SO I received a sample of this from T2 and wrote some tasting notes, unbeknown to myself that I’d actually tasted and reviewed it a few months earlier! I thought I’d post this anyway for the sake of objectivity. Lo and behold It turns out I actually seem to have enjoyed it far more this time round (ok so maybe this discrepancy just throws my palate/reviewing into question, but I’m going to put it down to a shorter steeping time!). Note this review is unedited after reading my first, so the differences (and similarities) are open to see, warts and all.
Aroma: A more vegetal Jasmine than often encountered. Still with a strong floral kick but well balanced with earthy green tea aromas rising up against the sweet jasmine. An altogether more balanced Jasmine green tea than most. Hint of hazelnuts and smoke add backbone to the aroma. Let’s be honest though, this is still a jasmine tea, and JASMIN is what you get!
Palate: Rich yet not overt in any one direction. Jasmine floral notes are ever-present yet well restrained (unlike most Jasmine teas out there). A real fruity palate plays well with the jasmine, with peach and fruit salad notes present but, again, restrained. Nice to get some earthy green tea notes showing as well, and there’s loads of sweetness going on here too (for better or worse). Good depth and a mellow buttery after taste with no bitter tannin. This tea has good length to the palate too, with sweet jasmine still present well after you’ve taken your last sip. At 2mins steeping I found the flavour fully developed but not overpowering, but I’d be hesitant to go any longer.
Overall: I have a love-hate relationship with Jasmine teas. It’s rare that I find one that you can actually appreciate the ‘tea’ behind the jasmine. That is not to say that I don’t like the taste of jasmine, quite the opposite, but I definitely prize balance over flavour. I have to say this is one of the better balanced green jasmine teas I’ve drunk in a while. And the organic status is a plus. I almost feel like I need to try it again just to make sure I like it as much as I think I do (watch this space). Until then, I’ll just go back to enjoying my cup.
[Note: Ha! Just goes to show how taste can change from day to day, and how a change in steeping time can change a tea. Looks like the shorter steeping produced a more delicate, balanced tea, and took away the ‘sting in the tail’ of my first review].
