 | "The fragrance is soft and flowery rather than vegetal. It smells clean like a cool, spring rain."
|
A writer makes a promise to the reader with the opening lines of a novel. Great writing fulfills that promise. In the same way, the dry leaf of great tea is the beginning story and makes the promise for the tea. The appearance and aroma of the dry leaf tell us a great deal about the tea and prepare us for what to expect from the brewed experience. This is especially important in white tea because we cannot fall back on the expectation we have of any other tea. The leaf may come from the same plant, but the tender buds and the way they have been prepared produces a completely different brew. The subtlety of white tea is something that could easily be overlooked.
This tea, TeaGschwender’s China Yin Zhen Silver Needle, is a beautiful tea. You immediately see the difference from all other teas. The whole buds still shimmer with the tender covering of soft fuzz like tiny feathers. This tea is 100% bud. The fragrance is soft and flowery rather than vegetal. It smells clean like a cool, spring rain.
TeaGschwendner’s brewing recommendations are 2 teaspoons (3 grams) per 8 oz. of water at 176 degrees, steeped for at least 3 minutes. I infused the tea three times, increasing the time with each addition of water. I allowed the third cup to brew for almost 10 minutes, until the tea was actually quite cool and enjoyed the final flavors almost as much as the first. All three infusions were almost clear. There is very little color to this tea and the aroma has just a hint of green.
The flavor is extremely delicate. Water quality makes an enormous difference and it is worth the effort to choose water free of mineral and heated to the right temperature. I recommend that it be enjoyed without other food. But it would make an excellent beginning to a gourmet meal – as the first course or preparation for dining. I believe guests would enjoy knowing more about and experiencing a white tea of this quality.
This was one of the prize-winning teas at the 2008 World Tea Expo, in the top five teas of the white tea classification with a score of 88, the highest numerical score in this category by a panel of tea experts.
— To purchase TeaGschwender China Yin Zhen Silver Needles, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
 |
Babette Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Babette's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Babette. |
Recent Comments