we begin our story with a chance encounter in the kitchen cupboard;
'whats this?' is usually the way these things start out.

I found a tin on Peet's Tea 'Yin Hao Jasmine' loose leaf green tea,
originally sold by the 1/4 lbs. Upon opening the tin I was assailed
by the perfumey jasmine flowers that arose and more so when I steeped
it in my favorite glass; it was almost like some soft of aroma therapy
even before I took a sip.

Less was more in this case and I could scale back and the amount but
one day when company from out of town came over I found the tin
emptied and the supply.... gone. (at this point in the tale, with the
discovery of the empty tin in the recycle bin, I hung my head a bit).

I knew that it was a kind of trick, this Jasmine Tea, too strong a
perfume, too intoxicating, not esp balanced at all- but so much fun to
steep and enjoy. (When was the last time _you_ anthropomorphized some
tea leaves, huh?)

Some days later, while making a speed run through the local Safeway I
came across the Tea & Coffee isle. (You know this isn't going to end
well, already.) Knowing that time was short to catch the next train, I
snapped up a box of 'Twinnings of London Green, Pure & Natural Jasmin
Green Tea', in the bags.

Oh the disappointment, the contrast & compare, the buyers remorse.
Why, oh why... OK- enough w/ the melodrama, even I'm getting tired of
it at this point.

Bottom line, I can't even _tell_ that Twinnings even waved a branch of
the Jasmine bush anywhere _near_ this batch of Tea that is Green.
harrumph

Next paycycle I'm going Jasmine Tea hunting.


berk

On Sep 1, 2:15*pm, TBerk wrote:
we begin our story with a chance encounter in the kitchen cupboard;
'whats this?' is usually the way these things start out.

I found a tin on Peet's Tea 'Yin Hao Jasmine' loose leaf green tea,
originally sold by the 1/4 lbs. *Upon opening the tin I was assailed
by the perfumey jasmine flowers that arose and more so when I steeped
it in my favorite glass; it was almost like some soft of aroma therapy
even before I took a sip.

Less was more in this case and I could scale back and the amount but
one day when company from out of town came over I found the tin
emptied and the supply.... gone. *(at this point in the tale, with the
discovery of the empty tin in the recycle bin, I hung my head a bit).

I knew that it was a kind of trick, this Jasmine Tea, too strong a
perfume, too intoxicating, not esp balanced at all- but so much fun to
steep and enjoy. (When was the last time _you_ anthropomorphized some
tea leaves, huh?)

Some days later, while making a speed run through the local Safeway I
came across the Tea & Coffee isle. (You know this isn't going to end
well, already.) Knowing that time was short to catch the next train, I
snapped up a box of 'Twinnings of London Green, Pure & Natural Jasmin
Green Tea', in the bags.

Oh the disappointment, the contrast & compare, the buyers remorse.
Why, oh why... OK- enough w/ the melodrama, even I'm getting tired of
it at this point.

Bottom line, I can't even _tell_ that Twinnings even waved a branch of
the Jasmine bush anywhere _near_ this batch of Tea that is Green.
harrumph

Next paycycle I'm going Jasmine Tea hunting.

berk

I stand warned. Toci

Jasmine scent in tea is like the perfume in a bordello expensive or
cheap.

Jim

PS See my previous posts on YinHao WITHOUT the Jasmine.

On Sep 1, 1:15 pm, TBerk wrote:
we begin our story with a chance encounter in the kitchen cupboard;
'whats this?' is usually the way these things start out.

I found a tin on Peet's Tea 'Yin Hao Jasmine' loose leaf green tea,
originally sold by the 1/4 lbs. Upon opening the tin I was assailed
by the perfumey jasmine flowers that arose and more so when I steeped
it in my favorite glass; it was almost like some soft of aroma therapy
even before I took a sip.

Less was more in this case and I could scale back and the amount but
one day when company from out of town came over I found the tin
emptied and the supply.... gone. (at this point in the tale, with the
discovery of the empty tin in the recycle bin, I hung my head a bit).

I knew that it was a kind of trick, this Jasmine Tea, too strong a
perfume, too intoxicating, not esp balanced at all- but so much fun to
steep and enjoy. (When was the last time _you_ anthropomorphized some
tea leaves, huh?)

Some days later, while making a speed run through the local Safeway I
came across the Tea & Coffee isle. (You know this isn't going to end
well, already.) Knowing that time was short to catch the next train, I
snapped up a box of 'Twinnings of London Green, Pure & Natural Jasmin
Green Tea', in the bags.

Oh the disappointment, the contrast & compare, the buyers remorse.
Why, oh why... OK- enough w/ the melodrama, even I'm getting tired of
it at this point.

Bottom line, I can't even _tell_ that Twinnings even waved a branch of
the Jasmine bush anywhere _near_ this batch of Tea that is Green.
harrumph

Next paycycle I'm going Jasmine Tea hunting.

berk

On Sep 1, 5:23*pm, Space Cowboy wrote:
Jasmine scent in tea is like the perfume in a bordello expensive or
cheap.

Jim

PS *See my previous posts on YinHao WITHOUT the Jasmine.

On Sep 1, 1:15 pm, TBerk wrote:



we begin our story with a chance encounter in the kitchen cupboard;
'whats this?' is usually the way these things start out.

I found a tin on Peet's Tea 'Yin Hao Jasmine' loose leaf green tea,
originally sold by the 1/4 lbs. *Upon opening the tin I was assailed
by the perfumey jasmine flowers that arose and more so when I steeped
it in my favorite glass; it was almost like some soft of aroma therapy
even before I took a sip.

Less was more in this case and I could scale back and the amount but
one day when company from out of town came over I found the tin
emptied and the supply.... gone. *(at this point in the tale, with the
discovery of the empty tin in the recycle bin, I hung my head a bit).

I knew that it was a kind of trick, this Jasmine Tea, too strong a
perfume, too intoxicating, not esp balanced at all- but so much fun to
steep and enjoy. (When was the last time _you_ anthropomorphized some
tea leaves, huh?)

Some days later, while making a speed run through the local Safeway I
came across the Tea & Coffee isle. (You know this isn't going to end
well, already.) Knowing that time was short to catch the next train, I
snapped up a box of 'Twinnings of London Green, Pure & Natural Jasmin
Green Tea', in the bags.

Oh the disappointment, the contrast & compare, the buyers remorse.
Why, oh why... OK- enough w/ the melodrama, even I'm getting tired of
it at this point.

Bottom line, I can't even _tell_ that Twinnings even waved a branch of
the Jasmine bush anywhere _near_ this batch of Tea that is Green.
harrumph

Next paycycle I'm going Jasmine Tea hunting.

berk- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I've never been to a bordello. Toci

On Sep 1, 6:03*pm, toci wrote:


I've never been to a bordello. * * Toci

I have been _by_ a few, but not close enough to smell the perfume...

berk

On Sep 1, 3:15*pm, TBerk wrote:
we begin our story with a chance encounter in the kitchen cupboard;
'whats this?' is usually the way these things start out.

I found a tin on Peet's Tea 'Yin Hao Jasmine' loose leaf green tea,
originally sold by the 1/4 lbs. *Upon opening the tin I was assailed
by the perfumey jasmine flowers that arose and more so when I steeped
it in my favorite glass; it was almost like some soft of aroma therapy
even before I took a sip.

Less was more in this case and I could scale back and the amount but
one day when company from out of town came over I found the tin
emptied and the supply.... gone. *(at this point in the tale, with the
discovery of the empty tin in the recycle bin, I hung my head a bit).

I knew that it was a kind of trick, this Jasmine Tea, too strong a
perfume, too intoxicating, not esp balanced at all- but so much fun to
steep and enjoy. (When was the last time _you_ anthropomorphized some
tea leaves, huh?)

Some days later, while making a speed run through the local Safeway I
came across the Tea & Coffee isle. (You know this isn't going to end
well, already.) Knowing that time was short to catch the next train, I
snapped up a box of 'Twinnings of London Green, Pure & Natural Jasmin
Green Tea', in the bags.

Oh the disappointment, the contrast & compare, the buyers remorse.
Why, oh why... OK- enough w/ the melodrama, even I'm getting tired of
it at this point.

Bottom line, I can't even _tell_ that Twinnings even waved a branch of
the Jasmine bush anywhere _near_ this batch of Tea that is Green.
harrumph

Next paycycle I'm going Jasmine Tea hunting.

berk

Jasmine tea is the one flavored tea I adore. Quality is everything
from the tea to the jasmine so it is actually *more* difficult to find
a really good one than most teas because you have so many variables.
Try some really good jasmine pearls (the best I ever had were called
"Dragon Tears" but I can't remember where they came from so I've been
searching them back out.) It should always unfurl into two leaves and
a bud. My dark, dirty not-so-much-of-a secret is that I do still
greatly enjoy the occasional cup of Sunflower brand Jasmine green. But
it is all about knowing how to baby it and brew it in a way to make it
palatable... it took me years.

- Dominic

You can buy Dragon Tears or Eyes without Jasmine flavoring. I say
that because some of it to me is more than a scent. Dragon Eyes is
some of the best bud around. It doesnt need anything else. I bought
my stock years ago along with Phoenix Eyes from a shoppe on Ebay who
wasnt there very long.

Jim

On Sep 1, 8:04 pm, "Dominic T." wrote:
On Sep 1, 3:15 pm, TBerk wrote:
....jasmine belongs in the cupboard...
Jasmine tea is the one flavored tea I adore. Quality is everything
from the tea to the jasmine so it is actually *more* difficult to find
a really good one than most teas because you have so many variables.
Try some really good jasmine pearls (the best I ever had were called
"Dragon Tears" but I can't remember where they came from so I've been
searching them back out.) It should always unfurl into two leaves and
a bud. My dark, dirty not-so-much-of-a secret is that I do still
greatly enjoy the occasional cup of Sunflower brand Jasmine green. But
it is all about knowing how to baby it and brew it in a way to make it
palatable... it took me years.

- Dominic

On Sep 2, 8:50*am, Space Cowboy wrote:
You can buy Dragon Tears or Eyes without Jasmine flavoring. *I say
that because some of it to me is more than a scent. *Dragon Eyes is
some of the best bud around. *It doesnt need anything else. *I bought
my stock years ago along with Phoenix Eyes from a shoppe on Ebay who
wasnt there very long.

Jim

On Sep 1, 8:04 pm, "Dominic T." wrote: On Sep 1, 3:15 pm, TBerk wrote:

...jasmine belongs in the cupboard...

Jasmine tea is the one flavored tea I adore. Quality is everything
from the tea to the jasmine so it is actually *more* difficult to find
a really good one than most teas because you have so many variables.
Try some really good jasmine pearls (the best I ever had were called
"Dragon Tears" but I can't remember where they came from so I've been
searching them back out.) It should always unfurl into two leaves and
a bud. My dark, dirty not-so-much-of-a secret is that I do still
greatly enjoy the occasional cup of Sunflower brand Jasmine green. But
it is all about knowing how to baby it and brew it in a way to make it
palatable... it took me years.

- Dominic

Do you remember what the Ebay shop was called? That may have been
where I bought mine (jasmine scented) and could be why I can't track
it down again. This may be the "Aha!" moment I needed to finally
explain why I can't find the source again.

- Dominic

White Tiger Tea Co Wichita Ks
whitetigertea.com (no longer valid)
The packaging had a picture of a white tiger where you could see the
tea in the mouth.
I meant to say Dragon Pearl and not Dragon Eyes.

Jim

PS So I just got back from my local tea shoppe where I bought a
Magnolia scented Chinese green from the closeout bin. It is obviously
a knockoff of the naturally tasting Magnolia typical of Taiwan teas
like Nantou. I have stuff like this lying around for people who cant
stand the taste of tea or apparently the exception who does.

On Sep 2, 10:54 am, "Dominic T." wrote:
On Sep 2, 8:50 am, Space Cowboy wrote:
....Dragon Eyes...
I bought my stock years ago along with Phoenix Eyes from a shoppe on Ebay who
wasnt there very long.

Do you remember what the Ebay shop was called? That may have been
where I bought mine (jasmine scented) and could be why I can't track
it down again. This may be the "Aha!" moment I needed to finally
explain why I can't find the source again.

- Dominic

On Sep 2, 2:28*pm, Space Cowboy wrote:
White Tiger Tea Co Wichita Ks
whitetigertea.com (no longer valid)
The packaging had a picture of a white tiger where you could see the
tea in the mouth.
I meant to say Dragon Pearl and not Dragon Eyes.

Jim

PS *So I just got back from my local tea shoppe where I bought a
Magnolia scented Chinese green from the closeout bin. *It is obviously
a knockoff of the naturally tasting Magnolia typical of Taiwan teas
like Nantou. *I have stuff like this lying around for people who cant
stand the taste of tea or apparently the exception who does.

On Sep 2, 10:54 am, "Dominic T." wrote:

On Sep 2, 8:50 am, Space Cowboy wrote:
...Dragon Eyes...
I bought my stock years ago along with Phoenix Eyes from a shoppe on Ebay who
wasnt there very long.

Do you remember what the Ebay shop was called? That may have been
where I bought mine (jasmine scented) and could be why I can't track
it down again. This may be the "Aha!" moment I needed to finally
explain why I can't find the source again.

- Dominic

Damn, no that wasn't it. But it may have been a now-defunct Ebay
vendor... hopefully Ebay has a long account history, I'll try to go
back as far as I can on my purchases and see if it shows up. There's
hope yet.

- Dominic

Dominic T. wrote:

Damn, no that wasn't it. But it may have been a now-defunct Ebay
vendor... hopefully Ebay has a long account history, I'll try to go
back as far as I can on my purchases and see if it shows up. There's
hope yet.

Over the years, I've found that Scott at Yunnan Sourcing on eBay sells
consistently good jasmine pearls at a very fair price.

As for commercially packaged yin hao jasmine teas, Rishi Tea's yin hao (not
pearls) is surprisingly good. Republic of Tea's yin hao jasmine, if fresh
(i.e., ordered directly from ROT and not purchased from a retailer's
two-year-old shelf stock), is usually decent, if overpriced.

Otherwise, I wouldn't bother trying unknown or mass-market tea merchants
(online or off), because 90% of all jasmine teas are undrinkable junk.
Unless you're lucky enough to have a reliable local vendor whose offerings
you can taste, or to have stumbled upon an online vendor whose product is
worth re-ordering, buying any kind of jasmine tea is inevitably a
crap-shoot, the results of which are rarely in your favor, and the cost of
which is never correlative to quality.

On Sep 3, 9:58*am, Ana Vasil wrote:
Dominic T. wrote:
Damn, no that wasn't it. But it may have been a now-defunct Ebay
vendor... hopefully Ebay has a long account history, I'll try to go
back as far as I can on my purchases and see if it shows up. There's
hope yet.

Over the years, I've found that Scott at Yunnan Sourcing on eBay sells
consistently good jasmine pearls at a very fair price.

As for commercially packaged yin hao jasmine teas, Rishi Tea's yin hao (not
pearls) is surprisingly good. *Republic of Tea's yin hao jasmine, if fresh
(i.e., ordered directly from ROT and not purchased from a retailer's
two-year-old shelf stock), is usually decent, if overpriced.

Otherwise, I wouldn't bother trying unknown or mass-market tea merchants
(online or off), because 90% of all jasmine teas are undrinkable junk.
Unless you're lucky enough to have a reliable local vendor whose offerings
you can taste, or to have stumbled upon an online vendor whose product is
worth re-ordering, buying any kind of jasmine tea is inevitably a
crap-shoot, the results of which are rarely in your favor, and the cost of
which is never correlative to quality.

Hey Ana, I actually scoured through my past purchases and the Dragon
pearls I last bought were actually from Yunnan Sourcing. There had
been some other eBay vendor (I think it had Dragon in the name which
was confusing me) which I thought it came from, but it was YS. So
mystery solved. I totally forgot Ebay as an option when I had been
trying to find the vendor before this thread. Now I can happily order
more! So, yes, I also give two thumbs up to YS as a source for Jasmine
Pearls.

- Dominic

TBerk wrote:

Next paycycle I'm going Jasmine Tea hunting.

Just get some of the yellow box jasmine... it is pretty much the standard
baseline reference for jasmine tea. It's nothing amazing, but it's normal.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Dominic T. wrote:

Hey Ana, I actually scoured through my past purchases and the Dragon
pearls I last bought were actually from Yunnan Sourcing. There had
been some other eBay vendor (I think it had Dragon in the name which
was confusing me) which I thought it came from, but it was YS. So
mystery solved. I totally forgot Ebay as an option when I had been
trying to find the vendor before this thread. Now I can happily order
more! So, yes, I also give two thumbs up to YS as a source for Jasmine
Pearls.

I'm glad you found your tea vendor, Dominic. I'm not surprised that it
was Yunnan Sourcing. I buy mainly pu-erh teas from YS, but like you, enjoy
a good cup of jasmine tea from time to time. YS's jasmine pearls are
better (and less expensive, even with shipping) than any other vendors'
pearls I've tried over the years, including those sold by Imperial Tea
Court and other high-end purveyors. So I stick with those and don't even
bother to waste money elsewhere any more.

Needless to say (I hope), I have no connection with any tea merchant, other
than that of customer — whether satisfied or very much otherwise. :-)

On Sep 4, 9:56*am, Ana Vasil wrote:
Dominic T. wrote:
Hey Ana, I actually scoured through my past purchases and the Dragon
pearls I last bought were actually from Yunnan Sourcing. There had
been some other eBay vendor (I think it had Dragon in the name which
was confusing me) which I thought it came from, but it was YS. So
mystery solved. I totally forgot Ebay as an option when I had been
trying to find the vendor before this thread. Now I can happily order
more! So, yes, I also give two thumbs up to YS as a source for Jasmine
Pearls.

I'm glad you found your tea vendor, Dominic. * I'm not surprised that it
was Yunnan Sourcing. *I buy mainly pu-erh teas from YS, but like you, enjoy
a good cup of jasmine tea from time to time. *YS's jasmine pearls are
better (and less expensive, even with shipping) than any other vendors'
pearls I've tried over the years, including those sold by Imperial Tea
Court and other high-end purveyors. *So I stick with those and don't even
bother to waste money elsewhere any more.

Needless to say (I hope), I have no connection with any tea merchant, other
than that of customer — whether satisfied or very much otherwise. *:-)

Yeah, I just always think of my Puer purchases from them too, I've
tried a couple oolongs from them at times that were really good. Yeah,
I've done the expensive pearls too only to be let down and go right
back to the YS stash., which can finally be replenished.

- Dominic