An Article to Quickly Understand White Tea (2): Types and Aging Potential 白茶的种类与陈年潜力
Subcategories of White Tea:
- Silver Needle: Made only from buds, it is relatively expensive, with a sweet flavor, covered in white fuzz, exhibiting a honey-like fragrance and a pronounced aftertaste. Harvested during the transition from winter to spring.
- White Peony: Composed of one bud and one or two leaves, named for its distinct layered appearance. When steeped in boiling water, the leaves cradle the bud, presenting a beautiful layered effect. High-quality White Peony still possesses abundant fuzz, with a sweet and smooth taste.
- Shou Mei: Harvested after Bai Mu Dan, it consists of one bud and three to four leaves, characterized by having tea stems and resembling withered old tree leaves. It has a rich, thick taste, highlighted by notes of red dates and candied fruits.
- Gong Mei: This type is quite special; the tea trees producing Gong Mei must be of local, natural propagation tea (gamogenesis).
The difference between sexual and asexual propagation is that asexual propagation equates to cloning, using the tea tree's branches or buds for cuttings or grafting. In contrast, sexual propagation produces new plants through seeds generated by the pollination of tea flowers, which can display different qualities, aromas, and disease resistance. Although the yield from sexually propagated tea is lower, its flavor is often richer.
The Aging Potential of White Tea In China, there is a saying: “一年茶，三年药，七年宝 witch means One year tea, three year medicine, seven year treasure.”This phrase emphasizes the aging potential of white tea, particularly for high-quality and transparently sourced teas.
Regarding the flavor changes of aged white tea, Silver Needle and Shou Mei can be viewed as two extremes. Aged Shou Mei typically has an extremely sweet taste; many people are reluctant to drink new Shou Mei due to its stronger stimulating flavor. To achieve an ideal drinking experience, Shou Mei needs to be stored for at least three years. On the other hand, Silver Needle , as it ages, transitions from a sweet flavor to a rich, candied sweetness. In contrast, Shou Mei's leaves are broader and exhibit a stronger stimulating taste in new tea; however, as the tea is stored longer, its richness and aroma become more mellow.
Consequently, the differences in flavor and aroma among years of Shou Mei and Silver Needle are vast and difficult to compare directly. Shou Mei is relatively affordable, but it does not compete with Silver Needle in terms of flavor. White Peony presents a more diverse choice; Young White Peony can reveal the same sweet clarity as Silver Needle, while aged White Peony appears richer and more complex.
if you prefer drinking aged Shou Mei, young Shou Mei can be prepared for aging, allowing you to appreciate the flavors that time brings to the tea after several years. New season Silver Needle has a sweet flavor, while aged Silver Needle possesses a richer flavor and usually comes at a higher price. White Peony excels whether as fresh tea or aged tea; fresh tea offers the crispness of white tea, while aged tea provides a richer, more layered tasting experience.
Finally, LumosTea warns that, since white tea has a reputation for aging, there is potential for counterfeit products. Due to the significant aging potential of Shou Mei, some merchants may resort to chemical methods to artificially age the tea quickly for immediate profit. Such teas often lack the authentic aged tea flavor and may pose health risks. Therefore, in Canada, it is more important to choose a reliable tea merchant than to buy individual tea products.
LumosTea is committed to increasing transparency in the tea industry and maintaining stable collaborations with outstanding tea masters and brands worldwide, providing every tea lover with quality, healthy, and delicious teas. Each of our teas and utensils is carefully selected by our team, helping to build an inclusive and transparent tea community in Canada with tea culture enthusiasts.
All articles reflect personal opinions, and Lumostea reserves the final right of interpretation for all blog content published on its website.