This slender, slightly twisted, tippy Fujian Black tea is classified as a gong fu tea: that is, tea that is skillfully made and exhibits excellent crafting. The tea producing town of Bai Lin makes old-style black teas that are processed in a similar fashion to our Golden Monkey teas from the neighboring town of Panyang. This was one of the first regions to make black tea back in the 17th century, and several of the other teas from this small region have gone out of production.
This is a Chinese black tea for tea enthusiasts who enjoy the style of fruity Ceylon black teas. Bai Lin has the soft-flavor profile and underlying sweetness that is characteristic of many Chinese black teas. But this tea also has a bit of pull and astringency, which gives it a chewy mouthfeel and bright, snappy flavor. Sip it black and you may find that no milk or sugar is needed.
Steep 1 infusion at 3 - 5 minutes. Water temperature should be 195 - 205 F