Tea tasting 3 - Silver Needle
I've tried a green silver needle before which I don't remember particularly well, but today's is white.
The leaves are of course long and slightly folded, and with a bit of fuzz on them. In short, it looked like it's called.
While steeping, the leaves stay tightly furled. I'm told from the internets that these are only buds, rather than unfurled leaves.
The liquor was a fairly pale yellow.
I'm a bit stuffed up today, but the aroma struck me me as sort of cinnamon-y. At least some of the feistyness of that spice. Then I wondered if the awful citron green had left its mark on my cup. Eventually it became clear, that it's really more of a pine resin flavor. Of course: silver needle.
Past that component, there's a sort a typical hint of grassy vegetal flavor that shows up in most greens and whites, and some of what I tend to call 'buttery' which is probably just the natural oil of the leaves as it comes out of certain whites and greens.
As I more or less expect for white tea, the flavor is fairly mild. I almost feel like I have to be in the right mood to appreciate the tea. I have to focus to really experience it. All in all, I would give this tea a 6. It doesn't wow, but I appreciate it.
The leaves are of course long and slightly folded, and with a bit of fuzz on them. In short, it looked like it's called.
While steeping, the leaves stay tightly furled. I'm told from the internets that these are only buds, rather than unfurled leaves.
The liquor was a fairly pale yellow.
I'm a bit stuffed up today, but the aroma struck me me as sort of cinnamon-y. At least some of the feistyness of that spice. Then I wondered if the awful citron green had left its mark on my cup. Eventually it became clear, that it's really more of a pine resin flavor. Of course: silver needle.
Past that component, there's a sort a typical hint of grassy vegetal flavor that shows up in most greens and whites, and some of what I tend to call 'buttery' which is probably just the natural oil of the leaves as it comes out of certain whites and greens.
As I more or less expect for white tea, the flavor is fairly mild. I almost feel like I have to be in the right mood to appreciate the tea. I have to focus to really experience it. All in all, I would give this tea a 6. It doesn't wow, but I appreciate it.