Wanderlust is my middle name. I’m so much of a serial traveler that I used to write a travel blog. Things have changed though and I miss traveling with all my heart (sigh). Surprisingly, tea has made the lack of travel more tolerable. Each tea I taste tells a new, exciting story. I’ve discovered places I didn’t know existed, fascinating traditions and captivating landscapes, I’ve met people I wouldn’t have met, had it not been for tea.

For some reason, when I see tea pressed into cakes, I always think of pu er by default. Originally, pressing tea into cakes or bricks made transportation easier. Tea traveled too. Along the Silk Road, for example. This oolong comes in tiny individual cakes and each is wrapped in three layers; the outer layer is a bright red foil, then there’s a layer of plastic wrap and finally a layer of white paper. Isn’t it the perfect travel size? 

Water Lily, Zhang Ping Shui Xian, Smacha, Bellevue

Tea Name: Water Lily, Zhang Ping Shui Xian
Origin: Zhang Zhou City, Fujian, China
Ingredients: oolong tea
Water Temperature: 195 F / 90 C
Steep Time: 1 minute – 1 minute and 30 seconds
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Leaves/Water Ratio: 9 grams, 5 oz / 150 ml filtered water (Brita)

EYE
dry leaves: square cakes (1,5 inches x 1,5 inches / 4cm x 4cm), leaves and stems, some leaves are light green and light grey, some dark, almost black, some olive green, some red, pinkish and rust
wet leaves: moss green with reddish, rusty hues. When the leaves unfurl, they are huge, up to 4 inches / 11 cm long
liquor: amber, orange

NOSE
dry leaves: sweet, floral
wet leaves: gardenia blossoms
liquor: very floral, gardenia and honeysuckle notes 

PALATE
liquor: sweet and floral, orchid and gardenia notes, green grapes and dried apricots

MOUTHFEEL: silky, creamy

FOOD PAIRING: with tropical fruit like passionfruit or in a pineapple and nutmeg cocktail, mocktail or smoothie

OVERALL IMPRESSION: It’s so floral… where are the hummingbirds? :-)

Disclaimer: sample provided for review by Smacha. This is my honest opinion. I am not affiliated with Smacha nor with the manufacturer of this product. You can find this tea here.