Hindbaersnitter Shou Mei

The Steepster database lists this as a Shou Mei, but I have a White Peony version. There’s no listing for that, so I’m just leaving my note here, which is what VariaTEA (who I got this from – thanks!) has done. I wonder if Anne changed the base when she took over 52teas from Frank?
Anyway, this is a nice raspberry white tea. I don’t get much pastry from it, or sweetness either for that matter, but there’s a chance that has faded with time. The raspberry is very much fresh – or even frozen – raspberry to me rather than a sweet and jammy raspberry. It has a tanginess about it which is giving me that impression. There’s something almost vegetal and broth-like about the base tea, which again is giving me more of a natural, fresh raspberry impression than a dessert one. Nevertheless, I am a fan of raspberry and enjoyed my cup. Normally I would add a touch of sugar to see if that helps to bring out the dessert elements of the tea, but I’m all out at the moment. I will do that with my next cup.

(52teas (Anne) 2022: 71)

I am currently in a terrible mood; toddler is sick so has to stay at home (again), and I’m grumpy because we’re wasting so much money on childcare that we’re not using; I’m dealing with two $45 NSF charges because of unauthorized withdrawals of a large amount of money from my bank account, that bounced (clerical errors by a company we deal with); and major customer service issues with a different company while attempting to resolve a minor customer service issue (which is both hilarious and extremely frustrating).

On a positive note, this is is freaking delicious today. I have no idea why. It tastes like a delicious, lightly smoky aged white with fruity overtones.

This one promised to be a favorite as I love flavored white teas. I’m loving white teas more and more. I’ve never actually tried whatever the inspiration for this one is. But raspberries should work for me! There is certainly plenty of buzzy lingering raspberry flavor here that balances with the flavor of the white tea. I didn’t see any actual raspberries in the blend. Does it taste like anything dessert? Not really… it’s raspberry. But then I don’t really know what other ingredients SHOULD be in this dessert, so I’m fine with the raspberries.
Steep #1 // 2 tsps. // 30 min after boiling // less than 2 min steep
Steep #2 // 25 min after boiling // 2 1/2 min

Drinking this as a cold brew again at work today. It was just so delicious last time, I couldn’t resist giving it another go before iced tea season is officially over. It’s cold in the mornings now, and I can’t see myself wanting a cold drink during the day as often anymore. Still, hopefully a couple more weeks to enjoy before it’s hot tea all the way!

This is as delicious as I remember, anyway. The raspberry note is strong and clear, a little candy-like. There’s also a sweet, delicate shortbreadiness. I have yet to try this hot, but I’ll get around to it over the next couple of weeks. Good raspberry tea is a wonderful, wonderful thing, and I have high hopes for my continuing relationship with this one!

Backlog:

I’ve never tried real hindbaersnitter but after learning of its existence (through this tea) I actually started looking for local bakeries to see if I could find one that made such a thing because it sounds like something I need to try. I like pop tarts, and I can’t help but think that a thin, buttery shortbread cookie type pastry would taste better than the dough-y stuff that encases the fillings of a pop tart. So I want to try hindbaersnitter, but I was not successful in finding a bakery that made the stuff. (Note: stuff is easier to type than hindbaersnitter.)

Anyway, I definitely enjoyed the tea. The delicate Shou Mei seemed the ideal base for this, so that the buttery flavors of the shortbread pastry could be tasted with the sweet-tart notes of the raspberry. The raspberry pops in the aftertaste.

I liked this. It reminds me a lot of the raspberry thumbprint cookies my gramma used to make.

Finally trying this one from the 52Teas order I made months ago. It’s the last one I had left to try, and I was really craving fruit tea tonight so it seemed perfect.

Dry this is definitely very, very sweet raspberry! It’s really borderline between candy and realistic raspberries too. It’s supposed to be like Raspberry Poptarts, right? I suppose that would make sense. Raspberry poptarts are like very sugared up raspberry jam infused biscuits. That’s a weird poptart description, but fuck it.

Steeped up; this is pretty damn good! It’s very flavourful and very raspberry, and I do get a glaze/icing vibe from it on top of the honey/hay notes in the base. Anything pastry/bread like is lost on me though. Oh well, it’s still quite tasty! I’m imagining it’d be good iced or cold brewed, so that’s probably how I’ll try it next time.

So concluding thoughts: I think this is yummy and really flavourful with a superb raspberry taste. Having never had Hindbaersnitter I can’t comment with certainty as to the accuracy of the flavour, but I can vaguely see the comparison to Raspberry Poptarts. I think I will happily finish off the rest of the pouch, but if this were to be reblended (and assuming it would taste the same) would I get it again? Probably not; I think I could find better raspberry white tea for a better price, given that a pouch if this is only an ounce of tea.

Still, I’m happy drinking it right now! Thanks Marzipan for suggesting this one to Frank!

I received a package from Marzipan the same day as the Butiki TTB2. I have quite a bit of tea I want to try from that but this tea cut in front of the line. It did not dissapoint. I gave it a whif while it was steeping and it smelled of fresh raspberries. It tasted just like raspberries and a little of white tea. I might try steeping it a little longer next time to help the white tea shine through. I don’t get a lot of pastry flavor but I bet if I add sugar it would taste very much like a sugary treat.

Scheherazade kindly shared a sample of this with me and I have to say that it is quite nice. My first sip, I definitely noticed the raspberry and as I continue to drink, I detect the sugar glaze as well. Both flavors pair beautifully with the base. I am not sure I am really getting “pastry” notes per se but the base mixed with the other flavors can lend itself to the notion of a baked good if you put your mind to it.

I feel like I did something wrong with this tea … but I also enjoyed it. Yay for flexible tea?

Also: if anyone has steeping instructions for 52Teas white blends, please share with me! I’m in the dark on the best way to brew this and I really don’t trust my own judgement.

Dry, this smells heavily of raspberries. Steeped, this tastes like a mixture of raspberries, white tea, pastry, and a hint of confectioner’s sugar. On my first sip, I was honestly shocked to be able to taste confectioner’s sugar! 52Teas does do a good job flavoring their teas! As I sipped, the sugary taste devolved into raspberries and pastry crust. Not sure this one is my favorite, but I enjoyed it.

[1.5tsp/8oz 170F/3min]

I’m drinking this tea now with milk and rock sugar and it is very nice. The raspberry taste is very present and it is a great white tea. I let mine steep for about 5 minutes which is probably longer than what is normal for white tea, but it’s not bitter.