Jasmine Dragon Pearl Tea – Loose Leaf Caddy from Art of Tea Collection (Limited Edition)

Fans of jasmine green tea’s fragrant, cleansing character will adore our Art of Tea Jasmine Dragon Pearl. Offering the perfect balance between sweetly grassy green tea and evocatively floral jasmine flowers, these beautiful hand-rolled tea ‘pearls’ steep into a magical brew that’s both soothing and reviving. Watch the pearls unfurl in hot water (we recommend a glass pot for the full visual effect), breathe in the glorious perfumed aromas and revel in the ancient craft and artistry captured in each leaf.

The tradition of scenting tea goes back hundreds of years, but it’s jasmine that’s the most famous and enduring. Much loved in both its native China and around the world, the art of making jasmine tea has been perfected over centuries. With this fine example, we shine a light on the craft of the Jasmine Tea Master. Only premium spring-flush green tea from China’s Fujian province is used for our Art of Tea Jasmine Dragon Pearl. Fujian’s subtropical conditions and high elevations make its teas some of the most sought-after in the world. We select hand harvested two-leaves-and-a-bud pluckings as they have the most delicate, naturally sweet character. The silvery buds can clearly be seen wrapped around the outside of the rolled tea pearls.

The spring-harvested teas are set aside until late summer when the jasmine plants are in full bloom. To prevent the tea oxidising, the fresh leaves are dried to ‘fix’ the delicate green tea character. In the summer the tea is transported to Guangxi province, where China’s best jasmine is found. Here, the Tea Master hands over to the Jasmine Master. Fresh jasmine buds picked in the day are scattered through the tea in the evening, then piled on large bamboo mats. As the heat inside the piles rises, the night-blooming jasmine buds open and release their exotic fragrance. In the morning, the flower buds are sifted out and the tea is dried, before the process is repeated again with fresh flower buds over the following nights, until the Master decides the tea is sufficiently infused.

Further skill is required in rolling the teas. Each jasmine-infused leaf-and-bud set is carefully hand-rolled into a beautiful little pearl to seal in the floral scent. Finally, the tea pearls are given a last firing to lock in their character until they reach your tea pot. The tea is known as ‘dragon pearl’ in honour of the fiery orbs depicted in traditional Chinese art – often held or chased by dragons – which are said to represent everything from spiritual energy to immortality. Others believe the name comes from the fact that as the pearls unfurl in hot water, their long thin leaves resemble dragons as their twisted shapes unravel. This is why we recommend a glass pot when brewing this tea!

For all the artistry involved in crafting the appearance of this tea, the real beauty of our Jasmine Dragon Pearl tea lies in its wonderful fragrance and flavour. While inferior jasmine teas are overly perfumed, this tea delights with its harmony, showing off the quality of the Fujian spring green tea as much as the carefully crafted jasmine scenting. Steep the pearls in hot (but not boiling) water to release their champagne colour and evocative aroma. Then enjoy the sensory spectacle as the pearls brew, feeling yourself unwind as the leaves twist and unfurl in the water.

You’ll find 75 grams (g) of Jasmine Dragon Pearl inside this pretty metal tea caddy, foil-sealed so it reaches you as fresh and fragrant as the day it was made. We recommend brewing the pearls in hot water at around 80 to 85°C to ensure the flavour of the tea is captured, but no bitterness is drawn out. This wonderful tea offers a soothing, cleansing brew any time of the day, but it is especially good as a palate-cleanser with, or after, a good meal. Due to the boutique nature of this blend, we only have limited amounts. Once it’s gone it’s gone – so treat yourself or a loved one to these precious caddies and cherish the very loveliest cups of jasmine green tea.

The Art of Tea range brings home some of the best teas from around the world, delivering both excellence and elegance to true tea lovers. With this range we celebrate the art of the Tea Master: the unsung artisans who handcraft quality tea leaves into truly memorable brews. Luxurious on both sides of the tin, the Art of Tea range satisfies those with a taste for tea of character and quality. The exquisite aromas and flavours of these brews come solely from the best natural ingredients, crafted for excellence. We don’t add any flavourings or preservatives, letting the natural finesse of the ingredients and their origin shine through. You’ll see all whole leaves and tips in each blend, picked at their peak to deliver truly memorable brews.