Lovely and Complex
A very sweet delicate white tea with many tones to the taste. Wonderful , I will buy again and recommend to try this beautiful white.
This extremely limited Fair Trade Certified, organic white tea is biodynamically farmed at the Makaibari estate in India's Darjeeling district. We only receive a small amount of this elusive tea, every so often. This most recent lot comes from the 2022 production and boasts beautifully sweet and floral notes. Available while supplies last!
Established in 1859, Markaibari is the oldest estate in Darjeeling, where a strong commitment to sustainable farming prevails. This organic tea consists of leaves of various shades of green and brown, with silver and beige downy buds. They produce a light, golden-amber infusion, with an inviting character. By far the richest and earthiest of our white teas, the aroma and cup of this tea is true to its Darjeeling origin with notes of citrus and muscatel layered over a slight sweetness.
Ingredients: organic and Fair Trade Certified Indian white tea
Located in eastern India, Darjeeling is nestled at the foothills of the Himalayas and tucked between Bhutan and Nepal. It is one of the most famous regions in the world for tea production, and has a long history of tea cultivation dating back to the early 1800s. Black teas are the most traditional types of tea from this area, but more recently white, green and oolong teas have been manufactured. Darjeeling’s highland subtropical climate and elevation (6000 feet above sea level) make it ideal for growing tea. Makaibari Tea Estate was founded in 1859, and is the oldest and steepest estate in Darjeeling. Makaibari is a biodynamic and organic certified tea garden and follows a form of “integrated forest management.” They also use permaculture in many of their practices. Certified Fair Trade in 1993, Makaibari has used their premiums to provide stipends for University studies, microfinance programs, education investments and health training, among many other initiatives.
Read our field notes from our visit to Makaibari!
At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend green and white teas to be steeped for 2 to 3 minutes in water heated to not-quite-boiling, just as bubbles begin to form on the bottom of the pan (approximately 170 to 180 degrees F). For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible. Try not to steep your tea longer than necessary, as you’ll extract undesirable bitterness from the leaves. If you want a stronger brew, don’t steep longer, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!
Looking for more info? Check out our How-To Guides and Eco-Brewing Tips!
"I love the delicate, slightly floral taste of this white. It almost resembles an oolong, as I can usually steep it multiple times and enjoy the flavor in many cups!"
"There is something a bit spicy in this tea that reminds me of a white version of a Chinese Keemun."
A very sweet delicate white tea with many tones to the taste. Wonderful , I will buy again and recommend to try this beautiful white.
What a lovely white tea, heartwarming in cold nights, outstanding white tea with a slight touch of earthyness and ... sweet. Those leaves expand beautifully in my tea maker.
This is my first experience with quality, loose tea. I found it after researching the tea Sophie Okonedo was drinking in 'The Escape Artist.' (Apparently this isn't it, exactly, but related.) I don't like my tea very strong, but this at first seemed too mild even for me. Over the course of a few days and a half-dozen or more cups, though, I've come to really appreciate its delicate taste. Never in my life have I drunk unsweetened tea, but this has a slight sweetness of its own, and when I tried half a pack of Splenda just to see what would happen, it killed the taste completely; it was like drinking hot water. I've gotten as many as four cups from one infuser-full (~2 tsp) and they all taste the same to me, not weaker or stronger or more bitter as the leaves get used more (am I outing myself as someone with callous tastebuds?), so I'm not put off by the price -- my sample bag is only half gone, but I'll be ordering the bulk size next time for sure. Thanks, Arbor Teas!
I usually drink green tea but decided to order samples of some different whites. This tea has a very nice taste, -slightly floral and a little peppery, which is somewhat reminiscent of bergamot. There is a subtle sweetness as well. This is the first white I have tried, and I'm hoping the other varieties are just as delicious.
This is the first time I try white tea. It's hard to believe the wonderful taste coming out of tea leaves without flowers. Oh so beautiful and smooth! What a soothing cup of tea! The complex flavor makes every sip pleasant and interesting. It's an experience that makes our curiousity smile and ask for more...