茶笔 Chá Bǐ – The Tea Pen

Category: White Peony

  • Fú Dǐng Bái Chá, 福鼎白茶, Fuding White Tea, Bai Mudan (White Peony)

    C. sinensis var. dabai; Spring, 2017; Tea Master Wu Zhijian, Puding Pan Xi, Dayang Shan, Fuding, Fujian. 700m; hand plucked, bud and 2 leaves, White Peony Grade 2, white tea process. #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá#Tea, #茶, #Chá.

    Light and dark green leaves with silver grey furry buds, significant amounts of brown leaf, what a carob, candy cane, black cherry aroma. The wet leaves display olive green and brown colors, and have a vegetal, candy sweet, honey aroma.

    3g of dry leaf was steeped in 150ml of water for 20sec@80-85deg. The brewed tea liquor is golden yellow, sparkling color, with a chestnu,t and broken peach pit aroma. In the mouth it has a luscious creamy texture, mildly stimulating and fresh on the tongue, lingering sweetness with lasting retronasal carob hints and refreshing finish on the palate followed by late onset of fish bones in the back of the throat. Flash steep for 10 sec@90-95deg. C more pronounced minerality in the lingering, mouthwatering finish.
    Longer infusions give an initial slightly sour impression that mellows into tartnesss and gradually dicipates, giving way to a sharp minerality.

  • Xíng Jiàn Bái Mǔ Dan, 行健白牡丹, Xingjian White Peony

    C. sinensis var. blended varieties; Menglian, Pu’er City, Yunnan, 1400-1800m; Autumn 2020, bud and 1 leaf, EU Organic certified, white tea process; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá#Tea, #茶, #Chá.

    The dry leaves are sage green and black with longish, pale silver buds and they have a sharp, pungent scent, like dried raspberries, red berries, and tropical fruits. The wet leaves appear to be pale green and brown, with a sharp, aromatic, vegetal scent, with a hint of wintergreen, and subtle undertones of honey.

    3g of leaves were steeped in 150ml of water for 20-30sec@75-85deg. C. The brewed tea has a thin, pale yellow colour, and a vague peach blossom aroma. In the mouth it is syrupy, viscous, sweet, mildly tingling on the tongue, and has a late, mild buttery finish, whilst it tastes mellow, comforting, luscious, sweet, mildly peppery… quite fresh, with retronasal floral hints.

    Compared to yesterday’s tea, this is a fundamentally different tasting tea. It is pleasant, and entertaining with no negative body impact. I thoroughly enjoy this tea.

    The Video…

  • Fú Dǐng Bái Chá, 福鼎白茶, Fuding White Tea, Bai Mudan (White Peony)

    C. sinensis var. dabai; Tea Master Wu Zhijian, Puding Pan Xi, Dayang Shan, Fuding, Fujian, 700m; Spring, 2017, hand plucked, 2 leaves & occasional buds, White Peony Grade 2, white tea process. #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá#Tea, #茶, #Chá.

    The dry tea consists of light and dark green leaves, many broken, and some stems, with occasional silver grey furry buds, and is resplendent in carob, candy cane, & black cherry scents. The wet leaves are olive green and brown in color, with a vegetal, hard candy & honey aroma.

    Flash steeping for 10 sec@90-95deg. C results in pronounced minerality in the lingering, mouthwatering finish. The brewed tea is golden yellow, sparkling, with a chestnut, and broken peach pit aroma. In the mouth there is a creamy texture, mildly stimulating, and is fresh on the tongue, and leaves a lingering sweetness with lasting retronasal carob hints.

    For some reason, this tea doesn’t appeal all that well to me. I find, after the second steeping, that my stomach tends to churn and turn in a not entirely pleasant manner, continues for quite some time after accompanied by a sense of bloating and occasional burpage.

  • Xíng Jiàn Bái Mǔ Dan, 行健白牡丹, Xingjian White Peony

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis; (Lucy Wang YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan; bud and 1-2 leaves, EU Organic, White tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3g in 150ml for 20-30sec@75-85deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: sharp, pungent, like dried raspberries, red berries, and tropical fruits;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: sharp, aromatic, vegetal, a hint of wintergreen, and subtle undertone of honey;
    Liquor: thin, pale yellow colour, with a vague peach blossom aroma;
    Mouthfeel: syrupy, viscous, sweet, tingling on the tongue, and late, mild buttery finish;
    Taste: mellow, comforting, luscious, sweet, mildly peppery, fresh, with retronasal floral hints;

    Opinion: This is a pleasant and entertaining Tea. It reminds me of a, “face dancer” one moment you see one face, then the next moment it is something delightfully different. Most enjoyable.