Many of my tea drinking friends tend to have preferences for black teas. Black teas are usually bolder and richer than other types of teas. In contrast, white teas and green teas are among the least preferred of the tea drinkers I know. These kinds of teas tend to be lighter and more delicate. They are the teas that need to be brewed at cooler temperatures or they risk being burned and bitter. There is an exception to these teas though, the White Rhino.
White Rhino is a type of white tea that is more akin to a black tea. It is more robust and can be brewed more harshly without risk of bitterness. It is richer and more malty than most white teas. What-Cha’s Kenya ‘Rhino’ Premium White Tea is no different.
What-Cha’s Kenya ‘Rhino’ Premium White Tea is brewed in 90C water for 2-3 minutes. The end result is a delicious hybrid between typical white tea and black tea flavor profiles. Zero bitterness or astringency. Slightly caramel, slightly hay, slight stone fruit, slightly melon. A whole lot of natural sweetness and freshness. It truly is the best of both worlds.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: What-Cha
Description
A white tea unique to Kenya which attains its gold and white appearance through a hand-rolling process. It is fuller than typical white teas with smooth sweet stone fruit and melon notes with caramel hints and no trace of bitterness or astringency.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Silver Needle from Whispering Pines
Usually, I’m like “WHITE TEA, WHAT IS THE POINT OF YOU?” but with this one, I think that I might have an inkling. I think that this tea bottles the spirit of that static electricity feeling that happens before a storm. It tastes like sweet flowers and quivering, excited air. It has a very distinct, kinetic-energy vibe.
My difficulty in untwisting this tea’s flavor is transparent. You, dear reader, are not sure whether you want to try this tea. My description is mangled and unhelpful, and I know it.
So I went over to the official description of the tea on Whispering Pines’ site for an assist. Surely THEY know what they made.
Um. They said, “Silver Needle has a dry leaf aroma of summer bluegrass and clover, where the wet leaf opens with wildflowers, jasmine rice, cinnamon, and a light touch of cannabis.”
This smells like… THE DEVIL’S LETTUCE? Really? I have a tragically limited knowledge of the Mary Jane, but I’m pretty sure this doesn’t. I sniffed it carefully and declare it Not Dank.
No, I’m afraid it smells like a summer storm on a bed of flowers.
But if you’re a more free-spirited type, please feel free to try some of this tea and get back to me about whether I’m right or wrong on this one.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Whispering Pines
Description
Our Silver Needle White Tea was harvested in early Spring 2017 and carefully processed to preserve the purity of the leaf. With pure nearly-opened buds covered in down white hairs, this tea is as beautiful to look at as it is to taste! Silver Needle has a dry leaf aroma of summer bluegrass and clover, where the wet leaf opens with wildflowers, jasmine rice, cinnamon, and a light touch of cannabis. The taste begins with a velvety sweet body with base notes of honeysuckle, horchata, and ripe pear. Mid sip presents a creamy feel similar to avocado and also hints at sweet clover and papaya. The aftertaste is reminiscent of osmanthus flower and a sweetness lingers on for minutes after the last sip. A fantastic silver needle!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
China White Tea from Capital Tea Limited. . . .
Sometimes…I just want a plain, simple white tea. Don’t get me wrong…that doesn’t mean that it’s inferior. That could not be further from the truth when I’m sipping and jotting down tea tasting notes for this White Tea from Capital Tea Limited. The more specific, lengthy name of this lovely white tea from china is called…Bai Hao Yin Zhen – Yunnan Da Bai Silver Needle 2016.
A Yunnan Silver Needle? Yes please!
Bai Hao Yin Zhen – Yunnan Da Bai Silver Needle from Capital Tea Limited features gorgeous, pure, long shiny silver buds that give off a notably sweet floral aroma.
Unopened – these leaves are STUNNING and produce an incredibly sweet and smooth nectar-esque tea liquor with complex flavor and aroma notes that fondly remind me of both apricots and melons…two of my favorite fruits from the time I was a tike!
Sometimes you can just lose yourself in simplicity but isn’t that what is needed from time to time? Especially after a long, stressful day, week, month, or YEAR? This tea whispers ‘YOU TIME’. Listen to the whispers…and enjoy a cuppa!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Capital Tea Limited
Description
| Gorgeous pure long shiny silver buds with a notably sweet floral aroma. These stunning unopened leaves produce an incredibly sweet and smooth nectar-like tea liquor with complex flavour and aroma notes reminiscent of apricots and melon. – 50g package |
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
