Jun 12
Jamie’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "A little sweetener enhances the ocean flavor measurably, which is so fresh, delicious and rather unique for a white tea, and bulks out the sweetness of the tea leaves in a way I enjoy very much."
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This offering from Tea Gschwendner is striking to look at. The leaves are reminiscent of a mint blend in coloration - with bright greens, browns, and a range of other colors along those lines. Bright and attractive. The leaves are full, mostly open and large, with a limited number of buds and slender needles. The dry leaf has a markedly fresh, vegetal, and slightly sea like scenting that I associate with green teas, and more recently I have learned to associate with Oothu whites.The website notes the following about the tea, "Forty miles from the southern tip of the subcontinent and isolated within a pristine tropical rainforest, Oothu was the first tea garden in India to adopt Biodynamic tea cultivation." Under their specifications heading, they note to steep this tea for just two minutes. I find this a little surprising and generally steep my white teas about three minutes, sometimes up to five. Second steepings I love to allow to brew for 5 to 7 minutes as I find the second infusion often the most satisfying and sweet. In any case, I allowed my first steeping three minutes, so you will have to take that into consideration when reading.
The tea brewed up very fresh and distinctly seaside in flavor. I say seaside and wonder what it is exactly that I am tasting and considering in that way. Tea Gschwendner mentions an "earthy pungency" which I don't taste at all. Perhaps what they taste as an earthy pungency, I taste as a sea like pungency? Mild and sweet, it has a surprisingly dark color for a white, almost like a cider or even an India Pale Ale. I used no sweetener with this tea and the flavor was first and foremost fresh and slightly astringent, not bitter at all. I would enjoy this with or before or just after a meal.
My second infusion I allowed about 6 minutes for. This is my after lunch cup, to rest with before resuming work. This cup was only slightly darker in coloration and I added a few drops of stevia to my cup to enhance the coveted sweetness of the second infusion. The introduction of the sweetener enhances the ocean flavor measurably, which is so fresh, delicious and rather unique for a white tea, and bulks out the sweetness of the tea leaves in a way I enjoy very much.
While to me the Oothu isn't spectacular, and doesn't come close to usurping my ardor for the Chinese Whites, neither is it tongue tying or to be avoided. It's quite different from the Chinese counterparts, different and able to stand on its own. Fresh and lightly sweet, this tea is really rather mild as teas go, but has a sturdiness that doesn't allow itself to be called delicate as many whites typically do. Fresh, clean and kind of brisk might be closer. More like a green tea or possibly a Darjeeling, though my experience of Darjeelings doesn't give me liberty to say with certitude.
I think this tea would pair well unsweetened with a meal or just after as a refreshment. Sweetened, it requests to be savored and perhaps even enjoyed with a simple, fruit based dessert. This tea is suitable for any time of day. White tea lovers should give this a try and get a feel for the Oothu flavor.
— To purchase TeaGschwendner South India White Oothu, 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.
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