Well, let me tell you about this bottled white tea, you know, the kind they sell in them fancy stores. I ain’t no expert, but I know what I like, and I reckon some of this stuff ain’t half bad.

First off, what is this white tea anyways? I heard some folks sayin’ it’s special, comes from some place far away, like that “Fujian” they talk about. Sounds like a foreign country to me. They say it’s different from other teas, ain’t messed with too much, just withered and dried, like leaves in the sun. They even call it “golden sencha” in Japan, on account of it bein’ all pale green-yellow when you brew it. But heck, I just call it tea.

Now, I’ve seen all sorts of bottled white tea at the store. Some are plain, some got flavors, like peach or lemon. I even saw one with “passion fruit,” whatever that is. Sounded too fancy for my taste, to be honest. I stick to the plain stuff mostly. Don’t need no fancy stuff messing with my tea.

Why bottled white tea, you ask? Well, sometimes I ain’t got time to brew a whole pot, you know? Life gets busy, even for an old woman like me. And sometimes, it’s just too hot for a hot drink. A cold bottle of tea on a hot day, that’s just the ticket. Better than them sugary sodas they sell everywhere.

• Taste: The plain white tea, it tastes kinda light, a little bit sweet, not bitter like some teas. It’s smooth, goes down easy. The flavored ones, well, they taste like whatever they put in ’em, I guess. Peach tastes like peach, lemon like lemon. Ain’t rocket science.
• Price: Some of these bottles, they cost an arm and a leg! I ain’t payin’ five dollars for a bottle of tea, no sir. I look for the ones on sale, the ones that are a good value. A working woman like me knows how to stretch a dollar.
• Ingredients: I always check the label, see what’s in it. I don’t want no funny business, no chemicals or nothin’ I can’t pronounce. Just tea and water, that’s all I need. Sometimes they put in sugar, but not too much, I hope. And I ain’t gonna lie to you, sometimes them long ingredient lists give me a headache, all them fancy words they use.

Now, I’ve tried a few different brands of this bottled white tea. Some are good, some are okay, and some, well, they taste like dishwater. I ain’t gonna name names, but you know, you gotta try a few to find the one you like. It’s like finding a good pair of shoes, you gotta try ’em on first.

Some folks say that white tea is good for you, full of them “antioxidants” they talk about. I don’t know much about that, but I figure it can’t hurt. Better than drinkin’ that sugary stuff all the time. As long as it tastes good and quenches my thirst, that’s good enough for me. Ain’t no spring chicken, I don’t need to live forever, so long as I’m enjoying myself.

So, if you’re lookin’ for a refreshing drink, somethin’ a little different, give bottled white tea a try. Just don’t go spendin’ all your money on it. And remember, the best tea is the one you like best, no matter what them fancy folks say. Don’t get caught up with all them best this and best that list they do on the computer. I go with my gut feeling, always have and always will. And I’m still kickin’ ain’t I?

One last thing though. Don’t be fooled by all them fancy labels and big words. Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Just a good old bottle of plain white tea, that’s all you need. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go have myself a glass. All this talk about tea made me thirsty.

Tags: [white tea, bottled tea, tea, beverage, drink, healthy drink, refreshing, thirst quencher, summer drink, flavor]