These were my first dragon pearls and I was very excited to try them out. I used 6 pearls for 16 oz of water and steeped them for 5 minutes which I felt was long but that is what the site instructed. Luckily, the end result is neither bitter nor astringent. Instead, it is a smooth and slightly malty cup with notes of chocolate and Earth. I have another 6 pearls and when I brew those up, I might try a shorter steep time to see how that impacts the flavor as I am hoping to tone down the earth quality a bit and highlight the chocolate. Milk/sweetener might also do the trick but this cup I have chosen to drink straight and I am enjoying it nonetheless. Thank you Dexter for sharing these with me. It has been a fun experience for my first time with dragon pearls :).
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My cupboard has grown exponentially since joining this site and I have a lot to share. Feel free to snoop through my cupboard and message me if anything interests you – I am always happy to swap!
For me, flavored teas are definitely my sweet spot. I will most often reach for black teas and rooibos or honeybush blends but I do keep some flavored whites and greens around for when the mood strikes. I have a few herbals/tisanes but most of the time I find myself disappointed by them as they often smell deliciously sweet and then end up tasting tart/sour. I have a little bit of an aversion to pu’erh and oolong teas. I am also wary of florals, earl greys, and chai teas. I do not like overpowering citrus flavors nor do I usually like hibiscus, licorice or chamomile. I love dessert teas – caramel, vanilla, toffee, cookie, cream, and other sweet flavors make me smile. Fruits like strawberry, peach, mango, and pineapples will often catch my attention as well.
I have also realized that although I really enjoy adding frothed milk to some of my teas, if I do not like the tea with zero additives (just in plain water without milk or sugar), I probably won’t drink it. The one exception is flavored matchas which I will happily drink in cold milk if I do not like it mixed with hot water. My theory is if the tea can’t stand on its own then it is not for me and I will more than likely try to swap it out for something else.
Tea Ratings Guide (as of December 10, 2017)
90-100 Teas I NEED on hand at all times
80-89 Teas I want to keep around for a cup every now and then
70-79 Teas I am glad I have around and can experiment with but probably don’t need more than what’s in my cupboard
60-69 Teas I would not turn down a cup of from a friend but that would probably be enough
50-59 Teas I can see why someone would enjoy but are not for me
Under 50 Teas I really did not like and most likely got dumped
Location
Waterdown, Ontario
Sweet will for sure up the chocolate – I also find that a lower water temp 90-95C (not sure what was recommended) really brings out the flavour…
I think I used around 95C. Next time I will try closer to 90 with a shorter steep time and see how that goes