Black Dragon Pearl Black Tea
Black Pearls Dragon Tea (Teavana)
Another great Teavana tea reviewed today and one many people are more familiar with in its green form as tightly rolled leaves like this are popular as “Jasmine Pearls“.
Black Dragon Pearl Black Tea comes from the southernmost area of China, Yunnan province, home to the range of mountains the province is named after. The area produces a number of well-known teas, in particular Pu-erh and Yunnan red or black tea also known as Dian Hong tea. The history of tea growing in this area is a rich and ancient one. The distinction between black teas produced in the Yunnan Province and those grown elsewhere is that Dian Hong teas have a high number of golden leaf bud tips that are fermented with lychees, rose and longan. The pekoe grade for this tea is high indicating a production process of exacting quality.
The teas produced are of a very high quality and are sought after amongst seasoned drinkers. The use of aromatic roses and longan in its production add complementary flavors to balance its malty taste. This black tea variety can become slightly bitter when steeped too long, a common trait of black teas. Despite this, Black Dragon Pearl Black Tea can be infused up to three times and still retain its malty and delicate flavors. When brewed it has a deep rich auburn color whose aroma make it immediately identifiable to the nasal palate and when drunk it has a very smooth and chocolaty taste.
Suitable for morning or afternoon tea, Black Dragon Pearl Black Tea is a luxurious drink that can be enjoyed just as well with or without sugar (or honey) and milk. It contains relatively low caffeine levels for those who might have concerns and compares well to other low caffeine teas. The health benefits of black teas are well known and include cholesterol reduction, vascular benefits and tea contains fluoride so is even good for the teeth! Polyphenols, antioxidants found in tannin, a component of tea are an excellent way of building strength into the body’s defenses as well as helping to remove toxins from the blood.
Black Dragon Pearl Black Tea is hand-rolled into small balls which hold in the flavors better until the tea is prepared. Unfurled, these small rolls of leaves contain a number of roasted and gold-tipped leaves of a very high grade. Herbal teas blend well with this type of tea and are suitable for children due to the low caffeine content. A daily cup of this balanced black tea blended with fine fruits and flowers can make an ideal start to anyone’s day.
Score: 8/10
