Silver Bud Ya Bao

oh this tea is a delightful surprise!
first brew: 6 oz of water at 160. very subtle, but very flavorful, if that makes any sense. it’s got a lot of flavor, but like, the volume is turned way down.
second brew: 6 oz of water at probably 180 ish, a little longer. ooooh, flavor turned up a wee bit! delish!
third brew: 6 oz of water at just off boiling – about the same as second steep, although flavors have changed from “YUM” to “huh, now it’s a lot less sweet and perhaps a little … salty?”

overall, really like this unusual tea – definitely one to linger over, not to try to slam, as the quietness of the flavors are conducive to a slow exploration, not a wham bam thank you ma’am slurping. the dry leaf is crazy looking (and beautiful!), but smells rather MEH which is probably because it’s the gentle steeping that finally draws out the flavors. i recommend this tea, although i don’t believe i’d re-stock. not that i’d say no if someone sent me some.

The look of these leaves are incredibly unique. I have never seen or heard of Ya Bao tea before, which is one huge reason I signed up for Select, so I could learn about new teas. After an initial steeping, the buds have a very strong scent of peaches and a bit of cut wood. I prepared these in a gaiwan. The liquor is very pale, almost clear like water but with a gold sheen. I love white teas like this. They just look so ethereal.

Steeping Notes:

1. Notes of dry grass and very subtle earthiness at first, then becoming a sugary sweetness with a very pronounced peach flavor. There’s a very subtle spiced note like clove or cardamom.

2. More like the first steeping, a little deeper and more well rounded, more full-bodied and creamy. Lingering peach aftertaste. Slightly dry finish.

3. Mellower and softly sweet, more of a dry prairie grass background and less of the fruit flavor, though it is still present and lingers a bit at the end still. Still a very subtle spice note.

Aside from the qualities already mentioned, this tea has a sort of fizzy or “sparkling” quality, that’s hard to describe, but it was evident in the scent even before I tasted the tea itself. The only con for me at all is there is a bit of lingering dryness when drinking this tea. However, is is really quite a unique tea in so many regards and I am so happy to have had a chance to try it. I will definitely be adding some to my collection soon. Oh, and by the way, if you steep it gongfu style with short infusions, you can get many more steepings out of it before the flavor wanes.

I’m not new to Yabao (anymore), & although I don’t hate it, I admit that it’s not something I will ever crave.

It always brings to mind a bowl of cooked cream of wheat. There is also a mild fruity sweetness, & a pleasant creamy texture.

When I opened the sample from Steepster Select, I was awed and confused by the look of these leaves. A 3 minute infusion yielded little change in color and I knew I was in for an extremely delicate white tea. While I tend to like my white teas a bit more potent, this was delicious. The subtle flavors and aromas are intoxicating, and I plan on purchasing quite a bit more of this stuff in the future.

First tea to try out of Steepster box this month. Tea itself is really neat looking. Taste was very good, light. I resteeped this twice, which I hardly ever do. I can say that I enjoyed all three times. Really nice tea, nice way to start out the box!

I LOVE white tea so this is right up my alley!! This is so unique! I love the appearance of the dry tea leaves, they look like little dried white cone flowers.
Glad I have my tea temp kettle because this is a low temp and I didn’t want to hurt this delicate tea.
The flavors are subtle and they come together to create a dessert of cooked fruit with hints of nutmeg and honey. I detect mainly apricot or peach fruits.
Thank you Steepster and Tea Source,,,I love Steepster Select because I was unaware of this company and am super stoked about all their white teas!!!!!!!

From the Steepster Select Box, March 2014

6/11/14
Tasting a bit of the bag I bought from Tea Source. So fruity, zingy, and good. There is a sugar note, multi-fruits, Sweet Tarts, touch of licorice. Mike and Ike’s candies. Love the out of this world look and flavor of Ya Bao. I like to age it,,,it is getting sweeter.

I really enjoyed this, and I brewed a full pot so it was a little lighter than it would be in a smaller cup.

The primary flavor is very flowery, slightly earthy.
I don’t get so much of a fruit note as a wholesome woodsy flavor.
Very enjoyable, and was perfect to start my day at work.