Moonlight on the Grove

I purchased a few sample tins when I was at Silk Road in Victoria recently… still haven’t tried them all!

I’ve been having a relaxing evening, I took a shower with some lovely jasmine scented soap and then decided I would try this tea. I’m not a huge fan of jasmine teas, when I drink them I normally go for a jasmine pearl.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the tin was the presence of some dried jasmine flowers. I steeped this for around 2-3 minutes.

For a jasmine tea it’s pretty nice, the flavoring seems very natural and not as soapy or bitter as some jasmines I’ve tried. I’m not sure about this fujian green tea, it doesn’t have a lot of flavor in and of itself but it makes a nice backdrop for the jasmine. I like the name of this tea, it’s very poetic and the effect is light and dreamy. I’d consider getting some more of this if Silk Road wasn’t so far away!

…hopefully this is the start to a lovely relaxing weekend

I got this tea as a swap from TeaBrat (thank you :)). She even included the cute little sample tin it came in. Dry, the tea is a mixture of dark and light green dry, flaky leaves of various sizes. There are also dried jasmine buds along with a few loose petals. It has a slightly musty, light vegetal scent with hints of sweet hay or straw; there is also a mild jasmine aroma. I brewed it for 2 minutes in 175 degree water.

The brewed tea has a generic “green tea” smell with some jasmine and a little bit of woodiness. The taste is similar – the green tea is vegetal, woody, and quite astringent with a lingering bitterness in the background. The level of the jasmine is quite nice; it’s easy to find but does not overpower the tea itself. Overall, I find this to be a pleasant tea, especially with a touch of honey to counteract the slight bitterness.

Light and cheery this is one of few green teas I enjoy. The jasmine is clearly present with peaky sweet flowery notes that make me feel happy with only the slightest green grassy taste in the background. Steep light and cool and drink when feeling down, tired or hot for a refreshing pick me up. Have successfully infused for a tasty cocktail. My only critique is that taste has varied between batches and stock is not assured.