I’ve been wanting to review this tea for a while and I finally got around to it.
This tea is really pretty. Long uniform leaves with buds. The leaves surround the bud in many cases. They are also white tipped, soft, and furry. As the leaves rested in my rinsed glass press they smelled nutty and mildly fruity.
My first cup was a soft yellow brew with a mild sweetness. As I tasted it and swirled it in my mouth, it is warm and smooth with a nutty flavor, and mild fruits of melon on the back of my tongue. I usually equate the melon notes to cantaloupe or honeydew, and in this case, cantaloupe fits the bill.
As I wait for my second cup to cool, the wet leaves smell sweet and nutty. The cup is somewhat darker in color, and a natural sweet aroma comes through. This is the best cup of the three I had. The nuttiness was somewhat stronger, as were the fruity notes. This was still a gentle cup, as white teas tend to be. It was again naturally sweet and smooth. Brewed 195 for 1 minute.
In my last cup (212 for 3 minutes), the nut aspects faded, leaving it more fruity on my palate-but even these were lighter than my second cup. Still a sweet and flavorful cup. Overall a very light, creamy smooth, naturally sweet brew I love.
It reminds me so much of the warmer months. This tea is so appropriate right now, as it has been in the 60’s the last few days, and today in the 70’s! What a nice welcome to what has been a warm March, and an early Spring! :)) Oh, how I do welcome thee…….
Cupped: Thursday, March 15, 2012. THE IDES OF MARCH!
Reviewed: Saturday, March 17, 2012.
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Ahhh… that sounds so nice. And I wish it would warm up here too, all we’ve had is rain!
I can’t believe how warm it has been, and I’m not complaining! I don’t reremember a March, or a winter so warm. :)) That’s good because here winter can be fridgidly cold- but not this year. :)) But this is a great tea. White teas are more mellow [Have you ever been?], and as you’ve probably heard me say-I do appreciate each tea for what they are. Can’t seem to reconcile with Rooibos, or hibiscus right now though.
Although I have never tried green Rooibos yet.
you might like green rooibos, it isn’t as smelly and weird as the red kind. :)
Ahhh… that sounds so nice. And I wish it would warm up here too, all we’ve had is rain!
I can’t believe how warm it has been, and I’m not complaining! I don’t reremember a March, or a winter so warm. :)) That’s good because here winter can be fridgidly cold- but not this year. :)) But this is a great tea. White teas are more mellow [Have you ever been?], and as you’ve probably heard me say-I do appreciate each tea for what they are. Can’t seem to reconcile with Rooibos, or hibiscus right now though.
Although I have never tried green Rooibos yet.
you might like green rooibos, it isn’t as smelly and weird as the red kind. :)