as many Jasmine Pearls as possible to find the absolute very best out there! Ok, I may have temporary insanity associated with that epiphany, but I can’t help it…they’re my FAVE ;-)
I will be eagerly awaiting your Samovar Jasmine Pearl review! They are on my list to try too!!
My key with jasmine pearls is to brew them longer at lower temperature… this way you get little to no bitterness (I don’t usually get any bitterness) but a very nice flavor.
LiberTEAS – lower than 175? My first steep was with 175, and my second steep was with the first steep water in my kettle that was sitting there for a few minutes so maybe 165/170? and the flavor just got worse and worse. I actually have a stomach ache. I am eating yogourt now to try and get that taste outta my mouth! blech!
I liked SpecialTeas jasmine pearls.
wombatgirl – these are SerendipiTeas – I bet SpecialTeas are a lot better!!!