White Monkey Chinese Green from Single Origin Teas is a delightfully fuzzy tea. I reviewed a different White Monkey at the end of September and spent a large chunk of the review waxing poetically about Trichomes and how entertainingly diverse this type of tea is, I do really enjoy fuzzy teas. White Monkey fascinates me because it seems to have its velvety leaves straddling two worlds bringing the best characteristics of White Tea to a Green Tea. The aroma of this particular White Monkey has a touch of citrus sweetness that mixes with a paper like aroma I always associate with Pai Mu Dan. Yes, I said paper, trust me this is a huge compliment because I love the smell of paper, especially artisan Washi which is what I think some White Teas smell like. There are also very subtle notes of cedar and and fresh greenery.
It is time for the leaves to lose their fuzz and steep! The aroma of the steeping leaves is delightfully complex blending the delicate sweetness of citrus with artichoke and fresh greenery. The leaves lose their papery aroma and take on a more vegetal tone expected from a Green Tea. Once the leaves are removed the aroma of the liquid is sweet and vegetal mixing chestnuts and fresh spinach with a tiny note of green beans. The aroma of this tea is drool worthy, not just because the right side of my face is still numb, I promise.
I have fuzzies in my mouth, I love trichomes so much, they really are so wonderful. I have heard some people (my mother for example) say that the trichomes in tea are a bit much and make you cough but I have never had this problem, the only problem with fuzzy teas I have ever noticed is sometimes it makes my mouth itch just a little. The taste is initially savory, blending artichoke with a hint of spinach. The aftertaste is honey sweet with a little bit of an orange blossom sweetness lingering in the back of the mouth for a few moments. As the tea cools it takes on more of a chestnut taste. I decided to give this tea a second steeping and noticed that it has even richer, the mouthfeel becomes buttery and the chestnut taste is much more prominent. I would have taken a photo of the slightly paler second steep, but I forgot to not drink it all first, whoops! I really enjoyed this tea, it is subtle and refreshing, a tea I wish to sip while sitting outside on a spring day or with a delicate dessert. Now, if you will all excuse me, I am going to go brew up some more of it!
For Photos and Blog Post: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/single-origin-teas-white-monkey-chinese.html
