White Tea

There has been a great deal of excitement lately with all the new news about white tea and its health benefits. Customers, both in person and online, have asked questions about this different type of tea. We’ve added some explanation about white tea in general, and about each of the white teas we carry in specific, to help answer some of those questions.

White tea is literally the youngest tea leaves, which leads to its mild flavor and appealingly fresh aroma. It is made predominantly of fresh young buds that have yet to grow into mature leaves. They are picked very early, before they develop a lot of chlorophyll. These “baby leaves” are quickly steamed to prevent any oxidation, then air dried to keep the appearance and flavor of the leaves intact. The finished tea often consists of leaves that are covered with a silvery-white down. Because of their young picking, as well as their small amount of oxidation and processing, white tea has been shown to be very high in all the enzymes and vitamins that make tea so healthful.

We always recommend that you brew your white tea at a cool 160 degrees and never for more than 2 minutes (often the first cup should be brewed for less than a minute and a half). White tea leaves are good for several brewings, and we often use the same leaves in the shop for as many as 6 or 7 cups of tea.

White tea is rare, and we strive to keep only the best and most flavorful of these leaves in the shop. Often we have only 2 or 3 varieties of white tea at a time to assure we are getting the best to our customers. If you have any questions about white tea, or about any other kind of tea, don't hesitate to email us.

 
Assam Silver Needles

The Teacup is proud to present one of our most amazing finds in years. A hybrid tea at the forefront of new tea growing technology, but firmly based in the most traditional of tea techniques.

White teas have been produced in China for generations, and are considered some of the most precious by the Chinese themselves. India has been producing tea in the Assam region since the 1700's, and the autumn picked black teas from Assam is among the most sought after tea on the planet.

Assam Silver Needles marries these two traditions into a new type of tea, carrying foreword the best of both. An Assam plantation owner has studied the method used in China to produce white tea, returning with the tools and knowledge to produce this white tea from the buds produced by his own tea plants. This tea has the mellow taste and glorious scent common in all white teas, but also has the depth of flavor and malty overtones expected from the Assam tea plants. Not as strong a tea as the late autumn picked Assams that make up the classic black teas, this tea is brewed lighter and sweeter and meant to be taken without cream or sugar in the fashion of Chinese oolong or white teas, with similar delicious results.

White teas produced in traditionally black tea regions, such a Darjeeling, Assam, and Ceylon are experimental, and as such are extremely rare. The Teacup was able to procure just one chest of this world class tea, and consider it the best of this type we have ever tasted. Once our supply is exhausted we will all be left wishing for the elusive taste of this fine tea.

$88.00 per pound


Code: 187
Quantity in Basket: none
Drum Mountain White

Drum Mountain White tea is grown on a famous mountaintop where Buddhist monks at the Drum Mountain Monastery have produced superior teas for centuries. The flavor is soft and fragrant with a subtle nuttiness.

$76.00 per pound

We are currently awaiting shipment of more of this tea. Sorry for the inconvenience!


Code: 097
Quantity in Basket: none
White Peony

White Peony Tea is prepared from the buds and leaves that remain after Yinzhen (Silver Needles) tea is harvested. The liqueur is slightly richer and bolder than the other white teas, with a sweet and fruity aroma.

$40.00 per pound


Code: 098
Quantity in Basket: none
Yinzhen (Silver Needles)

Yinzhen (Silver Needles), from China’s Fujian province, is the king of white teas. This rare tea is 100% tender white buds. The unparalleled complexity and fresh flavor makes this tea perfect for quiet sipping and thoughtful reflection.

$112.00 per pound

We are currently awaiting shipment of more of this tea. Sorry for the inconvenience!


Code: 269
Quantity in Basket: none