This is very similar to the Xue Ya I tried from Adagio, but I prefer this tea as it is richer and more full-bodied.

I find this to be a very grassy tea, more like green tea than white. It has a sharpness, a bite to it. The cup is quite astringent and pleasingly bitter, but the finish is sweet and has depth to it. Light in color but full-bodied.

I imagine people who like white teas like silver needle or even bai mu dan might not like this one: it is strong. People who like the kick that grassy, pan-fired green teas have, but want something lighter and different, might really enjoy this one.

I found Rishi's brewing instructions to be a bit off. If brewed as instructed, it is overly astringent. I used a 2 minute infusion and then made a second infusion. The second is a bit thinner but still strong, and the shorter brewing time keeps the astringency in check a bit.

This is a little more expensive than Adagio's offering, and theirs is not cheap either. I think it's worth it; this one is organic, and I think it's a slightly better tea.

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