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!
Bai Mu Dan from Canton Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Canton Tea Co.
Product Description:
Other Names: Bai Mu Dan Tea, Pai Mu Dan Tea, White Pekoe Tea
White Peony undergoes very little processing. Made from just the unopened silvery buds and the small, top two leaves it is picked in spring and gently withered to yield a refreshing, easy-drinking tea, full of soft fruit flavours and melon notes with a lingering sweet aftertaste.
Taster’s Review:
This is the second tea that I’m tasting from the “Migration” themed Steepster Select Package. At first, I kind of wondered why a Bai Mu Dan would be offered as part of a “Migration” theme … but after opening the pouch, I understood. The leaves are crisp and dry, just like the fallen leaves that cover the ground this time of year.
The tea these beautiful, whole leaves produces is exquisite! Definitely one of the very best Bai Mu Dan teas I’ve yet to taste. It is surprisingly rich and flavorful. Many White Peony/Bai Mu Dan teas that I’ve tried in the past tend to be somewhat pale in flavor – delicate – but, this is not a typical Bai Mu Dan!
It possesses a delightfully sweet flavor and as the description above suggests, I taste the melon notes! That melon flavors intensify as the tea cools. There is very little vegetative/grassy taste to this Bai Mu Dan. Instead, I taste a crisp, clean, and sweet delicious flavor unlike any other Bai Mu Dan I’ve tasted in recent memory. Sure, many of those white teas tasted good, maybe even great, but, this one stands out as exceptional.
Ginger Peach White Tea from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Be sure to check out Daily Gourmet’s Special Offer on this tea!
Product Description:
Nothing goes better with a BBQ than a glass of iced Ginger Peach White Tea. Cool and refreshing, bursting with sweet peaches and balanced with a gentle spicy ginger twist, this tea will quench your thirst in the summer heat while soothing your full belly. No summer meal is complete without a jug of sweet ginger peach white tea on the table; we like to sweeten it with a hint of agave after it steeps. You can also enjoy this tea hot when the night falls and the evening cools. Paired with some ginger snap cookies, this low caffeine white tea makes the perfect bedtime snack.
INGREDIENTS: Pai Mu Tan White Peony tea, diced peaches, orange peel, ginger, and marigold petals, with peach and orange flavoring.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried quite a few ginger peach flavored teas, and for the most part, enjoyed them. But, I can’t remember enjoying one more than I am this Ginger Peach White Tea from Ovation Teas. It is balanced so nicely.
The white tea base (Pai Mu Tan) is – not surprisingly – a very gentle flavor. It is fresh and a bit like a breath of fresh air. It would be easy to overwhelm the white tea with the flavors of ginger, peach and orange, but fortunately, this blend has been skillfully blended with a delicate touch of flavoring to maintain a sense of balance.
The peach and orange work very well together. The peach is sweet, the orange tangy, and with the peppery heat from the ginger and the soft whisper of white tea, it becomes a lovely contrast of flavors.
I love this tea iced! It is so light and delicious.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Daily Gourmet website because for a limited time they will be offering 50% savings on the retail price of some of Ovation Teas’ most popular blends (including this one!) starting August 22!
Raspberry Ginger from Element Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White & Green
Where to Buy: Element Tea
Product Description:
Support your health with this popular blend of Pai Mu Tan White tea, Chinese Sencha Green tea, whole raspberries, and an array of healthful spices. Throw in the crisp taste of ginger, and you’ve got the perfect balance of delicious and palate pleasing flavors!
Brew Time: 3 – 4 minutesIngredients: Pai Mu Tan White Tea, China Green Tea Sencha, Jasmine, Ginger, Cardamom, Cloves, Raspberries, Black Pepper, Star-of-Anise
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This is really good. Very different. It is unlike any tea I’ve ever tasted … but then, it is very familiar too. Not familiar as in I’ve tried a blend like this before (because I haven’t!), but familiar as in each of the ingredients are ones that I enjoy when it comes to tea. But I would have never imagined them all put together like this!
The white tea is surprisingly strong in the midst of all these ingredients. It lends a fresh, sweet and creamy taste to the cup, while the green tea is more of an understated flavor – providing a solid base but without interfering with the other flavors.
The ginger is the strongest note, followed by the cardamom, cloves and star anise. The black pepper isn’t very prevalent in the sip but reveals itself in the aftertaste which is lightly peppery with a whisper of jasmine sweetness.
While the raspberry is not as strong a flavor – or perhaps “not as aggressive a flavor” would be the right terminology here – it still seems to be the star of the show. It’s the scene-stealer! The sweet yet tart berry weaves its way throughout the sip, never letting this taster forget that this is a raspberry flavored tea. It even has that pleasing tingle of tartness in the finish.
If you’re looking for something very out of the ordinary – try this blend! It blew me away!
Tangerine White Tea from Tea Licious
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Tea Licious
Product Description:
Pai Mu Tan with tangerine.
Taster’s Review:
Flavored white teas are often “hit and miss” for me. That’s because quite often the delicate flavor of the white tea is overpowered by the flavoring. Careful use of flavoring is needed to keep a balance of flavor.
This Tangerine White Tea from Tea Licious hits the nail on the head for me. The flavoring is strong here, and it tastes sweet and sunny like a blend of tangerine and orange. But it is not so strong that I cannot taste white tea.
The white tea base is a Pai Mu Tan (which is also known as Bai Mu Dan), and these leaves are of good quality – evidenced by the softness of the leaves and the fluffy white down that covers them. The flavor is sweet, fresh and light with hints of grassy tones and hay-like flavor in the background.
This tea has an surprisingly bright flavor to it for such a delicate composition. It is delicious served hot but even better when iced. It is so refreshing and cooling, even on the warmest of days.
I do recommend trying it at least once hot so that you can get the best definition of flavor from it. As it cools, the flavors do mute just a little, so when chilling it, I do recommend a pinch of sweetener to it to enhance the flavors a little bit. Not much, just a pinch will do the trick. This one should be a real hit during the warm weather months!