Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Pre Rain Organic Anji Bai Cha

Tea: Pre Rain Organic Anji Bai Cha
Vendor: Jing Tea
Price: £15.00 / 50g
Source: Zhejiang, China
Vendor Description: Deliciously fresh, picked on 3rd April 2009 from the Undulating Retreat garden. The first picking of the year, before the Qing Ming festival.

Vivacious and exuberant flavours combine spring blossom scents with sweet sappiness, lush textures and beautiful floral top notes.

Certified organic by the Soil Association. Fair Trade certified by IMO Switzerland.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a light green fluffy leaf. It is lightly pressed with a brilliant fresh green hue to it. There is a light and fresh aroma to it. The leaf is a mix of smaller buds mixed with larger leaves and buds.

1st Infusion Parameters: 3g, 50z, 185F, 1 min

1st Infusion: This tea has a clear radiant yellow-green hue. It has a bright and fresh aroma to it. The flavor is very smooth with a mouth watering feel ot it. The aftertaste is a bit empty after an overall somewhat light and delicate flavor. It feels quite a bit like a light sencha.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 185F

2nd Infusion: This tea again shows a brilliant fresh aroma, to a yellow hued infusion this time. The aroma is not present in quantity, but rather a light yet fresh brilliance. There is a rich feeling to the flavor of the tea, but this is in contrast to an almost empty flavor all around. It feels like this tea is more about the background flavor than the central prominent flavor.

Rating: 4/10

Conclusion: The best way to describe this tea is light and subtle. The subtle nature of this tea is quite enjoyable, but a bit light. It is well representative of spring, showing some vibrance and freshness. It is also quite expensive though. More leaf compensates for the light flavor, but that exacerbates the relatively steep price for this tea.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Eric,

I'm sorry you didn't really enjoy the Anji Bai Cha. I'd recommend using some more leaf and cooler water. The Anji Bai is an office favourite here in London, people reach for it more than the Dragon Well!

Thanks,

David (JING Tea)

Anonymous said...

80C for 90 seconds made a perfect cuupa for me. It's in my personal top ten, great late at night to relax before bedtime

Tea Fanatic said...

I have to say I enjoyed your review and it has prompted me to do one of my own in a couple weeks time (when the tea arrives).

Can't say I'm very impressed with David from Jing Tea, he comes off quite arrogant in his comment stating that the fault lies in how you brewed it, when you provided excellent instructions. Can't say I'm that surprised after I ordered a Goomtee Darjeeling from Jing and was highly disappointed. Time to give them another go though.

Haconi Siha said...

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