Classification: Moonlight & Snow Chrysanthemum Buds Dragon Ball Spring 2017- white tea with Chrysanthemum flowers – hand made
Cultivar: Yunnan Da Ye
Origin: China, Yunnan province, Pu Erh – Simao Prefecture, Jinggu county
Grade: Outstanding, Supreme
Leaf: Beautifully rolled small greenish-brown balls with silver tips and imprinted crimson flowers. Floral aroma is mingling with an aroma of fresh zest, dried fruits and sultanas.
Infused leaf: After first infusion (in a Gaiwan – cup with lid) and the tea is still in a perfect ball shape. It takes up to 5 infusions to get these tea leaves to freely float! Amazing :) The aroma is minty, peppery and floral with a sweetness of forest honey.
Liquor: Cup light and bright, pineapple like colour with a fragrance of dried herbs. Deliciously smooth and honey sweet mouth-feel with a bouquet of wild flowers and herbs and a tiny bit spicy (cardamom and mint) after-taste. The cup has a little astringency, no acidity and is heavenly perfumy and creamy. Pleasantly refreshing yet very relaxing tea due to the calming properties of Chrysanthemum flowers!
About: Yue Guang Bai is unusual white tea which is made from a wild bush varietal Camellia taliensis – a wild relative of Camellia sinensis - native to Yunnan province. Interestingly, the leaf is white on one side and deep purple from the other side. Because of this unique tea varietal, Yue Guang Bai is a true regional Yunnan specialty. If you age a portion of Yue Guang Bai it will darken over time and become more like a black tea. This 2017 spring pick is then mixed with Snow Chrysanthemum flowers and compressed into small balls with a little piece of cotton. Dragon balls are great because they are perfect single brewing servings, and because the leaves fare much better during transport and storage compared to loose leaf form.