• Reviews

    Arbor Teas Organic Silver Needle White Tea

    September 21, 2017 / 2 Comments

    Country of Origin: ChinaLeaf Appearance: whole buds, covered in downy hairSteep time: 30 secondsWater Temperature: 180 degreesPreparation Method: glass gaiwanLiquor: pale gold Time flies really flies when you’re having fun but it’s still hard to believe that it has been six years since I have written about anything from my friends at Arbor Teas. This blog and my own journey with tea have changed so much in that time. The last batch of samples included teas like masala chai and earl gray. There’s nothing wrong with flavored teas but my tastes have changed quite a bit since then. The focus of the blog has shifted to the unflavored and unblended end of the…

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  • Reviews

    Teavivre Fuding Shou Mei White Tea Cake 2012

    August 23, 2017 / No Comments

    Country of Origin: China Leaf Appearance: varied browns and greens with scattered visible buds Steep time: 10 seconds, increasing 5 seconds with each infusion Water Temperature: 200 degrees Preparation Method: glass gaiwan Liquor: orange-tinged amber Did you know that white can be aged? It’s become quite the rage but also very expensive. Reflective of the popularity of puerh, the leaves are commonly pressed into cakes and wrapped in paper. I’ve written A LOT of reviews of Teavivre’s teas over the years but this was my very first aged white tea from their catalog so I was really excited to dive into this one. The dry tea looks a bit like a pile of fall leaves,…

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