Tea Pairing 101: White Tea And Cheese

When tea friends get together, ideas start flowing. We sip and talk about anything and everything, and of course conversation always comes back to tea. After one of our tea meet-ups, Georgia, Jee, and I decided to work on a special collaboration together. We wanted to combine our passion for tea and our love of food.

Spotlight: Raj Vable of Young Mountain Tea Company

Photo courtesy of Young Mountain Tea Company

Last week I mentioned it was nice to see so many new tea companies popping up that concentrate on high quality, single estate teas. I'd like to also add that it's nice to see so many new tea companies popping up that not only offer high quality teas, but are out to make a difference.

Today I'm featuring Young Mountain Tea Company. The Company's philosophy is 'The best teas grow out of the best practices'. The company's founder Raj Vable has a unique vision. He is creating tea in Kumaon, in the Indian Himalayans by creating jobs and using sustainable farming techniques to increase the income of the farmers. As for the tea itself, he decided to focus on white peony (bai mu dan) tea. It's rare to find this type of tea processed in India, which makes his choice all the more interesting. Raj started the company to create teas that taste delicious, support the farmers, and benefit the planet.

Young Mountain started a kickstarter campaign to raise money for their efforts, and they have reached their original goal. They have now started a stretch goal in order to expand the project from the original plot of land to start working with three different villages.

When Raj sent me information about the kickstarter, I had many questions about the project. The questions grew into a full interview. I sent him my questions and he gave informative answers I'm happy to share with everyone. Here is out detailed, fascinating interview.

Spotlight: Bellocq No. 11 White Peony

A few dear friends recently gave me a gorgeous sampler box of tea from Bellocq. It's as if they read my mind, as I've been meaning to check out their Brooklyn Atelier for months. It's right near one of our favorite pizza places, but a visit has just not timed out properly. Hungry children usually don't have much interest in tea shops. I'll need to take a solo venture there one of these days.

 Everything about the brand is artistic yet simple. The website is absolutely gorgeous. The designers have a great eye. Their teas are also beautifully packaged. Just looking at the silver and yellow canisters makes me want to collect as many as possible. Purchasing teas in the canister is expensive, but  perhaps an occasional indulgence. The sampler box I have is quite sturdy and stands out with its bright yellow color. It's a particularly grey day here in NYC (it feels like I say that a lot) so the box truly brightened up my world. I cannot wait to visit the Atelier, I imagine it to be a full sensory experience.

 

My yellow nails match the box!

My friends chose well, selecting a box of 'pure teas' as I don't usually prefer blends. I like the little added touches in the packaging- they include paper infuser bags for the teas, and also provide a detailed steeping chart for each tea. Nicely done.


Steeping chart inside the lid

 I've been sipping each tea in the sampler, and they are all tasty and of good quality. I decided to focus a post on just the No. 11 White Peony. The dry leaves are an attractive mixture of cut leaves and downy buds. The mixture smells sweet and floral which is usually my experience with this type of tea.

I'm always amazed that no matter how sweet the White Peony leaves smell, the sweetness never transfers to the aroma of the brew. The tea has a dried grass/hay-like smell, and is very earthy. I did slightly over steep my tea, but it still tastes smooth and delicious. Sweet, rich, yet delicate. An earthy taste of the dried grass with a slightly mellow vegetal finish. Refreshing and invigorating. It would make a nice iced tea in the hot weather as well.  

 

After trying these sample teas, I am even more excited to visit the Brooklyn store. One question I have though...how do you pronounce their name? Is it bello-C-Q or something else? If anyone knows, please share!! Thank a huge thank you to my friends that gave me such a lovely gift!

Today's Steep Thoughts

This week's installment of Steep Thoughts is actually a bit of a rant that went on in my head while steeping a much needed tea to cleanse my palate. Background: while grabbing lunch today, it was warm and I was feeling summery. I decided to try a brand of iced tea that I never usually pick up. I usually stick with Ito En's unsweetened tea when the mood strikes. But if you've been following my posts, you'll know that I've been on a sweetened tea kick lately. Because of this, I was feeling nostalgic for a particular brand's peach iced tea, which doesn't really taste like peach, or tea. But I used to drink it in my college days, and I have a fondness for the flavor. While looking at the iced teas in the grocery store, I noticed a White Peach iced tea from Inko's. I've never tried this brand before, so I thought I'd give it a try. I wish I had thought more rationally about how my palate has changed since college. But I let nostalgia guide me.

The label says 'Made with White Tea-which is documented as one of the rarest and healthiest teas in the world.' Rarest? Is white tea rare? I can get it in any tea shop, and I'm guessing Inko's couldn't charge less than $4 a bottle if it was rare. The label goes on to say, 'Inko's isn't loaded with sugar, nor does it leave you with any harsh, grassy aftertaste.' But I like both bitter and grassy teas! I wish I had read this before purchasing. I knew I was in for an overly-sweet beverage that did not taste like tea.

Well, it did not taste like tea. I did not detect any white tea, I only tasted syrupy sweetness with a slight hint of peach. The tea had a strange cloying consistency, and tasted almost chemical. The dominant sweet taste and whisper of peach did conjure up images of my college days, which I guess is a positive thing. I was drinking the tea outside in the sunshine, which made things better. I had the sun warm my face with a cool liquid to drink, which was a nice break from a hectic day.

With only a few exceptions, it seems sweetened iced teas are always sweeter than you are expecting. I imagine they are catering to an average American soda drinker, and not the tea enthusiast. if you are looking for a bottled tea that tastes like tea (and may have a strong grassy aftertaste!), try the Ito En unsweetened varieties.

When I came back from lunch, I brewed a fresh cup of Royal Yunnan from the newish tea company Tea Licious. The tea was malty, slightly sweet, and just what I needed to wash out the sticky sweetness of the White Peach Tea. Now I feel better. Perhaps the bottled tea will end my sweet tea kick.

Harney & Sons SoHo

If you live in the NYC area, a great way to kick off National Hot Tea Month is to check out the enormous selection of teas from the Harney & Sons SoHo location. I once visited their beautifully rustic shop in upstate NY, and have been eager to visit the new store ever since it opened. The SoHo store is quite large and airy, with a floor to ceiling shelving unit for their loose teas, very different from the cozy upstate shop.  This is not a bad thing, they fit in well with the other stores in the area.



There are two parts to the store. The first is the large retail space, that has the huge tea selection, and a 'tasting bar' where you can sample the tea of the week, as well as any other tea you would like to try.  They also have tasting flights, which is a fun way to try new teas. There are also shelves and tables holding teaware and bagged teas.  After taking in the scene, I headed straight to the back of the store to the small cafe area, which is separated from the main space with a couple of bookcases. 



view of the store from the tea lounge



The cafe has 5 tables, and a nice little bar area for a quick cup, or to order a cup to go. Cups are $3, a small pot is $6, and large $8.  If you prefer to drink one of their specialty teas, you can add $1 to your order.  I thought the prices were reasonable given the quality of their tea.  If you are looking for a bite to eat, there are also sweet and savory food options. I took the last available seat and had a look at the menu. 

After sitting and studying the large menu, I decided on a white tea.  It was late in the day, so I wanted something light and refreshing. I had a few questions, so one of the experts was called over to explain the differences in the white teas they had available.  I chose one that sounded light but still flavorful, the Mutan white.  After a few minutes I heard a timer go off, and my pot was brought over.  The liquid was bright yellow, similar to other white teas that I've tried. The aroma was faintly floral and nutty. The taste had the same nuttiness, and was also a bit buttery.  It had a nice smoothness, with a soft texture on the tongue. Suitable for my late afternoon tea break, but not something I'd want to drink earlier in the day. The nutty flavor lingered for awhile, which made me smile as I relaxed and read my book. The noise from the retail area drifts into the cafe, but it was pleasant to sit there on a cold day, reading a book and sipping tea.  I will definitely be back to try more. They even had a small section of 'Yellow' tea, which I know nothing about. I am looking forward to trying them!



Mutan White tea from the cafe

After my tea break, I browsed around the shop a bit.  I noticed they were selling thick and thin matcha, and realized I needed to have some matcha to try at home.  So I picked up a small canister of thick matcha.  As I was standing by the tasting bar, one of the employees asked if I wanted to try the matcha.  She brought out a chawan, whisk, and scoop, and prepared the tea for me.  She even showed me the proper way to whisk it.  Realizing that I didn't have a proper chawan, or the accouterments to prepare matcha correctly, I ended up purchasing the things I needed to make matcha at home. I have been drooling over handmade chawans on etsy.com, but realized that for my fledgling efforts I just needed a basic one.  My new tea bowl is quite lovely to look at! But that is for a future matcha post...

I was very impressed with the staff throughout the store.  They were all extremely friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable.  I wish I lived or worked close by! But it's just a short train ride away, so I will definitely be back at Harney & Sons soon to try something new.

White Tea Love

 It has been a very hectic few days, and I'm grateful to find a few minutes to try a new tea. To continue my education in white teas, I picked up a White Peony by Rishi from the local health food store for $6.69. White tea is minimally processed, usually using silver buds and leaves that are steamed and dried. The result is a tea that is low in caffeine with a mild flavor. The White Peony variety is the second highest grade of white tea, with Silver Needle being the first.  I enjoyed the White Peony we had at Radiance (and wasn't too keen on the Silver Needle at Wegmans), so I thought I'd give Rishi's White Peony a try. It is a bit different in flavor than what we were served at the tea house, but I was not disappointed.

The large leaves have a beautiful honey aroma that also came through after steeping.  I could smell another slightly woody/nutty flavor, but couldn't identify it until I read the package "Pure White  Tea with accents of toasted chestnut and honey".  Oh of course, it's chestnut! There was also a light vegetal scent.

The flavor is very similar to the aroma- a smooth honey taste, along with toasty chestnut, with a light vegetal aftertaste.  Almost like green tea, but lighter and sweeter. It is soothing and refreshing at the same time.  I like the fact that it has a very low caffeine content, so I can drink it later in the afternoon, and not worry about disrupting my nighttime rest.

This tea is perfect for today.  It warmed me up, and calmed my frazzled nerves. 
If anyone has any white teas to recommend that I should try next, please let me know!  I am quickly becoming a fan of white tea.

Rishi Organic White Peony Tea  **** 4 out of 5 stars

Wegman's Tea Bar

If you've never stepped foot inside a Wegmans, it's hard to imagine someone being obsessive over a large supermarket chain.  But if you have ever been inside, you will instantly understand.  Everything is well organized, super clean, and the staff is beyond friendly.  I went to college in upstate NY, and much of my husband's family lives in Rochester.  So whenever we go back to visit, we make sure to have multiple trips to the Ultimate Grocery Store.  There is one extra-large (and extra-awesome) Wegmans in particular, and at our visit over Thanksgiving weekend I visited their tea bar.  Yes, a grocery store with a tea bar!! It's a dream come true for me.

The tea bar is in the middle of the store, but is designed in such a way that you don't feel like you are sitting in a produce aisle.  It's not easy to find, but when you enter the little bar area,  you are immediately hit with a selection of loose teas.  A sign encourages you to examine and smell the teas.  There is also a little area for their new, featured teas. After inspecting the selection, M and I sat at the bar and placed an order.

Looking around, the bar doesn't feel particularly relaxing or peaceful. But I suppose this is difficult to achieve when you actually are in the middle of a grocery store. But that's ok, it is still a place to take a nice break from shopping while sipping loose leaf tea.



Humidor!



While waiting for our teas to steep, I noticed a machine that looked like a refrigerator.  It wouldn't make sense to refrigerate the loose teas, and it turned out to be a humidor.  I was impressed that a grocery store would pay so much attention to their teas that they'd have a humidor for the particularly delicate green teas.  They have respect for their tea!

The tea 'bartender' used timers to steep our teas.  M commented that he didn't mind this, but he'd prefer it if we were allowed to override the timer and steep as much as we'd like. He prefers teas on the slightly bitter side, resulting in a longer steep.  It would be great if more places asked how you liked your tea before they steeped it for you.  Just because it's the right way, doesn't mean it's the way the customer prefers it.



my silver tips



My silver tips white tea was smooth and slightly nutty.  But after my white tea experience at Radiance, I was a little disappointed.  It was refreshing, but the tea was much weaker than the white peony I had there. This could just be the usual flavor profile for the tea.  It did not have the depth  I was expecting. It was very light and a bit floral, without much else in the background.  As I've mentioned, I don't have much experience with white tea. I will have to try a silver tips somewhere else, to see how it compares.

I suppose that if my neighborhood grocery had a tea bar, I would never get my shopping done on time. My tea budget would also be much higher.  But, it's great that we can visit occasionally, and enjoy a respite from shopping in the Best Grocery Store Ever.

Radiance Tea House

Radiance Tea House is the only place in Midtown that I know of that specializes in various teas and also offers a full menu of food.  I haven't been to Radiance in well over a year, and knew it was time to re-visit. PC, AP, and I walked over from the office to have tea and lunch. Radiance is a great find in midtown. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is comfortable, and most importantly, they have a wonderful selection of tea. Three tea menus, to be exact!

my oolong leaves

I was craving an oolong, and chose the Dong Ding oolong. A few months back I had been gifted an incredible canister of Dong Ding (it is sadly long gone), and I was looking for that smooth, deep flavor. The Dong Ding I had at Radiance is a mellow, soothing oolong. It had a buttery smoothness, with a soft vegetal flavor while still holding the lovely roasty, nutty, gentle smoky flavor that I love from oolong. I don't know how long it was steeped, but it was perfectly smooth and flavorful. Not the least bit over-brewed. This is a tea that could have held up to more steepings, but we had a limited time for lunch and I had to say goodbye to the beautiful leaves. I had toyed with the idea of asking to take the leaves with me, but then chickened out.

my tea

PC's white peony

PC had the White Peony tea- I hate to admit it, but I've only had white tea once before, years ago. I didn't care for it, and haven't tried it since. The version I had previously was very weak, and tasted like an herbal tea. This white tea was very different, and it opened my eyes to a new type of tea! It had a jasmine-like aroma, but did not have a floral taste at all. It was bright, slightly earthy and nutty, with a hint of sweetness. It had a stronger flavor than I ever would have expected. PC felt that "Though it smelled slightly floral, almost like jasmine, it didn’t taste like that, which is good because I’m not big on floral notes. I liked the subtle earthiness of it." I will be exploring white teas a bit more in the future, and will dedicate a longer, more informative post to it.

AP had the 'tea of the day' which was a jasmine green. Whenever he visits Radiance, he always picks the tea of the day, because, " it is always good – and I can never decide from the pages and pages of different teas they serve" I didn't taste his tea, but AP enjoyed it.

my oolong leaves

The food here is a bit pricey, but it pairs well with many different types of tea. The service is definitely on the slow side, but lends itself to the peacefulness you feel as you sit with your tea. It sounds cliche, but Radiance is a true oasis in midtown Manhattan. It is a lovely place to relax and savor a quality cup of tea. They also have beautiful teaware for sale, which is very tempting for me. I try to focus on the tea, or else I'd end up purchasing numerous teapots, gaiwans, and cups. We had a pleasant lunch hour at Radiance, and it reminded me that I need to return again very soon.

Radiance Tea House and Books ~ 58 West 55th Street NY, NY 10019