Name: Gong Mei Bingcha
Brand: In Pursuit of Tea
SKU: WCG11-R
Price: 80.0 USD
Availability: InStock

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A relatively new phenomenon in the tea world, aging white teas—not just pu-erhs—has become more common. The complexity of flavor and fragrance that comes with time can be attributed in part to white teas’ slight amount of oxidation.

This compressed cake (a form also most often found in the pu-erh category) was produced in Fujian in 2015, and is a delight to behold and savor. Unlike the delicate Silver Needle and lighter White Peony teas, Gong Mei is made with a blend of young buds and more mature leaves from later in the season, resulting in a syrupy brew with deeper flavors than you might expect for a white tea.

To prepare, gently flake off a small portion of leaves, and steep with water below boiling. The nectar-sweet aroma and floral, lightly spicy flavor lasts through several infusions.

Country: China
Region: Fujian
Tasting Notes: nectar, cinnamon, honeysuckle
Year of Production: 2015

360 g

185º F

3-5 grams, 2-3 minute steep

½ full, 1 minute steep

Wow.

I read the description of this tea and thought, OK, I'll try it. I am so glad I did. It's so fresh and clean-tasting; a little natural sweetness going on. Not too heavy on the caffeine unless I break off too much. That is perhaps the main drawback: it's not always easy to break off, so I've been experimenting with various implements to help with that (I have found that a small knife works well - not one with a sharp point!). I have also been trying various brewing methods (thanks for the tip to brew at a higher heat than the usual white tea!). This is a very large amount of tea, so I expect to be drinking it for quite some time. I am interested to see how it develops.

Just Plain Cool

This tea is punk rock. Honey, hay and notes of mock orange. This is not your grassy, vegetal type. Incredibly fun to chip off these beautifully aged leaves. I enjoy this in my 450ml glass pot, 5-6g with a quick rinse first. Great over multiple infusions. Wide band of extraction possibilities, giving complexities abound. Do not sleep on this banger. I've been sharing this with the whole office and we've barley made a dent. Fully worth the coin. If you're looking for depth and character, look no further!

Thank you for this incredible review, your description made our day!

wonderful. smooth taste. now i have to figure out how to store it.

Hi Stanlee,

So glad you're enjoying the bingcha! Even though it's a white tea, I'd recommend storing it as you would any other pu-erh or fermented tea; some airflow will be beneficial, as it will continue to interact with the natural microbial atmosphere and the flavor and fragrance evolve over time.

Try storing it loosely wrapped, in the original paper, in a dark place, away from any strong odors. More info on general pu-erh storage can be found here: https://www.inpursuitoftea.com/tea-blog/pu-erh-storage-aging

Enjoy-

Which style of puerh?

Is this a fermented shoo puerh or a sheng one?

Hello! Although this tea is pressed into a cake format like many pu-erh teas, it's actually a white tea from Fujian Province! The tea has been pressed for aging and storage, just like pu-erh, though we recommend storing it separately from pu-erh teas. Thanks so much for your review, we hope you enjoy this aged gong mei.

Floral sweet aroma and... mint?

Hi,
The floral and honey aroma is delightful! The taste is earthy and slightly floral to my palate, which I really like. Sharing and exploring the notes of white tea is such an enjoyable experience.
A mint flavor is standing though, leaving this flavor in my mouth after each infusion.