Early Spring, 2021; var. Camilia sinensis; Jiangnan Tea Market, Nanjing, Jiangsu; bud and leaf, traditional hand-made tea, pine needle shaping; 20-50m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

Infusion: 3g in 200ml for 30-40sec.@85 deg. C

Dry Leaf Aroma: short bread biscuits or Danish cookies with a pronounced, buttery greenness;
Wet Leaf Aroma: watermelon rind, with a hint of Clementine segments, pasionfruit, and Monstera deliciosa;
Liquor: pale yellow-green liquor with light, sweet, fruity scent;
Mouthfeel: thick, viscous, creamy, mildly stimulating and fresh, with a sweet finish, followed by a lingering, gentle, minerality;
Taste: bready, biscuity, buttery, fruity, sweet;

Opinion: This tea… this tea has me chasing down the rabbit hole of a faint and ancient childhood memory. My mum had a Monstera deliciosa which fruited once. She told us kids it was a Fruit Salad Plant. Eventually it ripened and she picked it. Tropical fruit salad, pineapple, banana, mango, mildly sweet smelling, and surprising taste.