Tea Tasting Impressions – 2010
The new 2010 catalogue has just started and we’re pleased to share some tasting impressions of the new teas with you. Our tasting journey begins with the 2 new white teas. Barely processed, light and refined, white teas present one of the purest expressions of the tea plant. If you prefer your teas unflavoured, try the Pai Mu Tan, naturally sweet, subtle and straw coloured. If you don’t mind a flavour in your tea, we have a few for you to experiment with and experience! Blueberry Buckle and Toffee Dream join our family of white teas consisting of Pai Mu Tan, Earl Grey de la Crème and Pomegranate.
Blueberry Buckle
Brewing Temperature: 175oF
Brewing Time: 2 minutes
Dry Leaves: a mix of long dark stems and shiny green and greenish-brown leaves.
Liquor: Dark golden yellow.
Aromas: The blueberry flavour exudes from the dry leaf more strongly than from the wet leaf or tea. A fruity tang subtly accents this light white tea, with the lovely blueberry aroma becoming more apparent as the tea cools.
Body: Light
Flavours: Unlike some flavoured teas which seem to completely mask the actual flavour of the tea, this tea still tastes of white tea, with the blueberry flavour complementing the gentle sweet grassy notes of the white tea.
Toffee Dream
Brewing Temperature: 175oF
Brewing Time: 2 minutes
Dry Leaves: Some green and some silvery gently folded or twisted leaves, with small blue petals and sweet cubes of toffee.
Liquor: Slightly more pale than the Blueberry Buckle, with a tinge of green to this yellow tea.
Aromas: As soon as you open the bag, the aroma of this tea fills your nose with scents that make you think creamy and sweet – you’ll think you’re in a candy shop. The wet leaves smell like glazed vegetables in a good way.
Body: Medium Light
Flavours: Do you remember the MacIntosh bar of toffee from when you were a kid (I may be dating myself, but we haven’t seen it around here in a long time…) That toffee flavour fills the mouth after swallowing the tea. The very first taste is the light, hay-like flavour of white tea. The lingering flavour makes me think of toasted coconut.
Both of these teas will delight you as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon beverage. They would also be lovely in the evening, or with dessert, perhaps instead of dessert…
White teas will take more than 1 steeping so brew a 2nd pot with same leaves and note the changes in flavours and taste profiles and have fun discovering some new favourite teas!
