Anji White ~ Goldfish Tea

Anji White, also known as Anji Bai Cha (安吉白茶), is a comparatively rare high grown Chinese Green cultivar. Although called Anji White, Anji Bai Cha is actually a Green (no doubt to confuse us). Anji Bai Cha is a sweet and woody/earthy Green grown only in Zhejiang (home of many of China’s most refined teas). Picked only during a 30 day window in early spring, Anji Bai Cha buds are delicate, grey-green and high in Thiamine.

Today I’m drinking Goldfish’s Anji White. In aroma, Anji White is clearly a highly vegetal Green with a forest note. The liquor coloration of this Chinese Green helps shed some light on its mysterious name, as it appears quite clear with a Yellow-tinge not unlike a Peony. In flavor however, Anji White is actually quite unique. A light, sweet and refreshing Green with very low astringency for its region and style, Anji White is actually more similar to a sencha or fukumairicha than to most Chinese Greens. In texture Anji White is very Tippy and elegant–tumbling and sliding along the back of the tongue long after I’ve taken a sip. For those who dislike most Chinese Green’s astringent character or prefer Japanese sencha styled Greens, I would highly recommend Goldfish’s Anji White.

1. Aroma – 93
2. Taste – 94
3. Texture – 95
4. Spunk – 93
5. Price – 94
6. Availability – 93 (People swear up and down it’s a rare tea, but then i find a good 30 examples on Steepster… >.>)
7. Appearance – 99

Mean score – 94%

Quite the impressive sh0wing! I was bowled over by this highly-drinkable, highly refined Zhejianger Green.

Anji White also has the distinguished honor of being the first tea I’ve reviewed in my new infuser: a Forlife bola. So far results have been very promising, though i haven’t concocted the perfect method for cleaning spent tea out of the infuser basket as yet.