Fresh Meat has caught the imagination of several western tea drinkers due to its exclusive and delicate flavour and organic image.
The organic image is derived from it becoming 1 of the least processed teas, there becoming only two easy methods in its production – ‘withering’ and ‘dehydrating’. The processes utilised in production of Green, Oolong, Black tea are normally extensions or additions of this major procedure to include things like ‘rubbing’, ‘shaping’ or ‘baking’. The almost ‘unprocessed’ nature minimises the breakdown of the enzymes and oxidization.
By cause of its easier and prevalent production process, some historians believe that White Tea was a single of the very original Chinese teas, its use dating back at least two thousand years. The straightforward method of its production has been honed into an art form more than time practiced by skilled and knowledgeable exponents.
White tea’s production is nearly exclusive to the FuJian province of Southern China, its organic atmosphere becoming specifically suited for the plants’ cultivation. Production is focused in regions such as FuDing and ZhengHe, characterized by a hilly terrain, mild temperature and abundant normal rain. FuDing, for example, has a year average temperature of 18oC and rain fall 1660mm. The soil in these locations is predominately a red or yellow colour.
All teas (excluding herbals) are produced from the same plant known as “Camellia sinensis”. There are a handful of premium species that are cultivated specially for generating premium white tea, for instance, FuDing Da Hao (Big Fur), ZhengHe and FuAn Large White. Premium tea leaves have fuller/stronger bodies compared to their closest sibling green tea. The leaf suggestions are typically covered by wealthy silvery white fur, which types the ‘silver’ look of the final product such as Silver Needle.
The FuJian province of Southern China is a conventional tea country, well-known for Oolong and some Green Teas – in addition to its White Tea Production. Regardless of the Chinese tendency to preserve trade secrets, more than two thousand years of tea production and export to other lands has resulted in leakage of capabilities and knowledge expected for processing numerous Chinese teas. For instance the processing know-how for green and black teas has at some point been exported to foreign nations. The specialist expertise related with White Tea production have so far remained in the Fujian area.
Imitation items are sold on the market place. The plants applied in these imitated products are color-lightened (whitened). The manufacture is also various. A processing step ‘Sha Qing – traditionally made use of in green tea production is added alternatively of the ‘withering’ step – the distinctive procedure in making genuine premium White Tea.
White Tea is not as broadly consumed in China as other varieties due to the highly localized production. This rarity has contributed to its value. Premium silver needle is particularly treasured and connected with gift giving. Outdoors of China, and amongst Chinese expatriates, White Tea recognition is growing.