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White Teas

Picture
White Teas - Ageing Tastefully

In April I visited a farm in Fuding, Fujian province where they grow a highly versatile tea cultivar called da bai, the buds and leaves of which are used to produce green, white and red teas. Another noteworthy feature is that the buds, or "needles", are covered in silvery white hair. The white and green teas produced from these buds are called " bai hao yin zhen" in Chinese and "silver needle" in English. The white tea, however, is more commonly known as " shou mei" - " shou" meaning longevity and " mei" eyebrow. The name refers to the eyebrow of an elderly person and the needles do indeed resemble silvery white eyebrows.

In Chinese culinary philosophy, consuming a plant or a bit of an animal that resembles a part of the human body is believed to strengthen that particular feature. In this instance, shou mei is associated with living to a ripe old age and is popular among the elderly.

These silvery hairs serve a crucial purpose: needles bud during early spring, around March, and, since the region is at a high altitude, it can get very cold, so the hairs form a layer of insulation for the needle, like a fur coat. Secondly, moisture from dew drops can cause the needles to rot but the hair prevents this from happening.
To produce white tea, buds are picked during the day and brought to the factory by farmers at dusk. In a process called withering, they are then layered on racks and air-dried at 30 degrees Celsius in a temperature-controlled room for 24 hours. The buds will turn from fresh green to greyish white, after which they are collected and piled in heaps to allow them to oxidise for another 24 to 72 hours; the longer the time, the sweeter and more mellow the taste. The most expensive such teas are naturally withered under the sun, but this is risky as the weather during the spring can be unstable.

This light-oxidised tea will produce a light yellowish brew with a clean, smooth and soothing taste. White tea is prized for its anti-oxidising and anti-ageing effects. From my experience, the gentle flavour of white tea is ideal for people looking for a cooling effect but who have weaker stomachs. It can be consumed at any time and by anybody, including children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Its anti-inflammatory character is good for people with gum-ache or mouth ulcers.

​http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1283305/yum-cha
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  • About MingCha
    • Jasmine Blossoms
    • MingCha Tea House
    • Our Team
  • Buy Tea
    • Tea Categories >
      • Jasmine Green Teas
      • Green Teas
      • Red Teas
      • Oolong Teas - Anxi
      • Oolong Teas - Phoenix
      • Oolong Teas - Wuyi
      • Black Teas
      • White Teas
      • Flower Teas
      • Japanese Teas
    • Special Collection
    • Wellness Tea Bags
    • Tea Basics >
      • What is tea?
      • How healthy is tea?
      • How to classify tea?
      • What are Jasmine green teas?
      • What are Green teas?
      • What are Red teas?
      • What are Oolong teas? >
        • Oolong Teas - Anxi
        • Oolong Teas - Phoenix
        • Oolong Teas -Wuyi
      • What are White teas?
      • What are Black teas?
  • Buy Tea Gift
    • Jasmine Blossoms for Wedding
    • Jasmine & Flower Tea
    • Classic Tea
    • Private Reserve
    • Wellness Gift Sets - 5 Elements
    • Wellness Tea Bags
    • Tea & Tea Ware
    • Tea & Food
    • Tea Tasting Workshops
    • Tea Gift Catalogue
    • Price List
  • Buy Tea Wares
    • Tea wares - Basic
    • Tea wares - Porcelain >
      • Porcelain - White
      • Porcelain - Blue & White
      • Porcelain - Celadon
      • Porcelain - Others
    • Tea wares - Yixing
    • Tea wares - Japanese
    • Tea Tools, Accessories
  • Tea Tasting & Pairing Workshop
    • Tea Workshop for Family with Children
  • Corporate Service
    • Corporate Gifts
    • Corporate Events
    • Corporate Enquiries
  • CONTACT US
    • Customer Enquiries
    • Where to buy - Stockists
    • Wholesale Enquiries
  • Newsletters
  • 肥婆蘭講茶啦!
  • 肥婆蘭賣茶誌
  • News in Japanese
  • Media