If you’ve never seen a Bai Mu Dan before, you might find the look of it rather surprising: round and flat, like a squished, spikey disk. Some describe this as a wheel, hence we’ve given the name Jasmine Wheel to our special Jasmine Bai Mu Dan.
In short, it’s green tea. But it’s not the loose leaf we send out in our teaboxes every month. It has a special form, one that’s made by an intricate four-step process:
First, specific leaves are selected from the tea plant. These are very particular, as they need to be long enough, and have a special, mottled-white appearance. Leaves with these characteristics are available for only two to three weeks of each year, and a lot of care is given to the harvesting process.
Second, the leaves are tied together and secured to form the wheel shape.
Third, the wheels are steamed (which stops the oxidation process, locking in the goodness of the green tea).
Fourth, for our Jasmine Wheels, the Bai Mu Dan is dried in the same room as fresh Jasmine flowers. The flowers are so fragrant that their lovely aroma is transmitted to the green tea leaves. This means that, even though there are no actual flowers in the wheel that gets delivered to you, that heady Jasmine essence is still very present, and greets you the moment you open your Jasmine Wheel package.
I am so excited for the Members Only Tea Shop! My first box had Afternoon Earl Grey and to say I’m hooked is telling it lightly. It. Is. Delicious! It brought me back to my time in the U.K. I try to make a cup at least a couple of times a week. I mean, if I am able to buy it, I will stock up. Can’t wait to also see and taste past boxes.