Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Product Description:
Production Year – 2009
Production Season – Spring
Production Region – Fujian
Taster’s Review:
I have not tried many Shou Mei teas, because when it comes to white teas, Shou Mei just isn’t as popular as Bai Mu Dan or Silver Needle varieties. And while it tends to be considered a “lower grade” of white tea, I appreciate that it has a stronger flavor than those of a higher grade, while still maintaining many of the flavor characteristics that I enjoy about white tea.
Of those few that I’ve had the opportunity to try, this Shou Mei from Life in Teacup is one of the best. The leaves are large and fuzzy, and range in color from silvery (the color of the fuzz), to green to light brown.
The flavor of the liquor is very pleasing. It starts out sweet, maintaining that sweet profile throughout the sip, and it lingers long into the aftertaste. Notes of fruit and flower weave their way in and out throughout the sip. Fruit wise, I notice hints of apple and peach.
The mouthfeel is soft and smooth and thicker than one might expect from a white tea. It has a mild brothy kind of quality to it, but it’s a sweet rather than savory brothy. There is very little astringency to this cup. The finish is sweet and dry. More than any other white tea, I would liken a good Shou Mei to a fine dry white wine.
I like to sip on white teas later in the day, because even though the evidence is inconclusive on whether or not white tea is lower in caffeine than other types of Camellia Sinensis, they seem lighter to me and seem to soothe me and help me relax more than a green or black tea can. And this tea is certainly calming my spirits this evening!
Cheers!
Apple-Vanilla White Chai from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
Premium Shou Mei and Bai Mu Dan white teas blended with fresh chai spices, freeze-dried apple pieces and natural flavors.
Taster’s Review:
This blend got mixed reviews on Steepster. Some people really liked it, while others were somewhat blasé. I was one of the latter group, and I was actually a little surprised that I didn’t like it better than I do, especially since 52Teas rarely disappoints me. Just the opposite, usually I’m quite impressed with the teas produced by 52Teas, and if it isn’t my favorite tea company, it certainly is in the top three.
I mean, I kind of expected to love this tea. I love chai. I love white tea. I love apple. I love vanilla. So, I should love this tea, right? But I don’t know what it is… it just tastes a little off for me. Maybe the spices are not balanced quite right for my palate. Maybe it just has too much going on. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate this tea; I’m just not as enthused about it as I thought I would be.
The white tea is delicate, but with the Shou Mei/Bai Mu Dan blend the flavor is a little stronger than it would be if it were only Bai Mu Dan. The white tea tastes crisp and does compliment the apple and vanilla notes, encouraging them to come into focus.
I think that this blend might taste a little better if it were just apple & vanilla with the white tea, maybe with just a touch of cinnamon to accent the apple. So perhaps it is the cardamom and ginger that throws it off.
I did enjoy this enough to drink it, although I’d not purchase this particular blend again. Which is just as well since it’s sold-out! But, don’t lose heart, Frank. I still love 52Teas!