drank White Night by Mandala Tea
1040 tasting notes

Mandala order arrived today!!! Yay!!!

So, I ordered this on a whim before “moonlight” teas really registered into my brain, so that worked out well. This doesn’t actually SAY moonlight, but it sure does look like one of them. The leaves are just BEAUTIFUL, and some are white/silver on one side and black on another. This also doesn’t say anything about aged. The couple that I’ve tried have been listed as pu’erh and have some age on them. So is this one or not?!? Dunno but I’m happy to be drinking it right now.
I’m not one to obey the “rules” when it comes to steep parameters but I did read the package and the recommended temp was 160-175F – that seems low to me, but what do I know….
So I used what looked like quite a bit of leaf (shrug) with 75C water for about 1 minute. Sweet, a little hay, a little mouth dry, but really nice and interesting. Where are the fruit notes that I’m looking for? Need to play with steep temp.
Second steep – 85C for two minutes – Honey, less hay, no astringent, a little juicy but no specific fruit.
Third steep – 90C 3 minutes – The hay is back, the honey is still there, and something tangy (sheng like) strange but I like it.
Fourth steep – 90C 4 minutes – totally changed – Honey and a little malty? Weird – I can’t even tell you what this is like….

I don’t really like white tea – I usually find it either grassy or it tastes like nothing. This is one I can get behind. It’s interesting, flavorful, but I think I need to play with the steep times and temp. I really happy with this one, but I don’t think it’s my MOONLIGHT tea.

https://instagram.com/p/1MTM5muEyw/?taken-by=dex3657
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https://instagram.com/p/1MhDUduE19/?taken-by=dex3657

Sil

i really like this one

Dexter

Me too – it’s not really like the other moonlights that I tried but it’s also not boring like most white teas :)

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Comments

Sil

i really like this one

Dexter

Me too – it’s not really like the other moonlights that I tried but it’s also not boring like most white teas :)

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C.S. Lewis – “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

I needed to update my profile. I joined Steepster 03Mar13. I am just amazed at how much my tastes have changed since then.
When I discovered loose leaf tea about a year and half ago, I didn’t know anything other than my local Davids and Teavana/Teaopia. Stumbling onto Steepster CHANGED EVERYTHING.
Hello, my name is Dex I’m a tea addict.
I’ve been through the “I need to try every single tea out there” phase. I really hope the worst of that has passed. I’ve learned enough to know that I only need to try HALF of all the teas out there. LOL
When I started this journey, I was all about the flavored rooibos and fruity tisanes. Don’t get me wrong there is still room for dessert (chocolate/caramel/nutty) Rooibos teas in my cupboard and I still do enjoy them, BUT I am quickly learning to appreciate the some of the straight teas of the world.
Big bold (but not icky)pu’erh is suddenly my favorite, followed by woody/roasted oolongs. I’m just starting to explore straight black teas, and have found some that I really like.
Generally speaking I’m not into greens at all, only like the occasional green oolong, and white teas are just too mild for my tastes (unless they are fruit flavored). I still enjoy really good fruit tisanes, but am now cold steeping them.
I don’t like floral/herbal blends, and mint anything is not on my preferred list.
I am still exploring new teas, adapting to my changing tastes, understanding more every day how little I really know about tea. Ultimately I would love to find approximately 50 teas that I just “can’t live without” and always have them in my cupboard. That might not be practical, but that what I’m searching for. It’s going to be a fun journey.

All in all, I love this site. I’ve met some wonderful people, and have gotten to try some amazing teas because of them. It really restores your faith in humanity when you get a note saying “oh by the way I sent you some tea”. Wonderful, generous, people here.

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Manitoba Canada

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