$9.00 – $57.00
the pluck of one bud and one-to-two leaves makes 白牡丹 Bai Mu Dan "White Peony" the standard grade of white tea, a balanced blend of fragrance and body. We commissioned this bai cha material to be pressed into a tight waffle form as to facilitate a nearly anaerobic environment on its interior that would stagger with the fast-moving aerobic oxidation of its exterior as it ages. The result is a fun, delightful nug matrix that is ready to be divvied out into a gaiwan. Already achieving medicine status as the saying 一年茶、三年药、七年宝 “one year tea, three years medicine, seven years treasure” goes, this complexified candy is well on its way. The tight pressing adds extra length to an already lengthy gong fu session, and is perfect for embarking on the glorious path of boiled tea.
Read more about the wonders of aging white tea here on our blog.
While the capitol of white teas in the world is sure to be the coastal city of Fuding, we are pleased to be able to offer teas from 政和 Zhenghe, sure to be its rival. Zhenghe shares the same government district of Nanping with the iconic and legendary post-volcanic mountainous region of Wuyishan. The average elevation of Zhenghe is 200 meters higher than Fuding, and as such the leaves grow slower; their average harvest date is later.
While Fuding white tea production takes advantage of earlier seasonal sunshine for withering, Zhenghe’s later production time-frame bookends the onset of monsoon season, necessitating producers to use partial indoor-outdoor withering methods with less direct, more passive light. Leaves can often oxidize at slower rates and lower temperatures, resulting in a more robust and sweeter profile. If you like northern fujianese white teas, you must try Zhenghe teas.
This white is a waffle press , which is new to me. So, I need some practice with getting it to completely open before it starts coming down from the wonderful herb and cinnamon notes. The Gong dao bei is so fragrant that you want to just carry it around. Next brew , probably need to break up the squares a bit more or brew at a lower temperature longer at the rinse.