Review: Bai MuDan (White Peony)
The folks at Teavivre were kind enough to send me a sample of their organic white tea, which is farmed and produced in Mt. Taimu in China’s Fujian province. Unlike many other white teas that I’ve tried, this particular variety is sweet and has a satisfying body to it.
Incidentally, Mt. Taimu appears to be quite a famous and picturesque mountain. Here’s a link to some photos.
Teavivre’s Description:
TeaVivre’s certified organic White Peony (Bai MuDan) tea is farmed and produced at Mt. Taimu using DaBai and DaHao tea trees. After brewing it has a pale orange-yellow color like our Silver Needle tea, however it has a slightly fuller flavour. Like Silver Needle, it is renowned for its health benefits, helping reduce the risk of heart attacks, some cancers and reducing the affects of aging.
Tasting Notes
Brewing Instructions
2-3 teaspoons for 8oz of water. Brew at 194F (90C) for 1 to 2 minutes
Appearance
I loved the look of the dry leaves, which are large and fully intact. The smell is grassy and sweet, and is slightly reminiscent of freshly cut clover. The leaves are primarily composed of buds covered in delicate white fuzz.
Steeped, the tea leaves have plumped up and unfurled. The liquor is a bright and energizing yellow, with a deeper tone than most white teas I’ve had.
The liquor from the tea is a bright citrine gold, very appropriate to the sun-kissed jasmine name.
Taste
While many white teas are often lacking in taste, this is one of the best white teas that I’ve tried. In comparison to this earlier review of a similar white tea, you can even tell just from the pictures of the dry leaves that this one is quite unique in its freshness. Another plus is that there isn’t even a hint of astringency to the taste.
The liquor is smooth and delicate, but still has quite a bit of body to it, tasting almost creamy. I’d describe the taste as slightly floral with a hint of nuttiness, like a very mild green tea without any unpleasant grassy or excessive floral taste to it. Overall, it’s a well-balanced and satisfying cup with a lingering sweetness in the aftertaste. I could definitely drink this one again.
Pricing & Where to Buy
Pack Size: 50g to 500g.
Price per unit: $4.90 to $49.00
This tea can be purchased on the Teavivre’s website here.
