Had an Amazon gift card. I realized some of the Amazon tea vendors I’ve relied on in the past are kind of sketchy – Goarteastore, Fullchea, and the like. I will attest, however, that I have had pretty good luck with Goarteastore. Only a couple of bad buys out of quite a few over the years. Which Amazon vendor to buy from, then?
I decided to go with Tian Hu Shan, as they seem to be pretty reputable. Know more for gigantic tins of low-priced jasmine tea, maybe, but an established brand with some street cred.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this Bai Mu Dan to be more than decent. Of course, at $19.99 for 4 ounces it is not exactly a budget buy and I would expect it to be pretty good.
A little minty, a little fruity (mostly grapes, I think), some grassy notes giving a slightly bitter edge, and finally, a surprising amount of toastiness. Every Bai Mu Dan I’ve had previously is of the fairly light and more delicate sort, and I’ve never noticed any toastiness in the mix – but I like the addition. Makes it a bit more substantial. Maybe a slightly lower grade of leaf than others? I don’t think so, as the leaves look pretty comparable to the fragrant, intact, and lovely leaves I’ve sipped in the past. Maybe a slight variation in processing technique, or just a garden with more toasty flavor notes? I don’t know, but I like it! I lucked out and scored some good tea on Amazon.