Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Here’s our premium bai mu dan white tea blended with cinnamon, lemon myrtle, lemon balm, lemon verbena, lemongrass, lemon peel and natural flavors. Pucker up for some deliciousness!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
WOW! The combination of cinnamon and lemon may seem ordinary but the flavor of this tea is anything but ordinary!
The lemon flavors are so complex in this – it’s not like a squeeze of fresh lemon, it’s like a squeeze of fresh lemon, plus some lemon zest, plus some liquefied lemon curd all in one. It isn’t as pucker-y as I expected it to be, instead, the lemon notes are rather smooth, lightly sweet, with only hints of tartness. It tastes more like the flavor of a lemon-head candy than the flavor you’d get if you were to suck on a wedge of lemon: sweet, almost candy-like, and very enjoyable.
The cinnamon is not as pronounced as I expected either. Instead, it is well-balanced with the lemon-y flavors. It doesn’t overwhelm the cup or come off as too spicy. It is a warm cinnamon taste that complements the citrus notes: the cinnamon curbs the sour flavor of the lemon just enough while the lemon softens the spicy blow of the cinnamon. It is a very lovely marriage of flavors.
And I am happy to report that the Bai Mu Dan isn’t lost in all this wonderful flavor. The white tea offers a light, fresh flavor. I taste notes of hay and a sweetness that melds beautifully with the buttery notes of the lemongrass in the blend.
As I write this, I see that there are still 7 pouches of this tea left! So, I wouldn’t be surprised if people were less than excited by the seemingly ordinary offering of a cinnamon and lemon flavored white tea.
Well, it’s time to get excited, because this tea is way better than I expected it to be. Don’t get me wrong, I expected it to be delicious (I can’t really recall any time when 52Teas has left me dissatisfied) but, I didn’t think it’d knock my socks off the way it has. The flavor is sweet and comforting; this is one of those teas that is perfect to cozy up to after a long, hard day!
I love this.
White Peony (Bai MuDan) from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Product Description:
A great White Peony (Bai MuDan) Tea
- Organically grown at Mt. Taimu in Fujian province
- Tea buds covered in white hairs, with one or two new leaves
- Pale orange-yellow color when brewed
- A delicate, slightly flowery, sweet, lingering taste
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I think this very well may be the highest quality Bai Mu Dan tea that I’ve ever experienced. The dry leaves vary in color from light green to silvery white. Most Bai Mu Dan teas that I’ve seen are more of a very light tan to off-white color. These leaves are covered with fluffy, fuzzy hairs, and possess a strong grassy scent. They brew to a beautiful, very pale yellow color that is more pale than it is yellow.
And it tastes so good. So delicate and sweet. There are notes of a grassy/vegetative taste, but it is much softer than the aroma of the dry leaf might suggest. There is a very pleasant creamy note to this tea, it’s very soft and luxurious … like wrapping ones self in a soft, fluffy robe.
There are hints of flower in the distance, and a delicious honey-esque sweetness to this cup. The sweetness lingers well into the aftertaste. There is no bitterness to this tea, and very little astringency. The cup is quite smooth from start to finish.
If you’re new to white tea, and what to experience one of the very best available, this tea should be on your MUST TRY list.
On the Ninth Day of Christmas, 52Teas Sent to Me …
Today’s tea is another one of my favorites from this past year. I seem to have more hits than misses when it comes to 52Teas, but, I suppose that is what makes them my favorite tea company. Not only does Frank manage to create some really unusual and totally unique flavored teas, but, he does it well. He doesn’t just toss flavoring in with some tea leaves and call it a blend. He takes the time to create something that tastes as good and interesting as it sounds. Having been a tea artist, I can speak from experience and say that it is NOT easy. But, Frank makes it look easy because it is a rare occasion when I’m actually disappointed by one of his teas. Most of the time, I’m just as pleased as can be with his creations.
And today’s blend is no exception. He brought back some cherished childhood memories with this tea blend.
For the ninth tea of Christmas, 52Teas gave to me …
I wasn’t allowed to drink a lot of soda as a kid, which, looking back now, I think was a good thing. I was pretty frustrated with it as a kid though, because all I drank was water and punch (aka Kool-Aid, which was made with saccharine – YUCK!) There was a rare occasion as a child when we would visit my father’s best friend, he would make me a special “cocktail” consisting of ginger ale, ice and a maraschino cherry. It looked much like the glass on the label. It made me feel grown up to have a drink that at least looked like the adults drinks, even if it didn’t taste like it (and truth be told, I still prefer the way the ginger ale would taste over a mixed drink).
And then, there was the even more rare occasion when I might be sick to my stomach, and was allowed to drink “flat” ginger ale, which was supposed to settle my stomach (according to my step-mom). Those were the only two times I was really allowed to have soda (unless we were out to eat, which was an even more rare occasion), and both times involved Ginger Ale. So, Ginger Ale is kind of a special beverage for me, and Frank has managed to capture that flavor very well in this tea.
Like the other teas in this 12 Teas of Christmas series, I have reviewed this tea previously … and I love it now as much as I loved it then.
On the Third Day of Christmas, 52Teas sent to me…
Having had 2 black teas for the first two days of this sampler, I was looking forward to having something a little different – perhaps something a little lighter and maybe even a little fruity? Well, apparently Frank (aka the Willy Wonka of Teas) had the same idea, and chose the perfect tea for Day 3.
Speaking of which, don’t you think it would be neat to have a 12 days of Christmas Sampler that was inspired by the song? It would be a bit challenging, of course, to fit teas with some of those days, but, it doesn’t have to be literal … it could be an interpretation. I know that Frank touched on this idea a bit last year with his introduction of the Partridgeberry in a Pear Tea (and I still giggle a bit whenever I type out that name) … but I think it could be a fun idea.
Anyway… I’m babbling, when I should be talking about today’s tea:
STRAWBERRY LEMONADE BAI MU DAN
I was a little surprised to see this one in this sampler, only because it seems like it hasn’t been that long since I tried it and reviewed it. But then, I looked at the date of my review – August! Wow… time flies when you’re having fun I guess.
This tea is a light, crisp and refreshing tea. I am sitting here, enjoying it hot, but it makes an even better iced tea! I enjoyed this several times as the warm days of summer came to a close.
One thing that I’m noticing this time around, though, and I don’t know if it is because this is a whole new batch or what – but this is a less pucker-y tart Strawberry Lemonade. I still get a strong sense of tartness in the finish which lingers into the aftertaste. You know that tingly-tart sensation that sort of tickles the tongue? Yeah, I’m getting that, but, in the actual sip, I notice a sweeter, smoother lemon-y taste than the way I remember it.
I know that 52Teas has begun reviving these teas that are included in the 12 Days of Christmas Sampler, and this is one that I’d recommend stocking up on for iced tea brewing!
Nuttier Than a Fruitcake (Custom Blend) from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: You can create your own custom blend at Ovation Teas
About My Custom Blend:
Nuttier than a Fruitcake – White tea blended with nutmeg, sunflower petals, almonds & pecans with apricot and vanilla flavoring.
Taster’s Review:
Not long ago, Ovation Teas made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Well, not just me, but to the first 100 customers who placed an order for a custom blend. The offer: 4 ounces of their very own, custom blend – FREE – just pay shipping and handling. Well, like I said, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I placed my order immediately.
But the hard part for me was coming up with something unique. Something I couldn’t find elsewhere. Then, I recall tasting a fantastic “Wedding Cake” lollipop that I wanted to try to duplicate in tea form. I started with a white tea base (this appears to be a Bai Mu Dan, based upon the look of the leaves), then chose to add apricot and vanilla flavoring, almonds and pecans and finally some nutmeg. Then I added some sunflower petals to make it pretty as well as add some defining sharpness to the tea.
I decided to call this blend of mine “Nuttier Than a Fruitcake” because I was often told in my younger years that I was, indeed, nuttier than a fruitcake. And given the inspiration and the ingredients I chose, I felt it was a suitable name.
The outcome: A tea that … while doesn’t taste exactly like the fruitcake lollipop that I remember, still tastes pretty amazing. The white tea base tastes light but doesn’t allow itself to become overpowered by the other flavors. The nuts (pecans & almonds) are not a particularly strong flavor, but then, I didn’t really expect them to be. As is generally the rule with flavored/blended teas, it is the flavoring oil that is used to flavor a tea that really gives the tea it’s POP flavor … fruit and nut additions don’t generally contribute a lot of flavor.
The apricot and vanilla flavors are pretty evenly matched … sometimes I’ll taste a little more apricot, while others I taste a little more vanilla. It is smooth and creamy and sweet. As I had hoped, the sunflower does add some sharp tones to the cup … just enough to keep it lively.
But the real star of this blend is the NUTMEG! Every time I brew this tea, the scent of the nutmeg is delightfully strong. As it brews in the kitchen, I can smell it in the next room! The flavor of the nutmeg is equally as strong, and it lends a rustic, nutty, and deliciously warm flavor to the cup.
I am really thrilled with my custom blend from Ovation Teas, and even though they aren’t currently offering the free custom blend that inspired me to place this order, I am happy enough with this custom blend that I will order another custom blend sometime in the future (whenever the inspiration hits!) It is well worth the price, in my opinion, if for no other reason, than to enjoy something truly unique.