Good morning to you, dear tea friends! I woke up to a misty, foggy world outside, probably the result of warmer temps, called a January thaw. I love a January thaw! It feels so pleasant to go outside and not be assaulted by a sharply cold breeze and instead feel an almost balmy quality to the air. On now to our tea…
In my cup this morning is a delicate, white tea called Snow Buds Superior. Described as a fine plucking processed similarly to a Pai Mu Tan, it has a greater concentration of downy buds, as seen in my photo above. I love how my new lens has captured those fine silvery-white hairs on the leaf, which is what gives white tea its name.
This leaf is so bold that I used 3 teaspoons in my glass teapot and steeped for 3 minutes in 180 degree F water.
I imagine small, delicate hands plucking the tea leaf and careful hand-processing, which has resulted in this beautifully intact leaf that has traveled thousands of miles to be in my kitchen.
The pale, ecru tea liquor has the faintest tinge of green. The aroma is fresh and quite vegetal for a white tea. A light sweetness mellows out the vegetal tang. The cup is delightfully refreshing.
I love to show off one of my teabowls when I drink a white tea as the pale liquor reveals the beautiful glazing patterns inside. I feel calmer after a gentle tea meditation with a white tea. There’s something about its delicate quality that soothes and comforts. What do you think?
As always, thanks for visiting and I look forward to our next cup of tea together!
“Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.”
~Michael Caine
Art and Tea 
Your photos are so wonderful. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Lee!
Your new camera lenses are amazing… get right up close like that. I see so much art in your photos. The designs I see in the bowls are beautiful. Like a mixed media painted background.
I know, it’s amazing how close to my subject this lens will allow me to get, Judy. Up close and personal with the tea lol. Thanks for your kind words about my photos!
I’ve only had white tea once. Sadly I can’t say that it made much of an impression. (Obviously it wasn’t an Upton Tea!) This one sounds very nice. Might have to get a sample with my next order. Great pictures too. Jealous that you got a micro-lens 😉 Enjoy!
Yes, I know what you mean, Amy – the flavor of white teas can be very subtle. And in comparison to other teas that we’re used to drinking, like black and green teas, the flavor notes don’t come forward as strongly as those teas. Thanks for your kind words about my pics!
Those downy leaves look very much like the freezing fog we had tonight covering everything with a soft, shimmery coat!
Great comparison, Steph! 🙂
Hi Karen. Wonderful detail in those pics. And the tea sounds tasty. I may have to try a white when I get through the ceylons and assams…
Thanks Dave, I’m glad you like the pics! A white tea is definitely worth a try!