Culinary Specialties CooksShopHere- Scented & Flavored Tea: Jasmine Snowflakes

Black

Oolong

Jasmine Snowflakes
Bi Tan Piao Xue

Sichuan Province, China
Oven-fired
Open spiral leaf style with significant tip
Rich, invigorating flavor
Bright, intensely-floral aroma
Clear amber liquor tinges pale green

1/4 lb	1/2 lb	lb
17.50 Buy	35.00 Buy	70.00 Buy

This is a splendid Jasmine tea from Mengding Mountain in Sichuan. There are many differences between Jasmine Snowflakes and the Jasmine teas of eastern China. For one thing, the leaf is darker in color, very thin and slightly twisted, and contributes a stronger taste in the cup. The Jasmine blossoms used deliver the sweetest, most ethereal aroma we have yet to encounter, and the addition of small whole Jasmine petals and blossoms ( a purely decorative touch – the Jasmine aroma is contributed by a series of batches of fresh flower blossoms that are repeatedly ‘wed’ to the leaf during manufacture ) provides a lovely contrast to the color of the tea. One of the few teas drunk with food in China, this tea helps cool the burn from Sichuan chiles and Sichuan peppercorns ( not complaining ! ) which are used by the handful, not pinches, in most dishes in the Sichuan countryside. Food aside, this tea is a joy to drink while just passing the time of day on a perfect spring or summer day.

We discovered Jasmine Snowflakes after a riotous HotPot adventure riverside in ChongChing. We drank this tea as we looked out over all the cruise ships queued and riding high on the Yangtze, waiting to take on their passengers for yet another trip to the Gorges. This heavily-scented Jasmine tea really did cool our palate, as beer tried to and water could never do. There is something special about the combination of the flavor of chiles and Sichuan peppercorns (lots and lots of …) and Jasmine tea, lingering on the palate for hours, or perhaps it was the magic of ChongChing at night? Well, whether one is there or wherever, Jasmine Snowflake tea is exquisite, and Jasmine tea lovers can enjoy some today.

Steep 1-2 infusions at 2 minutes each.
Water temperature should be 175˚ - 185˚ F
The Jasmine scenting will dissipate after the first infusion, but the tea will brew perfectly well again.