Montea Xiang Pian Jasmine Green Tea Review Summary
Overall Rating: ★★★✬☆ (3.9/5)
Aroma: ★★★★☆(4/5)
Taste: ★★★★☆(4/5)
Packaging: ★★★✬☆ (3.5/5)
Value for Money: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Brand: Montea
Blend: Green tea with jasmine flowers
Origin: China
Caffeine: Medium
Price: USD $4.37 for 125g
Brew: 80°C, 90 secs
Pairing: Citrus fruits or seafood
Buy: Montea website
Montea Xiang Pian Jasmine Green Tea Detailed Review
Overview of Montea Xiang Pian Jasmine Green Tea:
Xiang Pian is one of the most popular types of Chinese tea and has been made in China for over a thousand years since the Ming dynasty.
The Xiang Pian tea is usually green tea infused with jasmine flowers, though sometimes other types of flowers or tea bases (like oolong or black tea) are used.
The Montea Xiang Pian I’m reviewing is a blend of green tea and jasmine flowers. I’ll be honest—I’m not a big fan of jasmine teas in general because the scent can be too strong and perfumey. But this one surprised me in a good way!
It was light, calming, and not at all overpowering. If you’re new to jasmine teas or hesitant because of the strong floral notes, I’d say this is a great place to start.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Brewing Conditions
- Aroma
- Taste
- Packaging
- Value for Money
- Caffeine Level
- Food Pairings
- About Montea
- Where to Buy
Brewing Conditions:
According to the instructions, you should brew 7g of Montea Xiang Pan tea in 200 ml of water at 70–80°C for just 30 seconds. But I found that the flavor was too weak with this method.
Instead, I rinsed the tea leaves very briefly with warm water, discarded that water, and then brewed 7g of tea in 200 ml of water at 80°C for 90 seconds.
The result was a light amber cup of tea with a very pleasant and balanced flavor.
Note: If you’re brewing in a gaiwan, then I would recommend shorter brewing times.
You can also brew this tea multiple times. Just remember to extend the steeping time with each subsequent brew.
Aroma (4/5):
The Montea Xiang Pian tea had a light, sweet, and floral aroma. I could smell the jasmine, but it wasn’t too strong. It felt soothing and calming—exactly what I wanted from a jasmine tea.
Taste (4/5):
The Montea Xiang Pian tea taste was subtle and pleasant. Again, the jasmine flavor was there, but very light. Unlike other jasmine teas that can be overwhelmingly floral, this one was much more balanced.
The tea had a smooth, velvety mouthfeel and left a soft, grounding aftertaste. It made me feel very relaxed.
Packaging (3.5/5):
The Montea Xiang Pian tea came in a sealed aluminum foil packet inside an airtight container. The lid and base seem to be made of tin, while the body of the container is likely cardboard with an inner aluminum layer under a plastic lining.
Once opened, the tea should be stored carefully because the packaging might transfer its smell to the tea. You might want to move it to a different container to keep it fresh.
The label says it’s a blend of green tea and jasmine from China, but it doesn’t specify the region or type of green tea used. That was a little disappointing.
Value for Money (4/5):
The 125g tin of Montea Xiang Pian tea costs RM 18.50 (around USD 4.37), which gives you about 18 cups of tea. That’s great value for a tea of this quality.
Caffeine Level: Medium
The caffeine content isn’t listed, but after drinking it, I felt calm and not jittery. This tea is great for the afternoon or even a slow weekend morning when you want something gentle to start your day.
Food Pairings:
The Montea Xiang Pian tea pairs nicely with light foods. I recommend enjoying it on its own or with citrus fruits like oranges. It would also go well with seafood dishes—especially those with umami flavors, like seafood ramen.
About the Brand | Montea:
Montea is a tea brand under KWF Food Industries Sdn Bhd, which started in 2006. They sell both teabags and loose-leaf tea, available at several grocery stores and online marketplaces within Malaysia.
In 2019, Montea won the silver award at the International Black Tea Tasting in Emeishan City, Sichuan, China.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much more information available about the company or where their tea is sourced from.
Where to Buy Montea Xiang Pian Jasmine Green Tea:
You can buy this tea from the Montea website. However, shipping is only available within Malaysia. For international orders, you’ll need to email them directly at onlinesales@montea.com.my.
