A delightful, light tea that tastes to me more like a delicate green tea than a white tea. I've tried two other snow buds or Xue Ya teas, and I think this is a prime example of this style.

Dry leaf is coarse and hairy, silvery.

Brews fairly slowly, as I'd expect for an intact, whole-leafed tea. I steeped for three minutes and the cup was very pleasant. Aroma grassy, slightly buttery, hinting at the floral and melony quality of some green teas but with none of the caramel or autumn leaf fragrance that many white teas have.

If you up the temperature, more briskness comes out, which I like, but if it's too hot I find the cup tastes metallic. Arbor Teas' recommendation of 180F is about where I like it best. Try lower for a sweeter, mellower cup.

I've now tried three snow buds or Xue ya teas, and this one was on par with my favorite to-date, Rishi's snow buds, which doesn't seem available on their website. The leaf looks a bit thicker than I remember that tea as, but it tasted similar and I couldn't say I preferred one to the other.

I was able to brew a second cup, with a five minute steeping, and it was similar to the first, but after this, the leaves were spent.

I recommend this tea to people who want a tea a little like silver needle but with the briskness and a bit of the grassy qualities of a green tea. The four ounce size is very reasonably priced for an organic tea of this quality.

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