My Overall Impression (Score of 85.25%)

Wow……these pearls brew multiple incredible cups that are intense.  I love watching the pearls unfold during the brewing process (you can see difference before and after brewing above).  Add to that its deep rich Canadian Maple syrup color to intense malt tones, big tannins and smooth mouthfeel make this a great cup.  There are lots of hidden gems in the flavors and aromas that keep evolving.

Broken down:

• 100 gm / 4 gm for steeping = 25 pearls or 25 cups (app. due to size variation)
• 25 cups from package = app 60 cents per cup

Typically, I double steep all my teas (use the tea twice) so I can get 50 cups or approximately 30 cents per cup.  However, this tea is so strong that you could get 4 brews per pearl bringing the cost to 15 cents per cup.  That is an amazing value as the tea continues to evolve and change.  

Quick note: The first loose tea that I ever purchased was a Black Pearl from Teavana.  I liked it so much that I went exploring for different loose teas which lead me to the House of Tea in Toronto.  From there, my loose tea journey really took off.   Therefore, black pearl teas have a special place in my heart.  Yunnan Sourcing’s variety is exceptional.

Aromas

• Opening the package shows big malt aromas with hints of dried grass, coffee grounds, cocoa powder and toast. I detected toasted nuts with possible hazelnut.
• In the cup, the large malt aromas continue over the entire profile. There are subtle hints of toasted nuts, toffee, and coffee.
• As you perform multiple brews, you start to detect larger nuances of fresh button mushrooms.
• Overall, the aromas are long lasting which is very enjoyable.

Flavors

• Each brew produces a very smooth set of flavors that seem to ‘cruise’ over the profile.
• The malt tones dominate but there are hints of toasted oats, cocoa powder, and biscuit flavors (European crackers).
• The dusty mouthfeel leaves a pleasant texture.
• Each brew shows a hint of white pepper and mushroom tones (more intense after each brewing).
• Drinking this cup reminds me of the flavor profile left on your palate after a mild cigar (very enjoyable).

Scores

• Aromas (4.25/5)
• Flavors (8.1/10)
• Overall impression (4.7/5)
  • Total score = 85.25 percent (17.05/20)

Foods to Pair

• First of all, I love brewing a cup of this and sitting and relaxing and not worrying about pairing.
• Sauteed wild mushrooms and chorizo sausage soft tacos.
• Homemade British Biscuits.
• Grilled Portabella mushroom caps smeared with feta cheese.
• Ratatouille smoked on a pellet grill.
• Eggplant Parmesan.