Each harvest season this rare tea offers a special flavor experience. It is rich in amino acids, creating a rich umami flavor unusual for a Chinese green. In the 1980s, in a bamboo forest above the Huang Pu River in the mountains of Zhejiang Province, this varietal, thought to be extinct, was re-discovered. With care and propagation, this cultivar has regained its place as a prized tea. Not widely sold outside China, it is an exceptional green tea. Given its process of manufacture, it is, in fact, a green tea despite the name "white". Research has found that this plant is rich in amino acids having almost twice the amount of other green teas. Harvest date: April 2021.
Lot Notes. AnJi White is one of a select group of teas that embody the aromas and flavors of the spring harvest. This lot's leaves are fresh and offer a robust green color indicating the bushes are healthy and mineral rich. The leaves are long, narrow & elegant, and open to look feathery and light. We look for the hint of yellow color in the cultivar's folded leaves. This lot was made with buds harvested in the second week of April. Its harvest period is brief and good lots are limited.
Tasting Notes. Prepared correctly, its' liquor is described as liquid silk. Vibrant green leaves will brew to a cup color of light apple green, with an extremely smooth mouth feel and rich 'umami' or savory taste. Brews to a depth of flavor and a texture that reflects the high theanine content of the leaf.
Brewing Suggestions. To enjoy these delicate notes and flavors, it is important to use a "cooler" temperature water as you do not want to "burn" this wonderful tea. Equally important is the quality of the water for brewing. If possible, use either a spring water or at least a filtered water. The water temperature should range from 140 degrees to about 175 degrees F. At these lower temperatures, the leaves will give their flavorful notes. For a warmer cup temperature, it is best that the water does not exceed 185 degrees F. We recommend a steep time of about 1.5 to 2 minutes.
How can a green tea be warm and hearty while also being fresh and delicate? Where does the subtle cassia and cinnamon-spice finish come from? I don't know and I don't care. I wait every spring for this tea to arrive. It's the one tea I can't do without. I can't think of a better way to start the day than with the calm, centered qi this green imparts.
I bought this on all the hype that Anji was this special sort of tea of all teas. First of all the color was dull, dry and flat green much unlike the photo seen here. I brewed it as directed from multiple sources, 165 degrees for 2 minutes. The flavor was as flat as it's color. No asparagus, no citrus flavor, no nutty and barely sweet. Maybe people are talking about the REAL stuff that only the elite and the rich get first in line from the very start of harvest. That was a pricey mistake. mistake.
This is a wonder smooth treat . Very nice .
