Let me preface this that I am giving a numerical rating based on what I believe the quality of the tea is, not my personal preference. I don’t generally like jasmine or strong floral teas at all, but this one really is very, very good if you like jasmine tea.
Dry: Lovely silver-tipped buds rolled into tight pearls, creating an interesting variegated pattern. The scent is bright, sweet jasmine. It smells like I am holding the blossoms right up to my nose.
Steeped: Pale yellow clear liquor. The pearls unfurl in the infuser like flower buds opening, lovely to watch. This smells heavenly as it is steeping. Pure, sweet jasmine wafting delicately across the kitchen to tickle my nose! This scent could be bottled and worn as a perfume, not artificial at all.
Taste: This tea is sweet and very fragrant. I do not care for jasmine tea, but even I have to appreciate how potent and real the taste and aroma is. The tea leaves and the tea taste/smell are exactly what they are supposed to be. No bitterness whatsoever and it held up to three steeps. I followed the instructions on the Teavivre site and did 1 min, 2 min, and 3 min. I think it would have been noticeably weaker for a fourth steep, but since you don’t need many pearls for the brewing itself then you still get a good value. I really wished I loved jasmine tea. If I did, this would be the one I would order again and again.
i do the same: i will give something a high rating even if it’s not quite my cup of tea (couldn’t resist) because it’s impressive.