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I suspect if you enjoy a floral tasting tea, especially jasmine, then you may love the subtle flavors in this tea. Maybe it was in my head, after reading the name, but I thought I tasted something like a bit of milk, in addition to the jasmine-like floral, and mineral flavors.

I prepared it using the “Chinese Gongfu Way” described on the product website, using a small porcelain teapot. The first steep after the 5 s. rinse was my favorite, while the second steep was a bit too strong for me. The second steep was fine once I watered it down a bit though.

I enjoy a cup or three of this a day. I brew it to be sweet and slightly grassy. 3 steeps (1min, instant, 1 min) in a covered porcelain mug with a large porcelain strainer, which allows the leaves and water to circulate freely.

The first steep always has a pleasant bite, and dark liquor. I enjoy a cup or two of this in the afternoon, when I could use a bit more pick up than my sencha offers. I’ve never felt it needs milk, although I would often add milk to breakfast blends that somewhat stronger.

Brewed in the “Chinese Gongfu Way” described on the tea’s website (rinse & discard water, 20s, etc.), as brewing the “Western Method” resulted in an intensity of leather flavor that I couldn’t take.

I always brewed with 2 bags, but this tea was never as strong as I wanted it to be. The only brews that came out strong enough had loose leaves from the top and bottom of the stack. The flavor was basically what I would expect from an Irish breakfast tea, just too weak.

1st pot: Somewhat bitter, dark orange liquor. Brewed in the “Chinese Gongfu Way” described on the tea’s website (rinse & discard water, 10s, 20s) in a porcelain teapot.

2nd pot: Brewed in the same way, but it came out tasting like chocolate, more than leather. Maybe the water was a few degrees cooler? This second pot completely changed my mind about this tea’s potential, if you are willing to experiment with brewing.

I found the cinnamon to be overpowering. Even the smell of the tea brewing from a couple feet away gave me a headache, and I love a chai with well-balanced spices.

Brewed 1 bag with 12oz water, then added a generous drop of fat free milk.

The malt and caramel flavors of this tea were more subtle than I was hoping for.

Brewed loose in a 17 oz porcelain teapot.

When I am watching my 7 mo. old daughter, making breakfast and putting a lunch together, at dawn, this is a go-to tea. I love loose leaf tea, but a bag of Barry’s and a splash of milk is hard to beat in that situation.

I brew one bag with 12oz water in a 17oz porcelain teapot. With a generous splash of milk, it comes out to one of the smoothest tasting strong black teas I’ve found.