Daylon R Thomas Send Message

I’ve let this one settle in my cabinet. The dryleaf smell is close to the vanilla used in a Klondike bar combined with the mint. Unfortunately, the leaves are fragile as every, and are almost fanning like in how easily they crumble.

I used less leaves today because I know how powerful this tea can be if left unchecked. Letting it brew in my tumbler for no longer than 2 minutes, the tea’s cantaloupe flavor takes center stage. It’s surprisingly sweet like honey, and has a little bit of the menthol in the mouthfeel. It build up more in the later steeps. It’s vaguely leafy like autumn just before winter. Ironically, it’s spring pushing its way out of winter right now in the Midwest.

If you want a more vivid description, here it is from my previous review:
“The dry leaf smell like hay and fresh linens hanging in the sun. Tasting it, it is smooth, clean, and lightly cantaloupe sweet with the cooling menthol taste that Alistair describes, and that is expected with the #18 Red Jade varietal. It is a little creamier gong fu, but pretty much the same overall. It also has some fresh cotton notes in the taste, but the liquid is a light yellow like a high mountain oolong without being nearly as grassy. This is not a delicate white tea, however, and the klondike menthol is not to be underestimated. It can get drying like a white Darjeeling, but not too try to take away from the other notes. That’s why I need this tea to cool off sometimes.

I could get seven steeps minimum from gong fu, and the menthol notes would get higher…if that makes sense. A honeysuckle floral would pop up, and the fruity notes spread out. I’m actually getting something that reminds me of cinnamon butter as a hint. I am going to have to write more about this one because I can get a little overwhelmed by the later steeps…a little bit of a buzz. Cha qi, caffiene, or menthol? Or I just need to let my cup cool down."

It is an energizing tea, and since I’ve had it for a while, I’m ready to rate it. In terms of taste, complexity, and energy, it deserves a high 95 and is by far one of my favorite white teas in my stash. In terms of how easy it is to brew, 85 because it’s a little challenging. The only thing that makes me rate it down is the finicky nature of the leaves. So 88 is my end score for this one, though it could be easily higher when brewed right.