Saturday preparations for Afternoon Tea at Simply Tea have now been replaced by six years of neglected gardening, not because I have anything against gardening. It was just today, when the sun was at its highest, that I started working on the peony beds. As I began to remove weeds, I was greeted by a wonderful fragrance from the flowers. There is something magical about taste and smell as they conjure up memories. And I was immediately transported back to Fujian and the white tea gardens. The scent was of Bai Mu Dan just after it has been harvested, lying on mats outside on a warm spring day. That’s why the tea is called white peony, I thought. Now, my peonies are not white but pink, but the fragrance made me pull out the tea leaves and brew a cup.
There is nothing better than a cup of white tea in the middle of the day when the sun is blazing down. White tea has the most amazing properties for cooling the body down despite the hot brew. I immediately took a good handful of leaves, poured them into a pitcher with cold tap water, and put it in the fridge. Now I can drink cold white tea for several days. I just need to add more water and put the pitcher back in the fridge. By drinking the cold infusion, I retain all the antioxidants and get a delicious, refreshing, nourishing drink that contains no calories, while also helping to regenerate my skin, which has been exposed to the sun’s strong UV rays.
We have had Bai Mu Dan – White Peony on sale for more than a month precisely because it is the perfect summer tea. And the 2014 harvest is on the way, but on a much smaller scale. The rain in China is responsible for a small harvest, so the 2014 teas will be very limited. On the other hand, we still have plenty of 2013, which in my opinion is one of the best vintages for white tea. If you are quick, you can still buy it at the sale price. The offer ends on Sunday, June 15, at midnight. If you don’t make it, send me an email, and I will give you a code to purchase it at a discounted price.