{"id":21465,"date":"2022-09-03T02:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-03T02:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teplotea.com\/white-tea\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T11:31:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T11:31:48","slug":"white-tea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teplotea.com\/en\/white-tea\/","title":{"rendered":"What is White Tea? An Introduction to the Characteristics of White Tea and Recommended Brewing Methods"},"content":{"rendered":"

White tea, which is primarily produced in China\u2019s Fujian and Hunan provinces, is a type of Chinese tea that is rare and not commonly seen in Japan. A major characteristic of white tea lies in its production process. Unlike green tea, oolong tea, and black tea, which involve a process called rolling ( junen) where the tea leaves are bruised, white tea skips this step. After the tea leaves are harvested, they are withered under the sun ( ich\u014d) and then dried, completing the production process. As a result, the leaves have a shape that looks like they have been cut. This article will introduce the characteristics of white tea and how to brew it deliciously.<\/p>

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Tea Characteristics<\/strong><\/p>

The production method is very simple, resulting in a delicate flavor that clearly reflects the inherent qualities of the tea leaves themselves. During the withering process, the tea leaves undergo a degree of fermentation (oxidation), which means it is sometimes referred to as a lightly fermented tea, positioned between green tea and oolong tea.<\/p>

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Appearance Characteristics of Tea Leaves and Tea<\/strong><\/p>

The above photo shows a type of white tea called Bai Mu Dan (White Peony). It is said to have been named Bai Mu Dan because the white, fuzzy tea leaves resemble the flowers of the white peony. In addition to Bai Mu Dan, another well-known variety of white tea is Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle), which is covered in needle-like fuzzy hairs. Incidentally, the term “Bai Hao” is pronounced “Pekoe” in the Fujian dialect, and this is the origin of the term “Pekoe” used to describe parts of black tea. The color of the brewed tea is a pale amber.<\/p>

Flavor Characteristics<\/strong><\/p>

It has a smooth, elegant sweetness with a clean, refreshing aftertaste.<\/p>

Aroma Characteristics<\/strong><\/p>

It features a fresh, green aroma reminiscent of a breeze through a green field.<\/p>

Brewing Instructions<\/strong><\/p>