TeaGschwendner's China Jasmine Yellow Bud Tea
Tea Name: China Jasmine Yellow Bud
Brand: TeaGschwendner
Type: Yellow Tea
Review: As a tea-writer, I get to drink a lot of tea: Most of it ranges between "ok" and "very good". Occasionally I will get a tea that is simply awful. Even more rare, however, is a truly extraordinary tea.
TeaGschwendner's China Jasmine Yellow Bud is one of those extraordinary teas.
Yellow tea is processed similarly to green tea, but is dried more slowly, which results in a yellowing of the leaves. This style of tea can be difficult to find, yet TeaGschwendner has gone a step further and sourced a yellow tea comprised entirely of carefully picked buds.
The dry buds are a soft brown and possess a rich, sweet nose of jasmine and (perhaps) a bit of spice (sandalwood?). They infuse to a pale, pale gold liquor with a light mouthfeel, and yet enough structure to keep the sweet floral liquor from insipidity: The jasmine dominates, but the slightly woody backnote gives the tea substance.
Because of the subtlety of this tea, I would strongly advise against pairing it with food. This is, instead, a tea to be savored on its own. Incidentally, while some may condemn me for heresy, I tried this tea both hot and iced, and found its iced version to be incredibly delicious and refreshing. Those who are looking for a refined, complex non-alcoholic drink on a hot day will find this to be a wonderful treat.
Tips: Like most jasmine teas, there is a risk of China Jasmine Yellow Bud becoming bitter and disagreeable if badly handled. Measure the leaf carefully (I recommend a gram scale) and be careful with water temperature. Most importantly, use a digital timer to prevent oversteeping.
Comments