Sterling 18

I was waiting ages to try this tea from derk. Thank you!

I wanted to calm down with gongfu today morning. It’s another cold, upcoming autumn weather. It’s overcast, grey, now and then it rains or rain showers, cars are loud…

The tea is amazing. I could not notice anything while took a sniff from 5 grams I got. I took a half, mayde quick rinse and wet leaf aroma, as well brew aroma… is so nice and awesome.

Stonefruits, especially apricot and peaches, hints of hay, wintergreen (we have it on the garden, but haven’t tried to smell it, so not that sure), petrichor maybe as well.

And taste… well I am like biting a juicy peach with bit of cooling effect, sweet, can’t write much more, as I can’t notice something else. Trying to read others tasting notes, but can’t say That’s it. But hey! it is wonderful tea and I want more. Luckily I haven’t spend all the leaf today. Yum!

Hey, Steepster. It’s been a while. This is also a backlog I owe Brendon. I will try to back log the rest of the teas that I’ve spent too much money on, but I will keep each note short. If there’s something particular or flowery that I should describe in words I will. If not, concise but broad language will come out of my tealog from here on out.

I liked this on more than a few other 18 varietal teas I’ve had. I personally am not in love with this variety of white tea because the the menthol note can border on astringent for this type of tea. This one was a lot smoother, and I personally got a very strong note of a softer fruit like pear and apple amongst the menthol, autumn leaf pile, cassia, and maple notes. White Lotus remains as my favorite white, but this is my favorite #18 Varietal of it from the many companies I’ve had. I recommend it more for experienced drinkers. Newer drinkers might be thrown off with the menthol unless they are open to going more hard core in the world of tea.

Another good Ruby White from Taiwan. I’m a sucker for them it seems. I like the menthol/wintergreen and fruitiness of this style of tea. This Spring 2019? harvest is especially smooth despite possessing plenty of oomph. Complex but round enough to quaff away without thought.

Kawaii433 said, “I wish I wasn’t the only one who reviewed this because I’m sure there is so much more…” I sipped the whole ounce as western preparations except for a lone gongfu session and I didn’t take notes but I think her flavor descriptors are spot on: https://steepster.com/kawaii433/posts/388875#likes

This tea seems more oxidized than most Ruby 18 whites. As such, it is slightly sweeter, but the largest difference appears to be visual. There is also very little astringency even when brewed aggressively. It is not a cheap tea, but it resteeps very well, it is possible to get 300ml/g from it.

Dry leaf aroma is a mix of hay and nectarine, while the characteristic menthol is more present in wet leaves. The scent is pungent and very enjoyable, but I can’t think of many faithful comparisons. On the other hand, the tea doesn’t have a strong aroma in the empty cup, which also shows up in a weaker aftertaste.

The taste has a nice quinine bitterness, floral sweetness, and a fruity tartness. There are flavours like apple, grass, peach, and star anise, among others. The texture is very good too, velvety and lubricating.

The dry leaves were a mixture of dark and green long leaves, kind of looks like something you’d run into while snorkeling off an island, floating in the sea. It smells of super fresh hay… Like when you go down to the horse stables in the early morning to feed them. The aroma brings back good memories. It’s a vivid aroma. I still can’t say that it’s an aroma that makes me go yum, I’m sure horses think differently hehe. It is an aroma that brings back some precious youth memories, lost youth. The wet leaves added so many more different aromas: Wintergreen, mints in general, flowers, fruits, anise, grass, licorice. As the infusions continued, the mint became more pronounced. There were also sweet cherry notes, subtle peach, cinnamon, and spices, cocoa, malt, roasted yams, honey sweetness notes. Delicate flavors but complex. I wish I wasn’t the only one who reviewed this because I’m sure there is so much more… Just like I think that different temperatures and different tea prep would change this tea as well. It is a medium bodied tea, satisfying with many different notes and aromas but licorice and mint were always there. It never got bitter nor astringent and it has a long minty-cooling finish. I’m not into mint teas but this is very good because of the complexity.

Gaiwan, 7g, 194°F, 110ml, rinse, 9 steeps: 5s, 10s, 15s, 20s, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 1m5s