Thyolo Peony, White Tea from Malawi

Thyolo Peony white tea is another unusual white tea from Malawi that is made from one of the heirloom Chinese varietals planted in 1926 by Maclean Kay, founder of the Satemwa Estate and grandfather of the current owner, Alexander Kay. Although it is without a doubt a white tea, it is quite unlike any other white tea I've had the pleasure of tasting. Thyolo Peony is truly a site to behold! The care and craftsmanship that went into creating this tea are obvious at first glance. The dry leaf of Thyolo Peony is a mix of green, bronze and dark brown. High in thearubigens and theaflavins this tea is much darker in color—a lively amber color—with a briskness and brightness not found in other white teas. The aroma is that of a delicate spice with notes of ground black pepper. The taste, on the other hand, is reminiscent of cut hay with delicate lemon and citrus flavors developing subtly after each infusion. Having said that, my very first impression was incredibly sweet.  After three infusions I was confident that it still had plenty to give. Not the delicate, refined Chinese white tea, Thyolo Peony can hold it’s own any time of day. This tea has beautiful large leaves that are ever-so fragil, so we only sell it bagged by the ounce rather than in tins. (Our bags are quite sturdy and much larger than our tins.) Ingredients: Artisan white tea Origin: Satemwa Estate, Malawi