#yabao

At this angle you can kinda forget the lake is an algal hellscape! For the @floatingleavestea #myfloatingleaves photo challenge, I pick @aluciddelusion and @notesontea to play along. I mixed #yabao with #goldneedles #tea a good sweet combo #lakemonona #tea #teaofinstagram #bowlsteeping #cha #floatingleaves #outsidetea

#teamail from @storyofmytea very excited to dig into these teas! Really like that they include both #shou and a #heicha Going to get into that #yabao now!

This midday "tea" kick is brought to you by a "tea" that really isn't tea in the strictest sense. This is yabao - basically the "branch buds" of a Camellia tree. Notice how I didn't say sinensis specifically? Gooood. . . Yabao is usually made from Camellia sinensis var. assamica trees in Yunnan province, China... but can also be made from other Camellia species in the region, like taliensis. . . This yabao is neither of those. This comes from a region in Yunnan called Qianjiazhai. Never heard of it, I haven't either. The Camellia species is called Crassicolumna, and it's (allegedly) caffeine free. I got a sample with a recent @verdanttea order. . . A deeper, bloggy dive into the species will be happening. But this tea wasn't going to be a part of that. I might have to rethink that. . . As yabao(s?) go, this is the sweetest and fruitiest I've tasted yet. I'm endlessly fascinated by herbs made in the same fashion as tea. . . #yabao #puerh #sheng #crassicolumna #tea #Yunnan #Qianjiazhai #verdanttea https://www.instagram.com/p/B1zriYwAvJ1/?igshid=1rkmjim3ep231

Ya Bao silver buds white tea. Surprisingly fruity and spicy, yet still delicate and light. 🌱 ~ For some odd reason the little furry buds remind me of rabbit feet? Long, thin and downy 🐰 ~ What are you drinking this weekend? . . . #tea #rabbit #tearabbit #illustration #whitetea #yabao #silverbuds

Today on the #teablog I look at @storyofmytea tea club, a preview including this #yabao 💕 #teablogger #gongfucha #tea #teaclub #teaofinstagram #whitetea #greentea #shou #heicha

These are some of the prettiest #yabao I have had the pleasure of brewing. Sacred hundred years old tree yes buds from #tanlongteacompany #tea #steepstagram #gaiwan #gongfucha

I love using this as bowl or grandpa brewed tea while studying or relaxing, impossible to over brew and one of the sweetest teas to enjoy! #Yabao #buds #tea (at The West Wing)