Thanks to Teabento for providing this sample! Bug-bitten teas are a favourite of mine, and I’m excited to be looking at ones that don’t come from Taiwan. Unlike its Taiwanese counterparts, this Vietnamese version is lightly rolled into small pellets. Upon opening the bag, I get typical bai hao aromas of stewed fruits, citrus, sandalwood, and spices—yum! I followed Teabento’s directions and did steeps of 2, 1, and 3 minutes in 185F water; I used about three grams of leaf in a 120 ml vessel, which is slightly more than the 1 g:50 ml ratio they seem to recommend.
The first steep reminds me why I love bai hao so much. White grapes, pears, and citrus combine with a perfumey note that I’ll describe as sandalwood for lack of a better equivalent. No astringency is present and the aftertaste is long.
Ah, this is good! The second and third steeps are very similar to the first, though maybe a touch more woody. Those who don’t appreciate spicy or perfumey notes may be put off by this, as they’re pretty strong, but I really enjoy it. I managed to coax a fourth and fifth steep out of these leaves before they started declining.
This bai hao was a pleasure to drink and compares favourably with Taiwanese versions. I’d gladly buy it again!
Flavors: Hay, Honey, Lemon, Pear, Perfume, Resin, White Grapes, Wood