Bana Tea Company has some really good non-puer teas. Their Moonlight White from Jingmai is killer so am I pumped to see Bana Tea with some more white teas. With my last Bana Tea order, I slipped a box of 2012 Tribute White in.
2012 Tribute white is a Fuding, Fujian white tea. I volunteer myself as tribute, let’s drink this!
Dry Leaf and Steeping Method
That is a fuzzy leaf! If I didn’t have a bunny I would just pet this tea. The leaf smells like chocolate covered coconut.
The bottom of the bag is also fuzz central.
I’ve been liking gongfu white tea at 1 gram of leaf to 20ml vessel size. I used boiling water and did not rinse the leaves.
Tasting of Bana Tea Company’s 2012 Tribute White Tea
First and Second Infusion: The hot leaf smells fruity, blindfolded I would think this is a fruity black tea. Tribute White comes up a little murky, but that is tea fuzzy that I can see floating.
2012 Tribute White sips in tasting like a milky date. This white tea is quite sweet, fruity, and creamy. Tribute White has a thick puffy texture, feeling like eating cotton candy. There is an aftertaste in this white, which I don’t find all that often, leaving a date flavor for a bit after each sip. Beware of the early dregs of this tea as it is full of chewy fuzz. I should have used a finer tea filter.
Second, Third, and Fourth Infusion: A linen and tart rose note appeared. Tribute White is still creamy and sweet, but the main flavor has become this linen cloth and tart rose with stem flavor. It still has a bit of juicy green to this white, but that tart vibes almost medicinal of an aged white tea. Combined with the thick puffy texture, this tea has a comfort food feel, but also with a touch of elegance from the floral notes.
Fifth and Sixth Infusion: I let Tribute White steep 15 to 30 minutes. The colour is a copper hue. The excessively long steeping got it quite dry, leaving a tightness in the throat. The flavor is bitter stewed roses with a touch of medicinal.
Comments
Bana Tea Company’s 2012 Tribute White tea has excellent early infusions with lovely floral and sweet notes with a thick body. It is starting to get some age on it and is one of the fuzziest white teas I’ve had. It isn’t bad to drink now, but I would personally let it sit a couple more years to develop more of the date and medicinal flavor, as well as lose the juicy green notes. As is, it is a classy yet comforting white tea, but from my experience of aged white teas, Tribute White is also in that awkward in-between state of age.
The price is right on this tea too, at this time 50 grams for $14 (at this time). This tea is a cart sneaker for sure.
