Silver Needles

Baimudan

The history of white tea manufacturing is shorter than other tea types. As recorded, white tea was firstly created in Fuding county in 1796. In that time, the farmers plucked the fresh tea leaves from vegetable white" variety to make silver tip white tea. And, the "Big White Tea" variety was found in Fuding about in 1857. Since 1885, the farmers began to pluck fresh tea leaves from "Big White Tea" variety to make silver tip white tea, which called Big white in that time. And, the silver tip white tea from "vegetable white" variety then so called "unrefined neelde" or "small white".

The "Big white" variety was also found in Zhenghe in 1880. The tea farmes began to produce silver tip white tea in 1889. Till 1922, white peony tea was then produced there. White peony tea was firstly created in Shuijie( Jianyang county nowadays). While, it's not sured when white peony tea was created. The white tea production began from Fuding, then spread to ShuiJie, then Zhenghe. As to white tea products, silver tip white tea was firstly creasted, then white poeny tea, then longevity eyebrow. The export business for silver tip white tea began from 1891. Since 1910, Chinese white tea tend to be popular in Europe and America like Chinese congou black tea.

Silver Needle White Tea (Bai Hao Yinzhen)
Hailing from the Fujian Province of China, Bai Hao Yinzhen, commonly called Silver Needle, is the highest grade of white tea available. Bright, fleshy and covered with tiny silver/white fuzz, Silver Needle has a uniform shape with no stems or leaves. Silver Needle is a prized delicacy, as only the finest delicate top buds are used in production.

The sweet buds used in Silver Needle Tea are picked for less than one month throughout the year, between late March and early April primarily from the Large White tea tree, however it is known to come from a few other sources as well. Silver Needle is delicate with a fresh fragrance and a pale yellow brew.

White Peony (Bai Mu Dan)
A considerable lower grade than Silver Needle, White Peony, incorporates one bud and two tiny leaves, plucked in early spring, covered with tiny silver/white fuzz on one side and touting a deep sage green color on the other side. White Peony is cheaper than the Silver Needle because it contains less bud and more leaves, plucked primarily from the Zheng He tea tree. In rare cases, the leaves may be mixed with the Shui Xian tea tree.

White Peony is grown primarily in the Fujian Province of China in two different areas, the Jiang Yang and Zheng He counties. White Peony grown in Jiang Yang is considered to have a better appearance, but White Peony from Zheng He, where it is mainly produced, is said to be more flavorful. White Peony has a bold taste with hints of oak, nut and vanilla with an apricot color brew. To enjoy White Peony, it is best to brew it Gongfu style, using more tea with a shorter steep time.

Tribute Eyebrow (Gong Mei)
Tribute Eyebrow is produced using leaves from the Xiao Bai tea tree and is processed more than the Silver Needle and White Peony teas and is therefore considered a lower grade tea. "Eyebrow" teas are named for the long, thin, crescent-shaped leaves used in production. Aged after oxidation, the Tribute Eyebrow offers a dark, full brew with a very earthy taste. It is popular in many Chinese teahouses and is sometimes served with Dim Sum.

Noble, Long Life Eyebrow (Shou Mei)
Using a mix of naturally withered tips and upper leaves, Noble, Long Life Eyebrow tea has a stronger flavor than its other white tea cousins and its flavor is often compared to a light Oolong tea. Noble, Long Life Eyebrow is grown in the Fujian and Guangxi provinces.

The leaves used in Noble, Long Life Eyebrow are plucked later than other white teas, usually in late April, May and June, and produce a tea that is much darker in color. It has a stronger bold taste than other delicate white teas.

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