When I saw the leaf shape of the 2020 Nannou Leaf Assamica White Tea, I could not resist purchasing it. I enjoy teas from Nannou Mountain as I do not recall having white tea from there.
Leaf and Steeping Method
The 2020 Nannou Leaf Assamica White Tea is foil wrapped in 8 gram leaves. This tea has a fresh, juicy, and floral scent like freshly cut flowers.
I had to break this pretty leaf to fit into my 1 gram to 20ml gongfu ratio. Steeped up with boiling water, the leaves have a bright and sweet scent.
Tasting of Yunnan Sourcing’s 2020 Nannou Mountain Leaf Assamica White Tea
First and Second Infusion: 2020 Nannou Leaf Assamica brews up bright, sweet, buttercup floral, straw, then settles into a creamy enoki mushroom umami. After a sip, the tea finishes with a tulip floral aftertaste. Immediately, the texture has a sticky aspect that is slightly astringent, but also densely thick. These early infusions screamed young sheng puer to me.
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Infusion: At maximum flavor release, 2020 Nannou Leaf Assamica brews up like an orange pekoe black!
The flavor is malty, tannic, sharply floral, and moderately astringent. It drinks like a black tea that got western steeped a bit too far and needs a spot of cream.
Sixth and Seventh Infusion: 2020 Nannou Leaf Assamica White Tea suddenly lost just about all its flavor. All that is left to taste is a mix of minerals, bitter malt, and stewed grassy floral.
This tea also has high gut rot – my stomach cramped and lusted for greasy food after drinking this entire tea session.
Comments
2020 Nannou Leaf Assamica White Tea is an interesting tea that blurs between white, sheng, and black tea, all in a little leaf shape. Besides the educational drinking aspect of Nannou Mountain whites and Assamica, this tea is great for those who like a more malty dark, yet youthful, white tea.
My Nannou Leaf is a bit astringent for me right now, and I am happy to leave it alone to age for a few years before revisiting it.
