White tea, as its name implies, is white and rarely seen in general areas. White tea production has a history of about 200 years, which was first initiated by Fuding County. There is an excellent variety of tea tree in this county-Fuding Dabai Tea, whose buds and leaves are covered with white fluff, which is a good raw material for making tea. At first, this camellia oleifera. Is used to produce white tea. Why is brown white? This is because people pick the tender leaves with white hairs on the back, and do not stir-fry or knead them during processing, and dry them in the sun or with slow fire, so that the white hairs remain intact in the appearance of tea, which is why they are white.
Historical origin
White tea, known as the treasure of tea, has a long history, and its nickname has appeared for more than 880 years. Song Huizong (Evonne) wrote a passage about white tea in On Daguan Tea (the book was written in Daguan1107 ~110, and the book was named after the year): White tea is a kind of tea, which is different from ordinary tea. It has an explanation, its leaves are very thin, between the forest and the cliff, it was born by accident, although it was not caused by manpower. Yes, but four or five; Living, but one or two plants; The product only stops at the second and third crotch. There are not many buds, which are especially difficult to steam and bake. As soon as the soup is thrown away, it becomes a vulgar thing. It must be subtle and perfect, so it is as clear as jade and unparalleled. Light baking is also available, but it is inferior.
The Royal Tea Garden in Song Dynasty was located in Beiyuan, Jian 'an County, Fujian Province (now Jian 'ou County, Fujian Province). The white tea mentioned in Daguan Tea Theory is a wild white tea produced in Chashan, North of Beiyuan in the early days. Its production method is still steamed and pressed into group tea, which is different from the current production method of white tea. The production of white tea is based on bud tea in the early years of Jiaqing in Qing Dynasty (1769). 1885, Fuding Dabai Tea was changed into Baihao Silver Needle.
When did the history of white tea begin? There are some different views in the tea industry. Some people think that white tea originated in the Northern Song Dynasty, mainly based on the fact that white tea first appeared in Daguan Tea Theory and Dongxi Tea Trial Record (it is said that the first of the seven tea varieties in Jian 'an is "white leaf tea"); Some people think it started in the Ming or Qing Dynasty. Scholars who hold this view mainly distinguish tea leaves from tea making methods, because the making process of white tea only goes through two processes: "withering and drying". Some scholars believe that the earliest tea in the history of tea production in China is not green tea, but white tea. The reason is that after the ancestors of China first discovered the medicinal value of tea, fresh and tender tea had to be dried or baked for later use, which is the birth of white tea in the history of Chinese tea.
Collection and treatment
It is made of single bud according to the processing technology of white tea, and is called Silver Needle Bai Hao. Bai Mudan or New White Tea is made from one bud and one leaf of Fuding Dabai Tea, Fuding Dahao Tea, Zhenghe Dabai Tea, fuan dabaicha and other tea varieties according to the processing technology of white tea. Tea with one bud and one leaf is processed into beautiful workmanship and longevity.
manufacturing process
The production technology of white tea is generally divided into two processes: withering and drying, and the key is withering. Withering can be divided into indoor withering and outdoor sunlight withering. It needs to be mastered flexibly according to the climatic conditions, and indoor withering or compound withering is better in sunny days in spring and autumn or in summer without sultry weather. Its refining process is to remove stems, slice, wax leaves, red leaves and dark leaves, bake them with slow fire until they are dry enough, and only use fire incense to set off tea fragrance. When the water content is 4 ~ 5%, box it while it is hot. The preparation method of white tea is characterized by not destroying the activity of enzyme, nor promoting oxidation, but also maintaining aroma and refreshing taste.
trait
The biggest feature of white tea is silvery white, which is known as the beauty of "green makeup". The buds are plump, the soup is Huang Liang, the taste is fresh and mellow, and the leaves are tender and even. After brewing, it tastes fresh, mellow and delicious, and can also play a pharmacological role. Chinese medicine has proved that white tea is cool and has the effect of clearing away heat and reducing fire. Overseas Chinese often regard silver needle tea as a rare treasure. The main varieties of white tea are Yinzhen, Bai Mudan, Gongmei and Shoumei. Especially the white silver needles, which are all white hairs and straight as needles. Among many teas, it is the most beautiful and lovely one. The soup is light yellow, fresh and refreshing, and has an endless aftertaste after drinking.
classify
White tea can be divided into bud tea (such as Baihao Yinzhen) and leaf tea (such as Bai Mudan, New White Tea, Gongmei and Shoumei) because of different varieties of tea trees and different standards for picking raw materials (fresh leaves).
The main varieties of white tea are Bai Mudan and Baihao Yinzhen. Why does Bai Mudan have an elegant name? Bai Mudan is famous for its green leaves and silvery white heart-shaped flowers. After brewing, the green leaves hold the buds, just like the original buds. Bai Mudan is the best white tea, which is made of short buds and leaves, one bud and one leaf of Dabai tea tree or narcissus variety. White tea made from the fat buds of Dabai tea tree is called "Baihao Yinzhen", which is named after its appearance as white as silver and needle-shaped. It is the most precious variety of white tea. Its fragrance is fresh, the soup is yellowish and the taste is fresh and refreshing. It is the best in white tea. White tea made of short buds and leaves of vegetable tea (another name for the general shrub tea tree in Fujian tea area) is called "tribute tea" and "eyebrow tea". The quality of tribute tea is better than that of Yumei tea.
The efficacy of white tea
The effects of white tea are: anti-cancer, anti-cancer, heatstroke prevention, detoxification, toothache, especially senile white hair.
Silver needle can be used as an antipyretic for children with measles, and its antipyretic effect is better than that of antibiotics.
White tea is a kind of micro-fermented tea, which is processed by a specific delicate method without kneading and frying. The fresh leaves of white tea require "three whites", that is, the tender buds and two tender leaves show white hairs. Chengcha is fluffy and white as silver, hence the name White Tea. White tea can be divided into bud tea (such as Baihao Yinzhen) and leaf tea (such as Gongmei) because of different tea varieties and picking standards. Bud tea, with single bud as coarse material, is called silver needle; Bai Mudan (a variety of Dabai tea with good quality when picked from the first tender bud of spring tea) is a leaf bud consisting of a complete bud, a leaf and two leaves, with thick white hairs on the back.
White tea is a specialty of Fujian, mainly produced in Fuding, Zhenghe, Songxi and Jianyang.
The basic process of primary processing of white tea is withering, baking (or drying in the shade), picking and reheating. Withering is the key process to form the quality of white tea.
White tea is characterized by flowers with complete appearance, bud or free form, covered with flowers, green color of fresh soup in Qing Xiang, and light and sweet taste.