Another sample from teabento!
Personally, I adore jasmine scented silver needle teas. In my opinion silver needle/yin zhen is the best kind of tea to be jasmine scented because it allows the jasmine to really shine through without any other flavours negatively impacting the flavour or drowning it out; and it’s the most peaceful/tranquil and relaxing form of jasmine scented tea. Greener oolongs and black tea aren’t bad options; but you’re always going to get a more full bodied tea flavour that’s in a way competing with the jasmine and not showcasing it.
This afternoon I’m in a bit of a ‘blah’ mood – it’s very dreary and gross outside, and there are some life things happening that have left me feeling a bit down as of late. I started the morning with some pretty rich tasting flavoured teas, but this afternoon what I really want is something peaceful. So currently I’m curled up in bed drinking a Western style mug of this from the cutest little robins egg blue mug covered in little white french dots. My cat Eric is curled up with me; coincidentally he kind of looks like teabento’s cute little cat design for this tea; he’s very white and fluffy – though also significantly fatter. It seems especially fitting that he’s joined me for my mug of Silver Cat tea.
The whole aesthetic right now is delicate, cute and peaceful.
The tea fits pretty perfectly with that theme, too! The first thing I have to point out about the flavour is just the overall freshness of it; everything about the jasmine flavour screams natural/authentic – though because we’re going for tranquility here I think it’s probably more apt to say that it ‘whispers authentic’. Truly, though, the jasmine is really lovely and relaxing: very fragrant and smooth with a bit of sweetness lifting it up to near ethereal stature. Like I said, one of the reasons I really like silver needle tea as the base for jasmine scented teas is because it REALLY lets the jasmine come through, and that’s 100% the case here.
The white tea itself is nice though; while this is mostly delightful jasmine notes you can’t ignore that the base offers some elements too. For starters, there’s a lovely mix of sweet, fresh cream and hay notes in the background of the sip that are definitely from the tea. There’s also just a hint of something fruity; like a fragile mix of sweet lemon and peach juices; definitely something you’d get from a really nice, quality yin zhen. The sweetness of both that fruit element and the jasmine lingers lightly in the finish of the sip, and the way it coats the mouth only to pop off the edges of my tongue makes me feel like a graceful ballerina is dancing in my mouth. Elegant movements, but so full of life and emotion.
This is exactly the kind of tea I wanted this afternoon; it captures exactly what I was in the mood for and all in all everything has come together so beautifully – from the flavour of liquor to my surrounding aesthetics. I feel at peace and relaxed; full of warm cozy tea and fat, cat cuddles. This might just be my favourite tea from teabento yet!
