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What is white tea???

The everyday tea drinker likely has heard of and drinks black and green teas. Two of the most common types of tea in North American, not counting herbal (which isn’t really tea). And while there are certainly a fair numbers of tea drinkers in this part of the world that have heard of white tea, I still meet people almost daily, who have never heard of it. For many, white tea is an odd name they may come across in the tea section of your grocery store, or in your local loose tea retailer. I find oolong also falls under this category. But even so, for those of you who may not know, let’s take a dive into the sweet and subtle world of white tea.

White tea is most commonly grown in Fuding in the Fujian province of China. However, it is also grown in Taiwan and in recent years in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Nepal. But for now, we’ll focus on the most commonly found and sold white teas which hail from China.  

Harvest & Processing

The white tea we know in present day, without going into great detail on history, was first commercially produced in the 1700’s, although it predates this period. These teas are made using large leaf varietals of the Camellia Sinensis plant from which all true tea derives. Now a days, white teas come from the Camellia Assamica varietal while in the past it was harvested from the Camellia Taliensis varietal. This varietal has however, become endangered due to over picking. It is still possible to find white teas made from this varietal.  

White tea goes through the least amount of processing out of all the 6 types of tea. It goes through very little oxidization unlike other tea types which range from medium to high oxidization. After the leaves are harvested, they go through the process of withering and then drying. The drying process is usually done in the same manner as puerh, which is sun drying, but is also quite often done indoors to control the environment.  

Types

The two most famous types of white tea found on the market are Bai Hao Yin Zen (Silver Needle) and Bi Mudan (White Peony). In addition, there are two other grades of white tea that have also become quite popular, especially amongst people who like to age white tea, Gong Mei and Shou Mei.

Besides these types, there are other “odd ball” white teas from China can be found but are not nearly as common or popular.

Bai Hao Yin Zen (Silver Needle)

Silver Needle is the most prized and expensive type of white tea, as it is made using only young leaf buds. The buds are easily recognizable by their silver color and covered with white, silvery hairs also referred to as downy. These hairs or downy are a good sign of high quality Silver Needle. These are young tender buds that are picked before they are able to open up. 

Silver Needle is recognized as one of the Top 10 Teas of China

Silver Needle has a very distinct flavor that is very light and mellow and can be described as sweet, vegetal and delicate. I often find them to have floral notes and a honey like sweetness.  

When brewing Silver Needle, it is usually best to use a lower temperature using a slightly higher ratio of tea for a longer infusion for western brewing. Usually around 3-5 minutes. For gongfu brewing, a lower temperature water is also generally used, with infusions of around 15-30 seconds depending on the brewer's taste.  I myself have experimented with silver Needle using gongfu methods and have found good results using full boiling water with quicker infusions of 5-10 seconds.  

I also tend to like my Silver Needle done “grandpa style” with putting my leaves in a pot or glass loose with boiling water and allowing them to just sit and steep. I find this brings out a fuller body and an almost fruity like quality, but this is just to my taste.  

I also recommend using glass teawares for brewing Silver Needle. The reason for this based on the benefits of glass teaware for delicate teas (see my older post of vessel materials) and also to appreciate the pale yellow color of the tea as the little silver hairs float around the cup.

Bi Mudan (White Peony)

This type of white tea is made using the common picking ratio of one bud and two leaves. The taste of White peony can be described as being similar to Silver Needle, but with a fuller body and greater potency. It also has a similar appearance to Silver Needle with the presence of downy silver buds, with the addition of light green leaves. For lower grade, the leaves may appear to be a dark green or a mixture of green and brown leaves.

Because the tea has the addition of these young leaves, the tea does not need to brew as long as Silver Needle. I usually steep mine for 2-4 minutes western style with a lower temperature water. However, like Silver Needle, I have found that it brews well using boiling water when done gongfu. Very quick flash infusions (5 seconds or less) pull out a light, fruity and leafy flavor without becoming bitter. Using the gongfu method, I find I can get between 8-10 infusions using high temperature water before the tea begins to lose flavor.

Gong Mei & Shou Mei (Tribute Eyebrow & Longevity Eyebrow)

Gong Mei is regarded as a 3rd grade tea.

While Shou Mei is a 4th grade.  

These types of white tea are harvested later than White Peony and Silver Needle. Because of this, these teas have a much stronger, more potent flavor and darker in color. Like Peony, these teas both consist of leaves and buds, however the main difference between the two the greater number of buds found in Gong Mei compared to Shou Mei (Gong Mei - 1 bud, 2-3 leaves, Shou Mei - 1 bud, -leaves). In addition, the leaves of the tea usually range from golden brown, reddish or black, or a mixture.  

These types of white tea are also quite forgiving of higher temperature water when brewing and are commonly brewed using boiling water. A very popular method to brew Gong Mei and Shou Mei is to begin using a gongfu method. After around the 6th infusion when the flavor beings to fade, transfer the leaves to a pot or kettle and bring up to a boil for up to 5-6 minutes.  

Yue Guang Bai (Moonlight White)

Odd name right?

Well, the name comes with a reason. The main difference between this tea and other white teas, is Moonlight White is harvested at NIGHT. This is due to the tea being a C3, which stores carbohydrates during a cycle of darkness. Because of this, when picked at night, the leaves have a higher concentrate of sugar, making the teas sweet to drink. In addition to this, unlike other white teas, this tea is traditionally dried at night by moonlight as opposed to sun drying during the day. It can also be dried indoors at night as well.  

Another difference in this tea is while other are grown in Fujian, this tea is grown in Yunnan.  

The tea can be recognized by its mixture of bright silvery downy buds mixed with dark, almost black leaves.  

Brewing Moonlight White is generally best gongfu style in very similar fashion to Peony or Gong Mei.

Aging

Read the full article here: https://healthyjean.com/how-do-you-drink-black-tea/

Perhaps you’ve never been a tea drinker before, but you’ve decided to give it a twirl. Or maybe you already drink standard varieties of tea, but you’d like to try black tea for a change of pace. In any case, you’re wondering how you should go about drinking this refreshing, full-bodied beverage.

To begin with, you should be aware of the fact that tea aficionados around the globe tend to make tea similarly. It is true that specific methods of tea preparation may differ from country to country and from region to region.

Favorite Methods

For example, in India, black tea is often steeped with a combination of milk and hot water. In Great Britain and the rest of the United Kingdom, tea tends to be stepped quite strong, with milk or a sweetener such as sugar or honey added to enhance the taste.

In the United States, it’s quite popular to microwave a cup of cold water to brew tea. However, it is a fact that many Americans are now opting for loose teas rather than tea bags.

What You Should Know About Black Tea

Black tea tends to vary in color from a shade of reddish-brown to black. Interestingly enough, like black tea ages, it often becomes even more flavorful. To store black tea, you should place it in a location that is ventilated well, but you don’t have to worry about the temperature of the area.

In general, black tea is formed into cakes that can be round, square, or tube-like. How black tea smells and tastes may depend mainly on the location in which it was harvested. As a result, scent and flavor may vary significantly from region to region.

Black tea is known for its therapeutic benefits. For instance, fans of black tea in China tend to have a little problem with cancer or other degenerative illnesses. They may have better overall health than non-tea drinkers.

Types of Black Tea

When thinking about buying black tea, it is essential for you to know the varieties that are available. For instance, if you’re interested in high-quality tea, you might consider Keemun. This type of tea has a strong aroma and can be consumed with or without milk and sweetener.

Another preferred type is Darjeeling, an Indian tea that is known for its delicate taste. Meanwhile, Assam is a less spicy version of Keemun, but it is also known for its rich flavor.

If you’re interested in a Chinese black tea, you might consider Lapsang Souchong, which is characterized by an unusual smoky flavor. For a Chinese tea with a little bit of a kick, try Yunnan, which offers a hint of pepper.

If you prefer a lighter tea, the Indian Nilgiri may be best. However, be aware of the fact that Nilgiri requires expert steeping to achieve the right flavor.

Drinking Black Tea in Style

If you want to drink black tea in style, you should consider indulging in it at a tea salon. Such salons are ever-present, not only in Chinese cities such as Beijing but also in Taiwan.

You should be aware of the fact that menus at tea salons tend to feature a range of items. Also, the decor can differ significantly from salon to salon.

For the people of the Orient, tea salons can be as trendy as Starbucks cafes are in the Western world. Salons tend to stay open late enough to accommodate late-night patrons.

They are also a favorite of young people. Visit a tea salon in China, and you may find dozens of different varieties of teas available.

Some of the teas may have been aged two decades or more, causing them to have an especially appealing flavor. One Pu-erh tea is more than a century old and is considered a national treasure among the Chinese.

The tea salons of the Orient may also have some different sections, each reflecting a different kind of atmosphere. For instance, one part may be considered more or less a reading room, while another is best suited for playing games. As a result of this, tea salons are classified as a destination location.

Fun Ways to Enjoy Black Tea

There are undoubtedly other entertaining ways that you can enjoy black tea. For instance, you might consider holding a tea-tasting party where you invite a group of friends to sample various black tea delicacies.

Or you can plan a meal from the country of origin of your favorite blend of black tea. In other words, the possibilities for enjoying black tea are limited only by your imagination.