艺福堂 (Efuton) (purchased from www.green-tea-shop.com)

I wanted to share my experience with the Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls from Efuton, that I got from the online tea shop “http://www.green-tea-shop.com/”.

I bought 50g, and I received this tea in a green tin from Efuton brand, with the tea in a sealed bag inside the tin. On the surface is indicated that it is a Special Grade.
The tin was also very stylish, with a light-reflecting effect on a mosaic-like green pattern on the tin’s surface, but this is not really important regarding tea, obviously.

Despite being my first online tea purchase, it hasn’t been however the first kind of tea I have tried. Almost three years ago, a friend got me interested into this wonderful world of tea when he gave me a gift of another wonderful tea, a Ginseng Oolong. Since then, and due to my little budget, I have bought tea from local stores here.

Prior to this Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls tea I tried some other Jasmines from local stores here, and in most cases I experienced them flawed in some way.

What surprised me most about this Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls, comparing it with the other plain Jasmines I had tried, was the wonderful aroma and taste, refreshingly floral but at the same time subtle, and the texture of the tea soup with a buttery sensation in the mouth. The aftertaste is also long-lasting and soothing, as a recollection of the whole cup previously smelled, savoured and sipped with all the sensations it takes.

In spite of not owing a proper Gaiwan, I tend to prepare this tea in a closer way to Gongfu style using a little porcelain teapot, putting in it 10-15 dragon pearls, and I would usually obtain 4 or 5 infusions from the same leaves, being the last infusions needed of a more extended brewing time.

Overall, I always find this tea a very remarkable experience. Every time I feel it has been a good day, or that I need to feel warm for what is yet to come, this is my choice tea. For me, it remains the best tea I have tried up to present day.