The “emperor of teas”
“Peony”, “spirit of the water” and “silver needle” – the Chinese language has several poetic names for what might be the most precious of all teas. Characteristic of the tea leaves are the silky, silvery white hairs and these might be the inspiration of the different names of white tea varieties. In essence, the expert growers of white tea look for the most tender, unopened buds on the tea bushes and the leaves which grow around them; after gently picking them by hand, they are laid out to dry under the open sky. Special mats or wicker baskets are used for this purpose. By subjecting it to this short, natural drying and withering process, the tea preserves its typical appearance with a large number of leaf tips – this further results in the tea’s incomparably mild, elegant flavor.
