Old Tree White Tea

Old Tree White Tea is made from tea leaves picked from old trees with one bud and two leaves. It is a luxurious white tea that combines a gorgeous flavor with a long aftertaste.

Tea picked from old trees at high altitudes

Old Tree White Tea is made from a sustainable, naturally grown tea garden without fertilizer or pesticides, located at an altitude of 2100-2200m in Zhenkang County, Lincang City. I purchased the raw materials from a tea garden owned by a tea producer who is my friend and who makes tea with me. Although the tea is the first tea of ​​the spring, it was not harvested until May. Even in Lincang, tea harvesting begins in March. Speaking of May, in some tea gardens, the second tea is harvested, but when conditions such as high altitude, old trees, and natural cultivation are met, the growth of tea becomes very slow, and even though it is the first tea, it is harvested in May. Tea that has grown slowly over time contains a lot of minerals and polyphenols, so it has a strong aftertaste and a long lingering aftertaste. In a sense, the trick to purchasing good tea is to aim for the first tea that is harvested as late as possible. The reason I am staying in Yunnan Province until June is to purchase the first tea that is harvested late.

Refreshing citrus scent

In order to bring out the characteristics of the old tree white tea, we had the tea picked with one bud and two leaves instead of one bud and one leaf. One bud Baihao Yinzhen and one bud and one leaf Bai Mutan have a high amino acid content and a creamy texture when you put it in your mouth. On the other hand, one bud and two leaves have a higher polyphenol content, so the taste is clearer and the aroma is more vibrant. Old tree white tea has a refreshing citrus aroma and a clear, crisp taste.

The fragrance becomes even stronger the longer it sits.

Tea with a high polyphenol content is suitable for aging, and white tea in particular has the property of developing a stronger aroma when aged without oxygen. If left for several years or more, the aroma of flowers, fruits, and even muscat honey will develop.

Processing white tea without heat

White tea is made without using any heat, so the tea leaves contain live enzymes. The harvested tea leaves are spread out on a mat in a well-ventilated indoor location, and the water is gradually evaporated to cause withering. Withering is a process in which the enzymes in the tea leaves are activated by the stress of dehydration, causing gentle fermentation (enzymatic oxidation). In the case of oolong tea and black tea, fermentation is stopped by applying heat to the tea leaves after withering, but white tea continues withering and is dried at the same time, until the tea leaves are thoroughly dried.

Ideal for cold brewed tea

Needless to say, this tea is very delicious when brewed in water. As a rough guide, 5g will make about 2 liters of brewed tea. Leave the tea leaves in the refrigerator for about half a day to soak in water and it's ready. Remove the tea leaves after steeping. Also, when making brewed tea, using cooled water will make the tea taste and smell better. If you keep it in the refrigerator, you can enjoy fresh tea for a few days. Children will love it, so please give it a try at least once.