Yunnan White Tea

Ancient Tree White Tea primarily refers to white tea produced in Yunnan using local arbor-type large-leaf varieties, meticulously processed according to white tea production techniques. What sets Yunnan Ancient Tree White Tea apart from other teas is the absence of steps like de-enzyming and rolling. Due to light fermentation, the bitter components in fresh leaves are reduced, resulting in a soft, delicate, fragrant, and sweet taste. This unique process retains a significant amount of nutrients in the tea. In terms of flavor, it addresses the long-standing criticism of Fujian white tea as being too bland. Made from arbor-type ancient tea trees over 200 years old, Yunnan Ancient Tree White Tea is generally clear and sweet with minimal bitterness, quickly salivating, with a mellow aroma, full flavor, resilient leaves, and exceptional brew durability, often accompanied by floral and fruity scents. Many tea enthusiasts who have tasted Ancient Tree White Tea find it becomes sweeter with each steeping. Yunnan’s ancient tea trees grow at higher altitudes, are tall and robust, with deep roots and abundant leaves rich in nutrients. Research shows that the content of carbon compounds, sugars, tea polyphenols, amino acids, and other substances in ancient tea trees is higher than that in ordinary tea trees.

When it comes to white tea, many people’s first thought is Fuding White Tea, but they might not know that Yunnan also produces white tea. So, what’s the difference between the two? Let’s explore this.

Although both Yunnan White Tea and Fuding White Tea are white teas, their aromas and characteristics are vastly different. Why is this? What differences do they have? By analyzing the following points, we can find the answer:

1. Tea Tree Variety Differences

Yunnan Ancient Tree White Tea is mainly made from Yunnan large-leaf arbor tea trees. The picking method follows the Pu-erh tea practice of picking one bud and two leaves, with most leaves not graded.

Fuding White Tea comes from bush-type small to medium-leaf tea trees, divided into varieties like Dabai, Shuixianbai, and Xiaobai. Based on the tenderness of the raw materials, it is further classified into Baihao Yinzhen, White Peony, Gongmei, and Shoumei.

2. Climate and Soil Differences

Most Yunnan tea trees grow at an average altitude of 1700 meters, with some growing below 1000 meters. Yunnan’s climate is tropical to subtropical monsoon, with significant vertical climate variation. The province’s mountainous terrain, high peaks, year-round mist, and high humidity, coupled with diffused light, provide an excellent environment for tea trees. Winters are dry, summers are rainy with ample sunshine, and the clear dry-wet distinction benefits tea growth. Additionally, Yunnan’s tea-growing regions have various soil types, such as red soil, yellow soil, and brick-red soil, which contribute to different tea flavors.

In Fuding, the tea-producing areas have a noticeable mountainous climate, with the main tea-producing areas at around 500 meters altitude. The climate is warm, with abundant rainfall, frequent mists in mountainous areas, and strong diffused light. The soil is predominantly acidic red-yellow soil, suitable for tea growth.

3. Aroma

Yunnan tea trees tend to produce tea rich in linalool and its oxides, characterized by strong floral and honey scents, along with a unique cheesy aroma.

Fujian tea trees primarily produce tea with linalool and its oxides, characterized by hair tips and floral fragrances, with a slight freshness in the aroma. However, Yunnan White Tea exhibits a more pronounced fragrance compared to Fuding White Tea.

4. Picking and Processing Differences

The quality of white tea is closely related to the tenderness of the fresh leaves and the processing techniques.

• Yunnan White Tea Process: Picking → Withering → Drying → Finished Product.

  Springtime picking occurs around the Qingming Festival, with one bud and two to three leaves. The leaves are naturally withered indoors, dried in the shade at around 20°C. Yunnan White Tea has a white and slightly inky-black appearance, with thick and robust tea strips covered in white hair, elegantly known as ‘Moonlight White’ or ‘Moonlight Beauty.’

• Fuding White Tea Process: Picking → Withering → Baking → Maocha (raw tea) → Sorting → Re-baking → Finished Product.

  In the spring, single buds picked around the Qingming Festival produce “Baihao Yinzhen.” Buds with two tender leaves produce “White Peony.” Buds with two or three leaves produce “Gongmei.” Buds with two, three, or four leaves or leaf stems produce “Shoumei.” The drying temperature affects the tea’s aroma, with Yunnan Ancient Tree White Tea exhibiting a stable, restrained, fresh aroma, while Fuding White Tea has a rich, high-pitched fragrance.

5. Flavor

Yunnan White Tea, with its large-leaf variety, is rich in substances, making the flavor more intense, sweet, and mellow.

Fujian White Tea has a sweet, fresh taste.

6. Tea Color

Yunnan White Tea features connected buds and leaves, with plump, hair-tipped buds, blue-black leaves, and a uniform appearance. The fragrance is strong, dominated by honey and fruit sweetness, with yellow tea liquor, a thick, fresh, and sweet taste, and brownish-yellow, plump, soft, and bright leaves.

Fujian White Tea has shorter buds and thinner hair tips compared to Yunnan White Tea, with green leaves, uniform and clean. The fragrance is primarily of hair tips and floral scents, with light yellow or apricot-yellow tea liquor; the flavor is sweet and fresh, with green or yellow-green, bright leaves.

7. Leaf Base

Yunnan White Tea has reddish-brown, soft, and plump leaves with thick strips.

Fujian White Tea has bright yellow-green leaves with intact buds and leaves.

Thus, although both are white teas, Yunnan Ancient Tree White Tea and Fuding White Tea are different teas from different regions, each with its unique characteristics.

Yunnan White Tea is gaining increasing popularity among seasoned white tea enthusiasts. Due to its unique raw material qualities, Yunnan White Tea has formed a distinctive flavor, significantly different from Fujian White Tea, creating a new trend in the white tea market.