Oct 31
Dan’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "A pleasant white, with some bold characteristics that seem to set it apart from the pack. If you are looking for silver needle elegancy, look elsewhere. Yet if you are looking for earl grey intensity, you will also need to look elsewhere."
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California Tea House snares another exclusive, with this value-priced bold white tea. Fujian New Craft leaves are harvested from the rare DaBaiCha and DaHoaCha plants. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information out there about Fujian New Craft tea, but from what I can surmise, it is a (surprise!) "new" kind of Chinese white tea that is made differently from other whites. The process involves taking some of the lesser-delicate white tea buds, and withering them, giving a slight twist, and then drying. The resultant leaves are a deep, deep mahogany brown, and the appearance is nothing like any other white tea I've personally encountered. It almost looks like a lapsang souchong or similar richly-hued tea. The aroma of the leaves is very bold - that definitive white tea scent, but not gentle in the slightest. For anyone who is put off by white tea due to the delicate nature of white peony or silver needle, this may be your answer.CTH recommends a 3-5 minute steep right around the boiling point. I stuck with 3 minutes to begin, at just under boiling. Once brewed, the spent leaves shed their deep mahogany color and have turned a muted green shade, not unlike other full-leaf whites in appearance. The liquor turned a nice shade of sun-colored gold. The first cup is fairly decent: a gentle taste - nothing too offensive - but not really making a huge impression on me. The tones of a white tea are certainly present, but I find myself forgetting what it even tastes like 10 minutes after the cup is gone. Cup #2 presents a more muted effect of the first cup. Again, nothing to write home about.
I decide I should go for a longer steep, and I start with fresh leaves and fully boiling water, and go for a 4:30 infusion. This presents a much bolder flavor, for sure. The mouthfeel is strong, and I discover an unexpected strength of this tea: it apparently would pair extremely well with mint. I came to find this out after chewing a piece of peppermint gum for about 15 minutes, and then after discarding the gum, I enjoyed the rest of my cup of Fujian New Craft. Well, for a full 10 minutes after discarding the gum, the minty flavor kept coming back again and again with each sip of the tea. They paired together fabulously on my palette, and I will be saving the rest of this sample to pair with an actual mint tisane. The second cup with this 2nd batch of leaves, I bumped up to a full 5 minute infusion with boiling water. This seems like the best cup yet - more subtle, yet flavorful enough to capture the essence of this tea. A slight astringency gives way to dry and woody texture.
Fujian New Craft is a pleasant white, with some bold characteristics that seem to set it apart from the pack. If you are looking for silver needle elegancy, look elsewhere. Yet if you are looking for earl grey intensity, you will also need to look elsewhere. The surprise mint pairing was a nice bonus touch.
— To purchase California Tea House Fujian New Craft, 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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