Tea Tasting - Hawaiian White Tea

There was a new tea under the Christmas tree this year, a premium Hawaiian White Tea from Tea-for-All in Trenton, NJ. With the majority of teas coming from the East, it's a special treat to have a truly USA grown tea. This is a gorgeous tea from the Big Island in Hawaii. According to the Tea-for-All website, the tea is grown under a canopy of Koa trees at an elevation of 4000 feet in a Volcano Village near the Kilauea volcano.

Studying the dry leaf, you immediately notice the size of the leaf, long and slender. Looking closer, it becomes quite obvious that they have harvested the bud and two leaves to craft this specialty tea. Once brewed, the infusion creates a clear golden brew. The flavor is not overly floral, but simply delicate and sweet. Described on the website as deeply satisfying and comforting, it is truly a pleasant experience. Since the Japanese gaiwan used to brew this beautiful tea is a rich blue color and obscures the true color of the infusion, we poured some of the brew into a plain white cup to truly admire the color of this specialty artisanal tea. What a treasure, and many thanks to Angelica for this lovely gift. It is a real treat!