Anji Bai Cha Tea Tasting (Teasenz)

Teasenz sent me some samples to try and I’ve done several sessions with their 2023 Anji Bai Cha, but I haven’t found the time to write an article about this refreshing tea. The weather is nice and there is a nice breeze so it’s perfect for brewing and drinking this tea.

Anji Bai Cha

This tea literally translates as Anji White Tea, but it’s definitely green tea! The name refers to the cultivar of the tea leaves. The fresh leaves have a lighter color and you can see this when brewing the leaves.

The tea was harvested Pre-Qingming and comes from Anji village in Zhejiang province. This province is famous for several green teas (like Long Jing).

Tea Tasting

• Water 80°c
• 5g for a 120ml Tokoname Kyusu

The leaves are large and have a light green color. The aroma is super refreshing and it feels as if I’m walking through an alpine meadow in spring. If you could describe spring with one smell, this is it! It’s grassy with a hint of citrus and some caramelized sugar. I’m also reminded of pine trees when smelling the leaves.

Infusion 1 (15 sec): really light green color and the liquor is almost transparent. The flavors are rather subtle at the start but slowly become more prominent. From the middle onwards, I’m getting grassy hints of an alpine meadow as it’s grass with something refreshing like a mountain breeze with citrus. The finish has caramelized sugar to it and it slowly disappears in the aftertaste.

Infusion 2 (20 sec): the color hasn’t changed much, but it’s slightly greener. The flavors haven’t changed much either. Still refreshing and thirst-quenching during the infusion and sweet in the aftertaste. It feels so delicate and silky smooth and it basically drinks itself.

Infusion 3 (25 sec): the sweetness has moved to the front and has also become even sweeter in the aftertaste. It lasts longer than before and it’s just so good! After a few seconds, a slight nuttiness also pops up in the aftertaste.

Infusion 4 (30 sec): it doesn’t feel as fresh anymore and the sweetness has come to the front. It’s a deep and warming sweetness of brown caramelized sugar with a touch of nuttiness.

Conclusion

This tea session reminded me why I’m always looking forward to the Teasenz spring release of the new harvest each year.

This tea felt like a mountain breeze and had a sweet and sugary aftertaste. It’s definitely among my favorite green teas, especially the 2023 version.