Grown in southern Yunnan on Ice Island (Bingdao), the leaves of this tea are rolled into small spheres, which unfurl as they brew.
These rolled orbs display a rich mixture of viridescent outer leaves along with the silver shine of lustrous inner bud leaves. Dry, they smell of apricots, honey, and dried plums, infused, they produce a golden amber brew that sparkles with the swirling hairs from these inner bud leaves. Its flavor is lively, sweet, fruity, slightly sour, and slightly bitter (an aspect that will lessen with time), with elements of honeysuckle, plum, and orange peel.
Its texture is thick, astringent, and buttery, and its qi lively and cool, facilitating contained, grounded expansion within the body. It helps to ground while opening the channels, increasing circulation to the head and chest. It brings qi to the head, ears, and third eye, and carries with it a pleasant noticeable tea high. It leaves a pleasant sweetness on the throat and back of the tongue (huí gān), and carries a slightly astringent aftertaste, with elements of honeysuckle, honey, and a hint of mint.
This tea is calming, settling the heart, and draws one inward. As it is still on the younger side, shorter brews of this are recommended on initial steepings. To fully enjoy the contribution of the hairs of the inner bud leaves to the flavor, appearance, and texture of this tea, brewing without a filter is recommended.
This tea is phenomenally crisp and clean, and will age beautifully.
Each of these spheres contains approximately 8 grams of tea.
Price is per 50 grams/1.76 ounces