Always on the lookout for a new tea, I had an opportunity to try Bai Hao – White Tip Supreme from ZoomDweebie’s. What’s a ZoomDweebie’s? According to their website, Zoomdweebie’s Tea Bar, located in Wichita, Kansas is the hip place to be square. A place to meet and have some tea – hot tea, iced tea, hot or iced tea lattes or chai – and make new friends. All while watching 80′s music videos, playing 80′s trivia, participating in or listening to a poetry/literature reading, debating the merits of the first Star Wars trilogy over the latest or vice versa. No matter what your passion, Zoomdweebie’s is where all the “cool kids” hang out!
I guess, I should talk about the tea…
Composition: Taiwanese Oolong tea.
Dry Visual: A dark and reddish brown mix of twisted tea leaves with white tips interspersed throughout. Interestingly, many of the reddish brown leaves are open versus twisted almost suggesting a different drying process. I typically do not discuss the aspects of the wet visual in my reviews, however, today I must. The whole leaves were simply beautiful after steeping – they unfurled into generous reddish-brown plump tea leave. The colors of Fall in a cup.
Dry Aroma: What I would classify as the comforting smell characteristic of oolongs – both nutty and woodsy.
Flavor: I really loved this Bai Hao – White Tip Supreme. First of all, drinking a cup of oolong tea after numerous cups of flavored teas, reminds me of my initial introduction to oolongs. The refreshing clean taste of oolong tea is prevalent in Bai Hao-White Tip Supreme that I love. This particular oolong is very sweet to the taste when entering the mouth. It is followed with a surprising, yet amazing citrus finish. Where some oolongs have more of a green taste, Bai Hao-White Tip Supreme did not. Its complex flavor favored a nutty, woodier oolong flavor profile.
One cup simply was not enough, I have had at least four. With my second subjected to a second infusion of the tea leaves. I was impressed that the flavor was consist in the second infusion although the citrus finish was no longer evident. There was not a hint of bitterness or dryness further reiterating my love of oolongs and Bai Hao – White Tip Supreme in particular. As I am sure you can guess, there was no need for a sweetener nor would I recommend one.
Liquor: A rich golden brown hue.
Brewing Time: The actual steeping time was not provided, so I relied upon prior oolong steeping recommendations for an average time of 2 – 5 minutes at pre-boil. I decided to alternate my steeping times with each cup starting with 2 minutes, but testing at 3 and 5 minutes as well. My sweet spot was 4 minutes.
Manufacturer: Zoomdweebie’s
Caffeine: Yes.
I really loved Bai Hao-White Tip Supreme Tea. If you have had an opportunity to try this tea, stop by and share your experience. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!
This sounds like the classic Bai Hao oolong which is two leaves one bud and not rolled. I get mine from Tea Master Jason C.S. Chen at C.C. Fine Tea, a wholesaler, in Seattle. His Bai Hao from Fujien province this year is particularly good.
chadao,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Also, I appreciate the recommendation – I’ve never purchased tea from Tea Master Jason C.S. Chen at C.C. Fine Tea.
Master Chen sells mostly to wholesalers, but his tea is available to individuals if you can find him
He is developing a retail site. You might well have tasted his tea, many wholesalers sell his tea under their names. Master Chen farms about 6,000 hectares of tea gardens in mainland China. His teas have won many worldwide medals.
Sounds like a great person to know. Do you know when his retail site will be up and running?
Probably a couple of months. It is still in the design stage.
When his site launches I will post a link at my tea site: http://www.songoftea.wordpress.com
That’s great. I’ll have to stop by and check it out. Or if you think about it, drop me a line.
In the meantime, I sent this URL to Master Chen.
Wonderful! I certainly appreciate the opportunity to connect with those who know and love tea.
Master Chen is well-respected around the world as a true Tea Master (Cha Shifu)