white2tea

Grandpa Style!

I was feeling a white tea today, so I spent most of the afternoon sipping on a 2024 Nightlife Mini steeped up grandpa style! Nightlife has always been one of my favourite white tea productions that W2T routinely brings back, and this brew was no exception. Crisp, vegetal and so fresh tasting at first in a way that makes me think of green melons, grapes and cucumber pulp. Sort of cooling with a pleasant bit of green snap and sweetness. As the dragonball opens up I feel like the flavours get more brown and dense. Hints of caramelized sugars blended with the crunch of autumnal leaves. Always smooth, and just really pleasant to sit and sip with over an afternoon.

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFd1ZzdyFS8/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68YcMOJ9dSQ&ab_channel=Hemlock-Topic

If there’s a tea I’ve been snoozing on, it’s almost certainly NOT Snoozefest. Today, I’m sipping on the most recent pressing, but there are eight years of W2T’s infamous sheng pu’erh cake spanning from 2017 up until last year’s 2024 pressing. The tea is very tasty and accessible given its aggressively affordable price point – if you’re fast enough to snipe one that is. Bright and snappy with fruitier top notes over a greener mid sip.

Taste aside, though, I find it ESPECIALLY interesting to look at the evolution of each year’s wrappers. If you know this cake, you probably associate it heavily with the colour pink, but it wasn’t until I was directly comparing today that I realized how soft and desaturated the shade on the 2024 wrapper is. And of course, the original feels almost naked compared to how busy others have been. My favourite is probably the 2021 wrapper, which is fifth up from the bottom in the second picture. The Peptobismal pink really speaks to me. 2019 was really great too, with the thick blue band around the center!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFgX6jFSdLt/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHX3G7BjHyI&ab_channel=KendrickLamar-Topic

2022 mini

Really should stop expecting that I could make notes on anything on a Monday morning, regardless of how early I get into the office.

Mostly drunk cold because Monday, but I only have one mini left and I want to try to get something in.

Its ok. Not really my thing. Had an interesting flavor when it gets cold but I’m just not able to put a name to it. Gets a bit astringent when it gets cold too. I don’t think it was this noticeable when it was warm.

Grandpa Style!

This is one of the teas that I drank yesterday as part of my “Teas I Drink In a Day” round up and, to be perfectly honest, I was very disappointed in it. The description of it being like tomato soup is so interesting and it made me feel like this was either going to be thick and umami rich or have, like, an interesting balance between sweet, tangy, and savory notes. Just, like, something distinct. But instead I found it rather generically sweet and malty tasting and just a bit of an overall let down? It wasn’t unpleasant tasting, but somewhat flat and unexciting?

Maybe this just isn’t the best method to brew it. So, I’ll try and reserve judgement and keep a fresh and open mint until I can steep it gongfu…

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFOY8GQSgUp/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehd5-Xh5WBw&ab_channel=HaleyHeynderickx-Topic

Gongfu!

I found this a little more medium bodied with a more syrupy feeling liquor. It took a couple steeps for me to really start getting into this mini, but I eventually bought in for the more herbal and medicinal aftertaste alone. It was an interesting combination of very lightly cooling mint, pine-y juniper berry, and fresh dill, in particular on the exhale when it came to those more resinous tree sap notes. It’s been a while since I last had the original 2018 pressing of W2T’s Arbor Red, but for some reason my brain kept making a connection with that tea as I sipped on this one – but maybe a little less punchy and intense. I would be curious if they use material from the same regions…

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFD-yqpSq2_/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezmu0fQGclg&ab_channel=MajakDoor

Gongfu!

It feels like it’s been a moment since I had a nice sheng session, so this morning I steeped up this newer sample I got in a recent order. I couldn’t really remember anything about how W2T had described this production so I was going in pretty blind, and I was pleasantly surprised by how soft, sweet, and fruity I found this sheng to be. Aside from a really fresh and slippery feeling liquor, it had pretty fleshed out feeling notes of candied lilac petals with a gentle, peachy, and floral undertone and just a bit of a crisp, vegetal finish. A bit like snow peas?? It definitely picks up a bit more body over the session, with some thicker stonefruit notes that almost seem to fold in that still fruity but slightly sharper note of peach or apricot skins as opposed to the flesh of the fruit. Definitely different from what I’d expected from the name, but I really, reaalllyyyy enjoyed this session. Just a great balance of body, mouthfeel, and tasting note progression!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE-tBm7yah4/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ3SpEonPtw&ab_channel=RITHO

When I got this recent W2T order in a lot of people told me I should prioritize tasting this tea specifically, and I can definitely see why. Though I don’t usually love when teas are this tightly compressed, it was worth the effort to pry a chunk off the bar because this is one heck of a smooth and velvety shou with really rich, chocolate-y notes to it. Definitely reminds me of somewhere between a double chocolate muffin and something just a little bit sweeter like a molten lava cake. Very dense and decadent, though!!

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0gLaYSSoe/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_dYOMxvf0&ab_channel=MaxFrost

Quick backlog impressions based on one ball.
Floral, vegetal green teaish notes, upfront sweetness. Low bitterness, astringency is higher when pushed. Light body, some texture byt not too much, no standout aftertaste. The best part for me was some mushroom and barnyardyr funk that showed up quite strongly in some steeps, reminding me of some lower Menghai area teas (but without the bitterness).

Grandpa Style!

I’m still slowly sampling my way through my most recent W2T order, with this 2024 Stagecoach ripe pu’erh mini up next on the list. I’ve brewed it up grandpa-style so that I can more casually sip away at it while reading the first volume of Dandadan. The tea is very thick, with heavy notes of wet forest undergrowth that make up the bulk of the sip alongside a fudgey chocolate note and a hint of sweet yet umami walnut with a lick of camphor on the backend. There’s just a bit of funk to the cup still, but certainly not enough to derail the otherwise very soothing, darkly sweet and earthy flavour composition. It’s got really good bones, so I’m quite excited to see how this one settles and further ages!

I really, really enjoyed the first season of Dandadan’s anime (both the dub and sub) and, since it’s going to be a while until season two, I thought I’d dive into the manga. It’s proven challenging to find the manga here in Quebec as the English volumes have been selling out so quickly, but I finally lucked out and snagged the first volume. So good! Gonna have to keep my eyes sharply peeled for restocks of the next couple volumes…

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEnp6x8ye1z/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly7nFV6z-6Y&ab_channel=CallMeKarizma

Backlog

“A bitter cup of smoke and charcoal.” – January 3, 2025

Backlog

I hadn’t spent too much time taking notes with this session. I had sipped this one in the moment, and after the flavor started to pop (about the 3rd infusion), I noted sweet florals/honey. The qi headiness was the main attraction. I marked on the back, “6 infusions & giddy from the tea.” Too bad one can’t get this on their website. It seems that a lot of tea peeps got this in their Black Friday boxes, too.

Winter has decided to creep in over the week. I drank this on Monday to ease into the cold and the tea had done the job. Thankfully, we were approved to work from home, and so flow of tea was endless!

Notes: Woody, not too much body/texture, and smooth. Not the typical heavy earthy nor cocoa notes with this one.

Gongfu!

Tried this one for the first time yesterday. It’s very enjoyable, but quite a bit different from what I’d expected it to taste like. Medium-bodied but with a very slick and sticky feeling liquor. Though the tail end of the sip was usually at least a bit starchy and sweet potato-esque, I mostly found this to be a rather fragrant and floral tasting oolong with really prominent notes of candied violets, rose, and magnolia with jammy black currant and lychee undertones. I was really anticipating more of a sweet brown sort of flavour direction with some more minerality, but it’s amazing how “purple” the whole session tasted!! Has anyone else tried this tea or has more experience with this Xiang Fan Shu fragrance/varietal of shuixian? I’m curious to hear other opinions since I feel like my tasting notes are off enough from the site description…

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEiQHRjSA32/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01oI7AhwPLY&ab_channel=ROLEMODELVEVO

Grandpa Style!

Curiosity and a bit of gentle peer pressure won out today, and I’ve decided to start sipping my way through the white2tea order that recently arrived. I’m starting with a 2024 Shixi ripe pu’erh mini, which I’ve been drinking grandpa-style throughout the afternoon. It’s a rather thick and oily brew with a smooth, brothy sort of profile. Though not overly complex, the overall cup is loamy with supporting notes of bouillon, golden raisins, and sea salt. It’s definitely more on the savory side, but in a comforting way that’s akin to slurping away at a large mug of bone broth or chicken noodle soup on a cold and blustery afternoon. Though I’m not getting that first tasting kismet from this shou, I think it’s a solid offering that would work well as a daily drinker. I do think that makes sense given its price point. It will be interesting to see how this one settles and ages over time.

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEayU6FSh00/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQeh5wqvtdc&ab_channel=rainbowfrogbiscuits-Topic

Gongfu Sipdown (2732)!

I want to be better about sipdowns this year, so today I’m finishing off this smaller sample I’ve been sitting on for a while. It’s a beautifully smooth and deeply roasty tasting oolong packed full of notes of charred nuts, carob, toasted buckwheat, and espresso interlaced with an overarching minerality. However, the elements of this tea that I loved the most were the sweetly floral and aromatic mix of lychee, plum, and rose notes that gradually grew stronger with each infusion. Though the lychee and plum were pretty apparent from the first steep, the flavours consistently seemed to get deeper with time, making a seamless transition from top notes to these vast feeling and jammy, palate-coating flavours that seemed to pour out from the mid sip into a lingering finish on the back of the tongue. The contrast of dark roast and mineral with such fleshed out fruit and floral notes was so dynamic and pleasing to sip on; I really pushed these leaves as far as they would possibly brew. It was such a fun exploration and luxurious feeling session with the added bonus of being my first sipdown of the new year!!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEX8fy1S-hO/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIjOrDo5h94&ab_channel=TheHowl%26TheHum

Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown: Day 18

Playing catch-up with some of my advent teas!

It’s cold and blustery outside, with a bit of snow on the ground and more to come, so I decided to have a lil gong fu session. I’m thinking it’s way past time to pick up a gaiwan. I try to keep my teaware/drinkingware collection minimal, since my house is not huge and I don’t like clutter, but I do think I’d appreciate and use a gaiwan. Bitterleaf and Yunnan Sourcing both have some really pretty ones, but I’d love to hear y’all’s favorites and/or purchasing tips for a first-timer!

Anyway… the tea. First steep was light, yet unctuous, with a wisp of leather. Second steep brought out more leather, plus heavy notes of roasty charcoal and on-the-verge-of-bitter citrus rind. I reduced the temp for a few more steeps to get rid of the bitterness, which mostly worked. The rest of the steeps were predominantly leather with a bit of woodsiness. I didn’t find the flavor profile super enjoyable, to be honest!

This Sister Shou has an unmistakably bold presence—a tea with a strong character that makes an impression from the first pour. She enters with qualities that immediately intrigue: a touch of sharpness, slight bitterness, woody undertones, and a deep molasses sweetness that enriches the experience. There’s a satisfying quench—a richness that leaves you wanting more. Cocoa nibs, hints of coffee, and an assertive huigan—that lingering aftertaste that spreads warmth and flavour through the senses—make this a tea meant to be savoured in small sips.

First Steep:
On first impression, she feels like an old soul—steady yet striking. The flavours are layered: earthy, slightly bitter but not unpleasant, with a sweetness that’s dark, like burnt sugar or toasted molasses. The mouthfeel is full and rich, a sip that envelops you and invites introspection. This tea has a moorish quality—it’s difficult not to go back for more. Each sip feels deliberate, as though the tea itself asks you to slow down and savour.

Second Steep:
With the second infusion, the leaves begin to tell a deeper story. There’s an intensification of those pre-dawn aromas—woodsmoke, rich earth, and baked goods fresh from the oven. The warmth is still there, but there’s also a sharpness that cuts through—decisive but not jarring. It’s the kind of sharpness that feels like a declarative statement: she knows who she is and makes no apologies.

Taking small sips allows the flavours to unfold slowly, coating the palate and leaving a richness that lingers long after the cup is empty. This steeping is like a steady, resounding chord that fills the space—subtle yet profound, a presence you feel long after it’s passed.

Third Steep:
For the third steeping, the brewing temperature was lowered to 90°C, giving this sister room to breathe. This slight adjustment opened her up, allowing some of the higher, brighter notes to shine through. The lower temperature smoothed the sharper edges, giving more space for the complexities to reveal themselves.

Here, the tea takes on a more melodic quality, like a jazz ensemble where the saxophone cuts through the deep hum of the bass and the steady rhythm of the drums. There’s a brightness that feels refreshing amidst the deeper, earthy tones. The flavours harmonise in a way that feels like an invitation to stay longer, to keep listening, and to let the tea’s story unfold.

The musical comparison feels apt—if this steeping had a soundtrack, it would be a track from Morphine’s Cure for Pain. The way the bass, drums, and saxophone weave together mirrors the tea’s layers: rich, warm, resonant, with sharp, bright accents that cut through the depth.

Fourth Steep:
By the fourth steeping, the tea settles into a velvety smoothness—a notable evolution in texture. The once punchy sharpness now softens into a lingering, resonant echo. This sister has become contemplative, and her strength shows in the way she stays present in the aftertaste. The roasted astringency still lingers, but in a way that feels more like the pleasant bitterness of dark chocolate or charred sourdough toast with just a touch of burn at the edges.

It’s here that the tea evokes the memory of Mayleaf’s Playground Rendezvous, a kombucha-fermented shu with a punchy, Jäger-like complexity. But where Playground Rendezvous feels restless and wild, Predawn Dark finds its balance. The settle is in the aftertaste—bold, satisfying, and resonant. It’s as though you’ve struck a gong with a sharp, clear tone, and the echo carries far beyond the initial strike.

Final Impressions:
Predawn Dark is a tea for slow, intentional drinking—a tea to spend the whole day with. It demands patience and attention, rewarding you with evolving flavours and textures that feel like a conversation unfolding over time. Each steeping offers something new to discover: the sharpness of burnt sugar, the richness of molasses and coffee, the warmth of baked goods, and the brightness of spice—cinnamon, clove, nutmeg.

This is a sister who punches above her weight. She’s bold, decisive, and full of character. Whether paired with atmospheric music or enjoyed in reflective silence, Predawn Dark is the kind of tea that stays with you long after the cup is empty—a companion for deep contemplation and quiet joy.

Very Very smooth tea with a delightful smoky flavor which is not too overpowering. The smokiness mixes with something else which I cannot pinpoint, leaving a subtle sweetness lingering.

This one transports me back to camp days.

Day 22 of the Tea Thoughts winter countdown box. A big chunk of today was spent browsing the mall for gifts because we’re very behind on holiday prep. Nothing seemed quite right so it took a while to find gifts we were happy with. We did find a Pokemon decked out for winter for our nephew, which is probably the most exciting thing we brought home. I had a couple Western-style mugs of this oolong before we left. I remember some minerality and roastiness but not much else. I’ll have to try this out with a gong fu brew.

Adventageddon Day 22

Gongfu!

Another interesting W2T tea from the Tea Thoughts advent today – both one I haven’t tried before and that I probably wouldn’t have thought to order for myself since the description doesn’t really speak to the flavour at all…

I liked this a lot. The leaf is a bit coarse and choppy looking, but it was velvety and roasty tasting with strong mineral and charred peanut/chestnut top notes before smoothly sliding into a round, mouth-coating sweet and jammy plum note with floral undertones of orchid and magnolia – an easy stand out for the day! Very happy that this was a larger 25g bag and that I’ll get to enjoy it more in the future.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DD5YtkaSoDn/?img_index=1

A few months ago I cracked the side of a pastel green gaiwan that I just adored, and after a few days of hunting I finally found this one from Yunnan Sourcing to replace it. It’s not an exact replacement since the interior is a different colour and has some fish and lotus detailing on the rim, but it’s pretty close!!

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3P987miBp8&ab_channel=TheHowl%26TheHum-Topic

(I think The Howl & The Hum is a VERY slept on band, and this most recent album is really fucking good. I’ve been listening to it a lot over the last month or so.)

Day 18 of the Tea Thoughts winter countdown box. I gong fu’d this, at 205f with short steeps for the first three steeps. I just might not have a palate for appreciating pu’erh. All I got was dirt, leather, a bit of roast, and a faint but noticeable hint of fishiness. At that point, the leaves had opened up so I switched to 175f to see if I’d enjoy it more at a lower temperature. Nope. Although it got rid of the fishiness, still getting dirt, leather, and roastiness. 160f and a very short steep gets me less dirt, but it’s still not enjoyable. And I know these are not the notes that I’m “supposed” to be tasting. I gave up after the fifth steep. Next pu’erh, maybe I try short steeps at 160f from the beginning.