Looks like it has been a number of years since I had this last, so thought it was time to try again, especially as spring is emerging, and we are having more sun and warmer days. I have to admit that I am mostly drinking green teas at the moment, with the occasional oolong or something else, so busting this white out was a refreshing change.
As noted before, the leaves are fluffy and greyish green, due to the light fuzz on them. The leaves are long and the tea is lofty, with them intermingling with each other and twisting. Because of the leaf size and fluffiness, I opted to use my wide bamboo spoon. For the first steep, I used only one bamboo spoon, feeling that maybe I was under-leafing for my 10 oz cup. I was not sure exactly how much of the sample packet to use. I assumed that I had 2-4 servings in the small packet, and went from there.
I brewed the water to 170, which was in the middle of the steeping temps listed…I think I let it steep for 2-3 minutes, but I admit I did not time this. The colour in my white mug was very pale, and I was afraid that I had either under-steeped or under-leafed the cup. The taste though, was pleasantly flavourful though. It was mild, yes, but had more flavour than I was expecting to get. What I mostly noticed was that the infusion was not bitter, and that it was creamy feeling on the tongue. I feel like sipping this was very easy, and I could have easily downed this fast. There was a some hay notes, and a slight drying sensation on my tongue, but only barely.
The second steep, I decided to add another bamboo spoon of leaf to the existing steeped leaves, and using the same water temperature and steeping about 2 minutes, I got a darker infusion and a stronger aroma. Still creamy feeling, but slightly more astringent and drying on the roof and back of my mouth. Stronger hay notes.
Both steeps were drunk plain, with no sugar or sweeteners added. I would love to try this iced with something apricot or plummy. Maybe a cold steep. I definitely felt a sense of refreshment with this. Not in a satisfying your thirst sort of way, more more in a soul nourishing kind of way that spring has a tendency to do. I have an appointment in an hour and I will be steeping the (extra leafed) cup again, for my Timolino. I enjoyed this today, and am glad my message from Angel at Teavivre reminded me that I have some tea that I have not had in a while. Many thanks for the sample.
