Wild Tree Purple "Sweet Ya Bao" White Tea * Spring 2019

I’m mostly a sheng drinker but occasionally get a craving for white tea. I’ve bought a small bag of this each year since 2017 and still have some left in each bag. I reach for this tea when I want a bright May afternoon in a cup. As others have noted there are notes of dill and honeydew. I also get a whiff of cardamom. I typically gongfu this but see that others cold brew it. Will have to try that.

Made this as a cold brew overnight. When my Yunnan Sourcing box arrived yesterday, I glossed over most of the teas and spent a good 5 minutes huffing the aroma coming from this bag like some kind of lunatic. So sweet and gently floral with hints of watermelon. I can’t get enough of that scent.

The tea itself is delightfully delicate. Very pale liquor with a light honey hue, incredibly fragrant when you open the lid to the cup. It’s not unlike sniffing a bouquet. The taste doesn’t disappoint: you get honeydew melon, white florals, and a pleasant sourness with hints of dillweed right off the bat. I know that combo probably sounds horrible, but it really works! And that’s coming from someone avoids weird, savory tea notes like the plague.

I could see myself buying a big bag of the Spring 2020 harvest when that comes out, but honestly, it’s so good that I’d rather savor it by drinking it sparingly. Gotta preserve the magic of a wonderful tea.