Some people will do anything for a good cup of white tea. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. For whatever reason, I have never really embraced white tea, and I tend to favor the darker colored green and black counterparts. That's not to say that I don't enjoy white tea, it's just that I never really got excited about it. That is, until today's sampling of Verdant Tea's Yunnan White Jasmine, which is Silver Needle white tea scented with jasmine flowers. To start, the tea leaves appear to be as high quality as you can get. They are large and fluffy, with the downiness you expect from this type of leaf. The jasmine aroma is unmistakable; just one whiff of the dry leaves gives you a heady floral aroma. I deviated slightly from the Verdant recommended brewing parameters and chose to infuse one heaping teaspoon of leaves in one cup of 180-degree water for two and a half minutes. The tea presents an absolutely perfect balance of delicate white flavor with luscious jasmine aroma. This is a white tea that I can see myself getting excited about. The white tea has a sweet melon-like flavor that strikes the tongue first; this is then followed by the jasmine's flowery essence. I sometimes steer clear of floral teas because I don't like the sensation of drinking perfume, but with this tea, this concern is unwarranted. The jasmine is just strong enough to make its presence known, but does not get too pungent to resemble perfume. Taken warm, this tea is soothing and relaxing. I was pleasantly surprised to see that also drinks well as an iced tea. This tea allows for multiple infusions, allowing you to not only get the most out of your money (since this tea, which sells for $10 for one ounce, could be considered a little expensive), but also allowing you to experience slightly different flavor nuances with each infusion. I highly recommend this tea to anyone looking for a fresh white tea.

— To purchase Verdant Tea Yunnan White Jasmine, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Vanessa Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Vanessa's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Vanessa.

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