Country of Origin: Nepal
Leaf Appearance: varied greens, buds scattered throughout
Ingredients: white tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: glass teapot
Liquor: pale gold
Nepal is quickly becoming one of my favorite growing regions. In the last year I’ve had a number of really high quality teas from there that would stand out even against some of China’s best. This tea completes a trifecta of white teas produced by Greenland Organic Farm. Their 2nd flush silver needle and 1st flush white tea were both very enjoyable. The leaves of the spring buds white tea were somewhere in between the other two, not quite as whole as the silver needle but not as broken as the 1st flush white. A peach-filled meadow came to mind as I sipped pot after pot. The fruity aromas were at the forefront with hints of sweet grass and melon in the finish. I imbibed three full pots before throwing in the towel. This tea was simply too delicious to stop drinking. What-Cha provided western style brewing directions but I think that this one would do really well in a gaiwan. If you’re brewing it in teapot, I recommend letting the leaves float free rather than using a strainer. Leaving a small amount of water (just enough to cover the leaves) at the bottom in between infusions will help maintain consistent flavor.
Nepal 1st Flush 2014 Spring Buds White Tea sample provided by What-Cha.