Green Astra

Happy Father’s Day to all who celebrate, and support to those for whom today is rough.

The Tea Thoughts summer countdown box started yesterday. Technically, I still have to make a note for day 7 of the spring countdown box, but I didn’t want to fall behind on the new box! Day 1 was a cute notepad and stickers. Perfect timing, since I was just thinking on Friday that I need to find a notepad this size (about the size of a postcard, great for lists).

This bai mudan is day 2. I’ve never seen such a detailed compressed tea shape – the little ridges really take it to next level aesthetically. Because it’s foil-wrapped and so distinctly shaped, for a moment I thought it was some kind of fancy candy! Probably for the best that I didn’t try to actually eat it.

I made this gong fu style. The first few steeps were pretty mild. Once the leaf really opened up, though, the flavor blossomed. There’s a gentle honey sweetness overlaying a flavor that I can best describe as round, savory, and cantaloupe-esque. Sort of like a melon-flavored pastry, maybe. I can’t quite describe it but I do like it. No astringency or bitterness at all, even with an oversteep.