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June 04, 2004
Rose Pearl Green Tea
Name: Rose Pearl Green Tea
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Ten Ren
Origin of tea: China
Price: $144/lb (16oz)
Tea form: Rolled green tea pearls with loose rose petals throughout.
What they say: When steeped, these leaves unroll and produce a tea with a pronounced rose aroma with a fresh green tea undertone, a refreshing sweet rose taste, and a pleasing long lasting floral aftertaste. The hue of this tea is a light peach color.
Preparation method: Steep 3-5 minutes at water temperatures around 160-180F (70-80C).
Review: Ever since I can remember, my father, who first introduced me to the wonderful world of tea, has told me that "real" tea enthusiasts do not drink floral scented teas. I did not understand why, and would quite often ask him to explain what he meant. He would always give me the same response with a sigh - "those who truly understand the principle of drinking tea do not drink flavored tea". This mantra has been bound into my psyche over the years, and so it is with this in mind that I evaluate this tea. The truth is, I enjoy drinking flavored teas. Not the fruit flavored ones, which I find far too tart for my tastes, but the full-bodied floral teas. Admittedly, the floral teas must be well-made - there were several instances in which the tea was artificially flavored with chemicals - and must maintain the flavor of the base tea leaf, be it green tea, or black tea. In other words, the floral essence should just enhance the taste of the base tea, not mask it in a cloying manner. This enhancement is what Ten Ren has achieved. With each sip of Ten Ren's Rose Pearl Green Tea, I get the sense that I am drinking good green tea, just with the subtle aroma of roses. The overall aftertaste is smooth with no bitterness, and truly enjoyable. My dad is old-school in terms of tea drinking, and I think he's missing out. However, I seem to remember that he'll make chrysanthemum tea for me whenever I have a throat cold. So, go figure.
Posted by Kathy at June 4, 2004 10:08 PM