Kenya ‘Rhino’ Premium White Tea/What-Cha

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!

Doke Silver Needle, 2nd Flush, Bihar/Tea Swan

It’s been muggy lately. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE the heat…paired with the mugginess…not so much. In times like these I enjoy a lighter type tea. Yellows, sweeter Greens, and White Teas hit the spot. That is why I went with Doke Silver Needle, 2nd Flush, Bihar from TeaSwan.

Doke Silver Needle, 2nd Flush, Bihar from TeaSwan is a hand made organic white tea. It’s a 2nd flush of the 2017 year.

In case you ever wondered about the tea process with silver needle – it’s processed from the youngest leaves collected during the 2nd flush. The leaves are hand-picked and hand-rolled to preserve the original taste; the zero oxidation formula of white tea retains the natural tenderness of the leaves, which is reflected in the flavor.

The soft and light liquor produces the finest creamy aroma. This exquisite, hand-made white tea is the epitome of delicate luxury. Experience the light sweetness of peach blossoms and apricot that overlays a subtle backdrop of marigold. The pale yellow brew feels as luxurious as it tastes. You’ll want to indulge in this cup again and again. Enjoy with wild rice and tender vegetables.

That last paragraph was from TeaSwan’s website and I have to agree that it would, indeed, pair well with rice and veggies.

I also agree that it had a glorious creamy-sweet flavor about it…and that, for me, is what makes this tea TASTE very memorable.


Want to Know More About This Tea?

Leaf Type:  White

Where to Buy:  Tea Swan

Description

The Doke Silver Needle white tea is processed from the youngest leaves collected during the 2nd flush. The leaves are hand-picked and hand-rolled to preserve the original taste; the zero oxidation formula of white tea retains the natural tenderness of the leaves, which is reflected in the flavor. The soft and light liquor produces the finest creamy aroma. This exquisite, hand-made white tea is the epitome of delicate luxury. Experience the light sweetness of peach blossoms and apricot that overlays a subtle backdrop of marigold. The pale yellow brew feels as luxurious as it tastes. You’ll want to indulge in this cup again and again. Enjoy with wild rice and tender vegetables.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Kenya Silver Needle White Tea from What-Cha. . . .

Time and time again I have shared my preference against white teas, specifically bai mu dan and shou mei teas. I don’t like the floral notes nor the soapy quality they can often have. If I am going to have a white tea, I tend to reach for either a White Rhino because it tends to be more robust like a black tea, or a Silver Needle.

I also have now tried a few What-Cha teas and been pleased with all of them.That is why when I came across this What-Cha Kenya Silver Needle White Tea, I had to give it a try.

Following the recommended steeping parameters, I brewed this for 2 minutes at 175 degrees. I was left with a pale and translucent liquid, typical of a white tea.

This tea boasts sweet notes of corn and it delivers, despite the packaging suggesting that this is best before June 2017. It’s so simple and yet so good. Flavorful without being in your face which means it is a tea that can be reached for again and again without becoming tired or boring.

I don’t reach for white teas often, especially straight white teas but when I come across Silver Needles like this, I am reminded that they can make a pleasant alternative to all the dessert and fruity teas I usually drink.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  White Tea
Where to Buy:  What-Cha
Description

A very sweet and smooth silver needle with notes of melon and sweetcorn without any traces of bitterness or astringency.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Pineapple Angel Food Cake White Tea from 52Teas

52teas3_1430856114__73092Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  White

Where to Buy: 52Teas

Tea Description:

All Organic ingredients:  White Peony, Pineapple Pieces, Vanilla Bean and Natural Flavors 

This particular blend is sold out. Learn what white teas are available here.

Taster’s Review:

Sipdown! Gotta love a sipdown. Sipdowns make me happy and sad. Happy that I’ve enjoyed a tea to the point that I’ve finished it. Sad because if that tea is from 52Teas it means that more than likely that tea is one you can’t get again.

I believe I reviewed this tea on my blog CuppaGeek, but I don’t believe I did here. So I thought with the summer finally upon us, this would be a great tea to try both hot and iced for these upcoming summer months, allowing me to sipdown a tea from my always growing tea stash.

With a tea named Pineapple Angel Food Cake White Tea, there are high expectations of a lush white tea with icing notes and that tropical pineapple feel. A hard goal to hit when it comes to tea, but one that 52Teas did amazingly well!

First I tried the tea hot. Prepped with water at 165F and allowed to steep for about 5 minutes and then allowed to cool for about 3. I took a sip and the flavors exploded. They captured the title of this tea perfectly. Lush notes of a decadent angel food cake with a vanilla icing and pineapple topping. The white tea provides a silky like feel that gives a unique dessert taste.  The flavors are subtle but not so much that you can’t pick them out. They mingle together very well and make me sad that I have sipped this tea down. This is a tea that I should have bought a bigger pouch of.

Then after loving the tea as hot, I tried the tea as iced. I have to say this tea sings as a hot tea but as an iced tea it is pretty tasty as well. You still get all of those same notes but the pineapple flavors seem to be a bit sharper. The cake and vanilla notes were my favorite part when I tried the tea hot.  Still, absolutely delicious and I have already drank two tall tumblers full and I’m going for a third.

Another wonderful offering from 52Teas. They really do dessert teas justice!

 

Haiku from The Jasmine Pearl

4006-2TTea Information:

Leaf Type:  White

Where to Buy: The Jasmine Pearl

Tea Description:

A beautifully balanced blend of white tea, peach, vanilla and a hint of rose hips. Whether you prefer to drink it with or without the addition of a sweetener, Haiku has a natural light sweetness and smooth finish. Pairs well with pastries.

INGREDIENTS:

Chinese White Tea*, Vanilla Extract, Rose Hips, Orange Peel*, Vanilla Beans, and Natural Peach Flavor.

*Organically Grown.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

It has been a rough day so I wanted something soothing. Something warm, something soothing, something that made you just want to cozy up with a book and escape for a while. So I brewed up this tea. Everything about it screamed good for the soul.

If you aren’t familiar with The Jasmine Pearl, take a moment and check them out. I have liked just about every tea I’ve tried from them and these teas are memorable.

The dry leaf mix of this tea had such a lovely subtle smooth sweet yet slightly floral note to them.  I was hoping this flavor would translate into the flavor.

And wow! Did it ever! This tea is simply amazing! A light refreshing soul soothing tea with distinct white tea notes, a sweet vanilla pillow enveloping a citrus note that is reminiscent of a stone fruit. I would say either peach but I get apricot notes as well.  This tea is soft and loving. Really really really good! I bet this tea would make a dynamite iced tea or a cold brew. Something I hope to be able to try in the future.

Another highly recommended tea from The Jasmine Pearl. I have a feeling I will need 2 oz of this tea fast! I’m off to snuggle up with my book and enjoy the rest of the evening!