SINGBULLI WHITE JADE [EX 4/1]

Thanks to ScottTeaMan for this lovely sample. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get around to trying some… this tea seems like it has a personality complex and does not know if it’s a white tea or an oolong.

After steeping the wet leaves smell quite floral and relaxing so I know I am in for a treat of some kind. :))

I steeped this for around 90 seconds in 180 F or so water and I was not skimpy with the leaf. My cup is light yellow and quite delicate. The flavor is lightly sweet like sweet peas or corn, but also floral with a honeysuckle like quality. Very relaxing and aromatic and some slightly creamy elements in the finish. This is quite nice, almost intoxicating!

Second steep is also wonderful… a little buttery but with some crazy, wonderful Himalayan floral thing going on. It reminds me a bit of the White Shangri-La from Rare Tea Republic.

I will be looking out for more teas like this from Thunderbolt. Thanks for sharing Scott. :)

This tea is a beatiful tea, with elongated leaves that to me looked brownish, but the description states they are dark green. I’ll take a closer look next time. There is a numerous amount of white tips. When I opened the bag, I couldn’t believe my nose. I immediately smelled white chocoloate, with lesser almond aromas. What a terrific aroma! It truly did remind me of a 2nd flush Darjeeling, but a White tea as well. The huge leaves and the white furry tips reminded me of a snow buds white, but the nuttiness reminded me of a Bai Mu Dan. The wet leaves looked brown/olive green and smelled of woods, almonds, malty, and slightly chocolately? (I’m asking myself-yes, slightly chocolatey). I wasn’t getting any floral or fruity notes, but my clogged sinuses might be to blame.

Now the color in the cup reminded me of an Oolong with its’ yellow and lightly golden hue. The first cup was so sweet, VERY creamy, and delicious!! It tasted of nutty almonds (as if there is any other kind), like a second flush Darjeeling and a Bai Mu Dan white tea. I didn’t notice any floral or fruity notes in any of my three cups.

My second cup was similar in all respects to the first, except the flavors and aromas were at their strongest. The cup aroma was more in line with a second flush Darjeeling, and even more nutty, creamy, malty and delicious! Steeped 1.5 minutes at 195 degrees.

Last cup was weaker, but still quite smooth, sweet and delicious.The malty quality was still there and there was a light astringency in my mouth-and that’s a good thing. :)) I steeped this cup in boiling water for 3 minutes. The spent leaves are huge and I could still see the distinction of multi hued leaves. In a nutshell a truly pleasant, calming tea experience. I can’t say that enough! :))

Cupped and Reviewed: Saturday, February 11, 2012.

Extraordinary. White tea, but with a lovely richness.

I love every tea I received direct from India from Thunderbolt tea.
This one is quite unusual. Best described as a light black that’s a bit oolongy but looks like a white. It’s doesn’t have the oolong back-taste.
It’s just extraordinary.
It has the first hit of a Pai My Tan, then has a comfortable feel of a light Darjeeling black, or even a Sikkim and then finishes with an aftertaste that has the flavour of a white, but with the strength of an old, old oolong.
I’ll be ordering some more!

This was 2010 2nd Flush. My humans had a good time trying this one. They did 3 infusions: http://lyt-tea-reviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/review-thunderbolt-teas-2010-sample-6.html

Nice Silver Needle 1 bud and 1 leaf appearance, almost pale purple frosty in color. Steeps a light pale brew with qualities of a white tea, and higher floral notes. No bitterness, even when steeped at higher temperatures. A rare treat!