Mononoke

Mononoke is a white shou mei tea from 2013, processed in Fuding, China. This pressed tea cake consists of whole leaves instead of buds. Combined with the aging since 2013 this gives her the warm and deep quality that most younger white teas lack.

This tea has a sweet, malty flavor with hints of pecan nuts and syrup. She colors amber in the cup. Each sip will coat your entire mouth and throat with the rich and velvety liquid. The taste lingers for ten minutes or longer with a beautiful huigan. Mononoke warms the stomach and calms the mind, inviting stillness and inner wisdom.

Perfect for a slow morning or spacious afternoon, when truly taking the time to witness Mononoke’s depth and ancient spirit. Have a solo tea ceremony with yourself or sit in silence with friends. In the evening, she’ll help you wind down and let go.

Brewing

The easiest way to experience this tea is to place a few whole leaves in a bowl, then pouring hot water over them. Though pressed into a cake, the leaves are easily peeled off whole with your fingers. After drinking, top the bowl back up with water. Repeat until you’re finished. A sidehandle teapot will enable you to drink more bowls from the same tea.

Try a gong fu session to truly experience her depth. Start with short infusions to let her unfold slowly. Increase the steeping time gradually throughout the tea session. She won’t turn bitter when steeped too long, but longer steeping times in the beginning will make the flavor fade more quickly.