Notes of lemon verbena, almond milk, and rock sugar.

White tea from Fujian, China・April 2023・野放白牡丹・Organic

Baimudan, or white peony in Chinese, is a white tea that consists of a blend of buds and leaves. The relative proportion of the two determines the tea’s quality and character. Most high-grade baimudans consists of one bud + two leaves. Our Arbor Baimudan’s exceeds that ratio with a mix of two buds to every leaf. A higher proportion of buds to leaf emphasizes the teas sweetness, floral notes, and texture.

White tea quality is also a function of both provenance and leaf growth stage. The highest grade classic white teas come from Fuding County, in northern Fujian Province. Fuding’s terroir - coastal, yet protected by a single range of mountains, creates a cool and clean environment for tea to thrive. And the best quality Fuding white teas are grown on organic tea gardens.

Arbor Baimudan comes from a grove of semi-wild tea trees that were initially planted on an organic tea garden but subsequently left to develop without human intervention. The plants have not been pruned or watered, and neither pesticides nor fertilizers were ever used. In the last decade, the grove has become effectively biodynamic.

These buds and leaves were picked in early April, then withered and air-dried over a 30 hour period. During this time, mild oxidation transforms the buds and leaves from sharp and grassy, to a tea that is rounder and more subtle than green tea, with exceptional clarity, enhanced aromatics, and notes of lemon verbena, almond milk, and rock sugar.

Brew: 4 grams・150 ml・208° F・1 min

We suggest similar brew parameters for all white teas, using water that ranges between 195 - 208F, with a starting steep time of 1 minute. Extend steep time for larger volumes. A shorter steep time at lower temperatures produces a very bright and floral tea. Longer steep times and higher temperatures increases complexity and finish.