Country of Origin: India
Leaf Appearance: large, covered in downy hairs
Ingredients: white tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 160 degrees
Preparation Method: glass teapot
Liquor: very pale
A silver needle white tea from Nilgiri? This tea was as unusual as it sounds. Teaneer is a line of teas produced by Vijayalakshmi Natural Farms using bio-dynamic cultivation. I couldn’t believe how large and beautiful the leaves were. Tucked inside of each leaf was a tiny new bud. They seemed to be a bit more oxidized than the standard variety you’d see from China but they still had the signature downy white hairs. The taste was very delicate and light with a subtle vegetal sweetness. Hints of honey and a very faint floral note rounded out the flavor profile. An interesting cooling affect occurred in the finish. I wouldn’t quite call it menthol but it was long those lines. There was no bitterness, even when the leaves were allowed to sit in the water for some time.
You can find out more about this tea here.