White Peony Classic Long, traditional white tea, 40 g

This is a delicious white tea, totally different from Fuding Bai Mudan. It has a much deeper and rounder body with less of the floral notes that are characteristic of Fuding, and none of the sharp green herbaceous notes that seem too prevalent nowadays. The broth of this Zhenghe Mudan Wang is much thicker across the palate, it’s full and sweet with an aftertaste reminiscent of lightly fermented apricot jam. There is some good umami here, with undertones of whipped honey and heavy cream with caramel that become stronger as the soup cools. This is the type of white tea I would brew up hot during the night time, and let it cool overnight so I could drink it first thing in the morning. I am a Fenghuang fanatic, so to me the flavor profile of this white tea isn’t super complex, but it’s deeply satisfying and comforting. I find myself reaching for this tea late in the evening, when I want to drink something that doesn’t stimulate me too much but hits the spot for my tea-drinking soul. The kind of stimulation I get from this tea is one that is very calming and focused, even if that focus is on winding down for the evening before bedtime. I feel like I sleep better after drinking this tea, and I wake up feeling more refreshed.