white2tea
Edit CompanyPopular Teas from white2tea
See All 1089 TeasRecent Tasting Notes
When I got this recent W2T order in a lot of people told me I should prioritize tasting this tea specifically, and I can definitely see why. Though I don’t usually love when teas are this tightly compressed, it was worth the effort to pry a chunk off the bar because this is one heck of a smooth and velvety shou with really rich, chocolate-y notes to it. Definitely reminds me of somewhere between a double chocolate muffin and something just a little bit sweeter like a molten lava cake. Very dense and decadent, though!!
Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0gLaYSSoe/
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_dYOMxvf0&ab_channel=MaxFrost
Quick backlog impressions based on one ball.
Floral, vegetal green teaish notes, upfront sweetness. Low bitterness, astringency is higher when pushed. Light body, some texture byt not too much, no standout aftertaste. The best part for me was some mushroom and barnyardyr funk that showed up quite strongly in some steeps, reminding me of some lower Menghai area teas (but without the bitterness).
Flavors: Mushrooms, Sweet, Tart, Vegetal
Grandpa Style!
I’m still slowly sampling my way through my most recent W2T order, with this 2024 Stagecoach ripe pu’erh mini up next on the list. I’ve brewed it up grandpa-style so that I can more casually sip away at it while reading the first volume of Dandadan. The tea is very thick, with heavy notes of wet forest undergrowth that make up the bulk of the sip alongside a fudgey chocolate note and a hint of sweet yet umami walnut with a lick of camphor on the backend. There’s just a bit of funk to the cup still, but certainly not enough to derail the otherwise very soothing, darkly sweet and earthy flavour composition. It’s got really good bones, so I’m quite excited to see how this one settles and further ages!
I really, really enjoyed the first season of Dandadan’s anime (both the dub and sub) and, since it’s going to be a while until season two, I thought I’d dive into the manga. It’s proven challenging to find the manga here in Quebec as the English volumes have been selling out so quickly, but I finally lucked out and snagged the first volume. So good! Gonna have to keep my eyes sharply peeled for restocks of the next couple volumes…
Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEnp6x8ye1z/
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly7nFV6z-6Y&ab_channel=CallMeKarizma
Backlog
I hadn’t spent too much time taking notes with this session. I had sipped this one in the moment, and after the flavor started to pop (about the 3rd infusion), I noted sweet florals/honey. The qi headiness was the main attraction. I marked on the back, “6 infusions & giddy from the tea.” Too bad one can’t get this on their website. It seems that a lot of tea peeps got this in their Black Friday boxes, too.
Winter has decided to creep in over the week. I drank this on Monday to ease into the cold and the tea had done the job. Thankfully, we were approved to work from home, and so flow of tea was endless!
Notes: Woody, not too much body/texture, and smooth. Not the typical heavy earthy nor cocoa notes with this one.
Flavors: Woody
Gongfu!
Tried this one for the first time yesterday. It’s very enjoyable, but quite a bit different from what I’d expected it to taste like. Medium-bodied but with a very slick and sticky feeling liquor. Though the tail end of the sip was usually at least a bit starchy and sweet potato-esque, I mostly found this to be a rather fragrant and floral tasting oolong with really prominent notes of candied violets, rose, and magnolia with jammy black currant and lychee undertones. I was really anticipating more of a sweet brown sort of flavour direction with some more minerality, but it’s amazing how “purple” the whole session tasted!! Has anyone else tried this tea or has more experience with this Xiang Fan Shu fragrance/varietal of shuixian? I’m curious to hear other opinions since I feel like my tasting notes are off enough from the site description…
Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEiQHRjSA32/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01oI7AhwPLY&ab_channel=ROLEMODELVEVO
Grandpa Style!
Curiosity and a bit of gentle peer pressure won out today, and I’ve decided to start sipping my way through the white2tea order that recently arrived. I’m starting with a 2024 Shixi ripe pu’erh mini, which I’ve been drinking grandpa-style throughout the afternoon. It’s a rather thick and oily brew with a smooth, brothy sort of profile. Though not overly complex, the overall cup is loamy with supporting notes of bouillon, golden raisins, and sea salt. It’s definitely more on the savory side, but in a comforting way that’s akin to slurping away at a large mug of bone broth or chicken noodle soup on a cold and blustery afternoon. Though I’m not getting that first tasting kismet from this shou, I think it’s a solid offering that would work well as a daily drinker. I do think that makes sense given its price point. It will be interesting to see how this one settles and ages over time.
Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEayU6FSh00/
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQeh5wqvtdc&ab_channel=rainbowfrogbiscuits-Topic
Gongfu Sipdown (2732)!
I want to be better about sipdowns this year, so today I’m finishing off this smaller sample I’ve been sitting on for a while. It’s a beautifully smooth and deeply roasty tasting oolong packed full of notes of charred nuts, carob, toasted buckwheat, and espresso interlaced with an overarching minerality. However, the elements of this tea that I loved the most were the sweetly floral and aromatic mix of lychee, plum, and rose notes that gradually grew stronger with each infusion. Though the lychee and plum were pretty apparent from the first steep, the flavours consistently seemed to get deeper with time, making a seamless transition from top notes to these vast feeling and jammy, palate-coating flavours that seemed to pour out from the mid sip into a lingering finish on the back of the tongue. The contrast of dark roast and mineral with such fleshed out fruit and floral notes was so dynamic and pleasing to sip on; I really pushed these leaves as far as they would possibly brew. It was such a fun exploration and luxurious feeling session with the added bonus of being my first sipdown of the new year!!
Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEX8fy1S-hO/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIjOrDo5h94&ab_channel=TheHowl%26TheHum
Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown: Day 18
Playing catch-up with some of my advent teas!
It’s cold and blustery outside, with a bit of snow on the ground and more to come, so I decided to have a lil gong fu session. I’m thinking it’s way past time to pick up a gaiwan. I try to keep my teaware/drinkingware collection minimal, since my house is not huge and I don’t like clutter, but I do think I’d appreciate and use a gaiwan. Bitterleaf and Yunnan Sourcing both have some really pretty ones, but I’d love to hear y’all’s favorites and/or purchasing tips for a first-timer!
Anyway… the tea. First steep was light, yet unctuous, with a wisp of leather. Second steep brought out more leather, plus heavy notes of roasty charcoal and on-the-verge-of-bitter citrus rind. I reduced the temp for a few more steeps to get rid of the bitterness, which mostly worked. The rest of the steeps were predominantly leather with a bit of woodsiness. I didn’t find the flavor profile super enjoyable, to be honest!
Flavors: Bitter, Charcoal, Citrus, Leather, Roasty, Wet Wood, Wood
I also keep my tea gear minimal. I don’t even have a teapot because I know I only want to own one, and I haven’t found that perfect one yet!
I know what you mean! I have a couple pieces of teaware that were gifted to me so they have sentimental value, but I don’t think I’ve purchased much of anything for myself… I’d have to really love it, and nothing’s quite right!
This Sister Shou has an unmistakably bold presence—a tea with a strong character that makes an impression from the first pour. She enters with qualities that immediately intrigue: a touch of sharpness, slight bitterness, woody undertones, and a deep molasses sweetness that enriches the experience. There’s a satisfying quench—a richness that leaves you wanting more. Cocoa nibs, hints of coffee, and an assertive huigan—that lingering aftertaste that spreads warmth and flavour through the senses—make this a tea meant to be savoured in small sips.
First Steep:
On first impression, she feels like an old soul—steady yet striking. The flavours are layered: earthy, slightly bitter but not unpleasant, with a sweetness that’s dark, like burnt sugar or toasted molasses. The mouthfeel is full and rich, a sip that envelops you and invites introspection. This tea has a moorish quality—it’s difficult not to go back for more. Each sip feels deliberate, as though the tea itself asks you to slow down and savour.
Second Steep:
With the second infusion, the leaves begin to tell a deeper story. There’s an intensification of those pre-dawn aromas—woodsmoke, rich earth, and baked goods fresh from the oven. The warmth is still there, but there’s also a sharpness that cuts through—decisive but not jarring. It’s the kind of sharpness that feels like a declarative statement: she knows who she is and makes no apologies.
Taking small sips allows the flavours to unfold slowly, coating the palate and leaving a richness that lingers long after the cup is empty. This steeping is like a steady, resounding chord that fills the space—subtle yet profound, a presence you feel long after it’s passed.
Third Steep:
For the third steeping, the brewing temperature was lowered to 90°C, giving this sister room to breathe. This slight adjustment opened her up, allowing some of the higher, brighter notes to shine through. The lower temperature smoothed the sharper edges, giving more space for the complexities to reveal themselves.
Here, the tea takes on a more melodic quality, like a jazz ensemble where the saxophone cuts through the deep hum of the bass and the steady rhythm of the drums. There’s a brightness that feels refreshing amidst the deeper, earthy tones. The flavours harmonise in a way that feels like an invitation to stay longer, to keep listening, and to let the tea’s story unfold.
The musical comparison feels apt—if this steeping had a soundtrack, it would be a track from Morphine’s Cure for Pain. The way the bass, drums, and saxophone weave together mirrors the tea’s layers: rich, warm, resonant, with sharp, bright accents that cut through the depth.
Fourth Steep:
By the fourth steeping, the tea settles into a velvety smoothness—a notable evolution in texture. The once punchy sharpness now softens into a lingering, resonant echo. This sister has become contemplative, and her strength shows in the way she stays present in the aftertaste. The roasted astringency still lingers, but in a way that feels more like the pleasant bitterness of dark chocolate or charred sourdough toast with just a touch of burn at the edges.
It’s here that the tea evokes the memory of Mayleaf’s Playground Rendezvous, a kombucha-fermented shu with a punchy, Jäger-like complexity. But where Playground Rendezvous feels restless and wild, Predawn Dark finds its balance. The settle is in the aftertaste—bold, satisfying, and resonant. It’s as though you’ve struck a gong with a sharp, clear tone, and the echo carries far beyond the initial strike.
Final Impressions:
Predawn Dark is a tea for slow, intentional drinking—a tea to spend the whole day with. It demands patience and attention, rewarding you with evolving flavours and textures that feel like a conversation unfolding over time. Each steeping offers something new to discover: the sharpness of burnt sugar, the richness of molasses and coffee, the warmth of baked goods, and the brightness of spice—cinnamon, clove, nutmeg.
This is a sister who punches above her weight. She’s bold, decisive, and full of character. Whether paired with atmospheric music or enjoyed in reflective silence, Predawn Dark is the kind of tea that stays with you long after the cup is empty—a companion for deep contemplation and quiet joy.
Preparation
Day 22 of the Tea Thoughts winter countdown box. A big chunk of today was spent browsing the mall for gifts because we’re very behind on holiday prep. Nothing seemed quite right so it took a while to find gifts we were happy with. We did find a Pokemon decked out for winter for our nephew, which is probably the most exciting thing we brought home. I had a couple Western-style mugs of this oolong before we left. I remember some minerality and roastiness but not much else. I’ll have to try this out with a gong fu brew.
Adventageddon Day 22
Gongfu!
Another interesting W2T tea from the Tea Thoughts advent today – both one I haven’t tried before and that I probably wouldn’t have thought to order for myself since the description doesn’t really speak to the flavour at all…
I liked this a lot. The leaf is a bit coarse and choppy looking, but it was velvety and roasty tasting with strong mineral and charred peanut/chestnut top notes before smoothly sliding into a round, mouth-coating sweet and jammy plum note with floral undertones of orchid and magnolia – an easy stand out for the day! Very happy that this was a larger 25g bag and that I’ll get to enjoy it more in the future.
Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DD5YtkaSoDn/?img_index=1
A few months ago I cracked the side of a pastel green gaiwan that I just adored, and after a few days of hunting I finally found this one from Yunnan Sourcing to replace it. It’s not an exact replacement since the interior is a different colour and has some fish and lotus detailing on the rim, but it’s pretty close!!
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3P987miBp8&ab_channel=TheHowl%26TheHum-Topic
(I think The Howl & The Hum is a VERY slept on band, and this most recent album is really fucking good. I’ve been listening to it a lot over the last month or so.)
Day 18 of the Tea Thoughts winter countdown box. I gong fu’d this, at 205f with short steeps for the first three steeps. I just might not have a palate for appreciating pu’erh. All I got was dirt, leather, a bit of roast, and a faint but noticeable hint of fishiness. At that point, the leaves had opened up so I switched to 175f to see if I’d enjoy it more at a lower temperature. Nope. Although it got rid of the fishiness, still getting dirt, leather, and roastiness. 160f and a very short steep gets me less dirt, but it’s still not enjoyable. And I know these are not the notes that I’m “supposed” to be tasting. I gave up after the fifth steep. Next pu’erh, maybe I try short steeps at 160f from the beginning.
If a pu smells fishy, try airing it out for anywhere from a few hours to a few days (for super fishy) to let that aroma dissipate. It might give you a better session that way!
thanks for the advice!
This is also one of Paul’s more experimental pu’erhs since it’s also charcoal roasted (like an oolong) – they seem to be particularly polarizing on top of the already divisive nature of pu’erh.
Adventageddon Day 18
Grandpa Style!
This tea, which is the one from Tea Thoughts for the day, was my standout today. I think this is partly because of the weather today which was very cold, clammy and right on that awkward middle ground of not being snow but not being rain either. So, having a cozy mug of something grandpa-style brewed was just well timed. But I’ve been craving a good raw pu’erh for a couple days now as well as, and even though I haven’t loved a lot of these more experimental roasted pu’erhs from W2T I still thought this was very interesting and it scratched the sheng itch I’ve been feeling.
Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDvFf6my37O/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK16atZKLWM&ab_channel=Tommy%26Roy
Flavors: Absinthe, Bitter Melon, Grilled Food, Herbs, Honeydew, Roasted, Smoked, Wet Wood, Woodsy
2021 Tiltshift
7g mini in my 8oz pot steeped western with boiling water
First steep is very light. I let it steep for longer than I would normally and the ball had barely started to break apart and was still floating on the top.
Flavor is light as expected with an interesting sweetness in the aftertaste that brings to mind fruit, though not a specific fruit. Maybe a bit of a hay flavor as well. Its difficult to say.
Second steep, now the mini has broken up and I’m getting a lot more flavor, though its still delicate. Sweetness is now in the back of the sip as well as in the aftertaste. The maybe hay like flavor is also stronger. The mouth feel has a bit of viscosity. Its not heavy, but it is noticeable.
I’m not as fond of the direction the flavor goes as it cools. It does get stronger and drying and not so much sweetness in the back of the sip. The scent in the cup is absolutely hay like.
I’ve been looking through notes from others to see if they can kick start a vocabulary for what I am tasting. I don’t know if I would agree with cucumber, but maybe green melon might in the aftertaste.
Third steep and loosing flavor now. Dryness is now the dominant sensation and its lost that viscous mouth feel. It literally feels like all moisture is being sucked out of my tongue. Sweetness is down to an aftertaste. Might be some hay in the scent, but flavor is mild. The green melon vibe is also missing in flavor and scent. I don’t think this resteeps well, at least not for western style.
Aroma gives me the impression of cereal. I’m smelling it even as it sits on my desk beside me.
As I’m sipping, there is another scent that comes out stronger than the cereal, but I can’t put a name to it.
I’m having a lot of trouble describing the flavor.
As it cools, that cereal scent dies away. The flavor also becomes a little more harsh I think. Still can’t really describe it.
Second steep. Cereal scent not as noticeable. The other that I can’t identify/name stands out more.
Flavor is definitely better when its hot. Kind of reminding me of a keemum I had once.
By the third steep, flavor had really rounded off and became more muted. Doesn’t have the harsher notes I had noticed in previous steeps.
Sadly this is when work got hectic, its quitting time and its still half full
This note is for the 2024 Moon Waffles sample. I’m too lazy to make a new database entry.
Had this for the first time yesterday, but the day got so hectic I never had a chance to cleanup and post my notes.
I used one square for my 8oz pot. Steeped western style with full boiling water.
First steep and I noticed a lightly sweet aroma that seemed quite pleasant. Flavor was delicate with that hint of sweetness. As it cools, its a little more dry in the mouth with a hint of a flavor that I just can’t quite identify.
Second steep the dryness came out significantly more. I’m not sure if this is the tea itself or because I had broken the square in half to see how easy that might be and so had a lot more leaf fragments.
Still has that delicate sweet flavor. It gives me fruit kind of vibes, though I could not identify any specific fruit type. Maybe also honey notes? This is difficult for me to say since its been a decade since I have tasted honey. The sweetness in the aftertaste gets more pronounced as I go. I still get the hint of another flavor that I can’t quite identify.
The second steep ended up going cold due to meetings. At room temp the sweetness seems to diminish and that unidentified flavor stands out more. Maybe hay? I’m unsure on that. I might just be suggestable after reading the notes of others.
I did try a third steeping, but by then the day was almost over and I didn’t get much of a chance to drink it or think about it.
I’m glad I have enough to try a few more times. Overall I think I am pleased with it, though not yet sure if I am buy a whole cake pleased or not.
I was so intrigued by your description that I tried to find the tea on the white2tea site, in futility. Unless you got a pre-release sample! Oh well, glad you got to enjoy it!
I believe this one was offered exclusively as part of this past year’s Shulloween cake bundle. Before that I think maybe it was a Tea Club exclusive?
Aaahhhh, okay! Thank you for the lovely review anyway. I have been growing increasingly fond of ripe puers, and am revisiting many in my cupboard with a new appreciation. :-)