White Tea originated in Fujian province and, over the past few years, its consumer base has shifted from international markets to domestic ones. The quality of white Tea can be assessed based on six aspects: appearance, dry tea aroma, lid aroma, liquor color, taste, and infused leaves. Today, we will introduce some key points to consider when purchasing white tea.
How to Choose White Tea, Tips for Selecting Good White Tea
1. Buy Based on Quality, Not Category: Quality is paramount, with category serving as a secondary consideration.
White tea is categorized into four types based on the parts picked and the time of picking: Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen), White Peony (Bai Mudan), Tribute Eyebrow (Gong Mei), and Long Life Eyebrow (Shou Mei). Silver Needle is often considered the most precious grade of white tea because it consists only of buds. These buds are covered with fine white hairs, giving them a silver color and a needle-like shape.
White Peony comprises one bud and one or two leaves, with the leaves sandwiching the buds. Tribute Eyebrow and Long Life Eyebrow have fewer buds and more leaf content.
In terms of the material used to make the tea, buds are indeed more precious and rare. However, these four categories also have their own grades. Therefore, when buying white tea, the choice should be based on quality rather than category. The flavors of these four categories differ, and well-made White Peony can taste better than a lower-quality Silver Needle.
2. Buy Dry, Not Wet: Pay Attention to the Dryness of White Tea
The entire process of making white tea, which involves withering and drying, is essentially a dehydration process that establishes the tea's color, aroma, and flavor. Only when the moisture content of the tea leaves reaches a certain standard can the tea's color, aroma, and flavor be fully developed.
The latest national standard for white tea specifies that the moisture content must not exceed 8.5%. Tea with high moisture content is prone to mold and mildew, especially when considering long-term storage. Dryness is an important criterion for white tea.
Whether you're buying loose leaf or compressed white tea, you can test the dryness by gently pressing the leaves with your fingers. If the leaves crumble easily, they are sufficiently dry and contain low moisture, indicating good quality and suitability for long-term storage.
3. Buy New and Age It
High-quality aged white tea is hard to come by. On the market, five-year-old white teas are relatively common, while those over ten years old are rare. If you're new to white tea and not yet adept at distinguishing between genuine and fake aged teas, consider buying new tea to drink and store.
This way, you can enjoy the fresh fragrance and light, sweet aftertaste of new white tea immediately, and in the future, savor the rich flavor of aged white tea. Additionally, you can experience the different changes in flavor as the tea ages.
For those who prefer older teas, it's advisable to learn how to identify aged white tea and buy from reputable sellers. Over time, the aroma and taste of aged white tea become even richer and more distinctive.
4. Remember These Flavors When Buying White Tea
If the liquor color, aroma, or taste of white tea contains any off-flavors (unidentifiable tastes or odd sensations), you should avoid it. White tea is produced in a clean environment from the picking stage through processing. Unless improperly made or stored, it should not have any strange flavors. We hope you find the perfect white tea for you.