Gongmei 2020 White Tea Arrival

Traditional white tea is one of the selections that truly embodies the spirit of fall.  The dried leaves of this sun withered tea resemble the colors of fall foliage.  The beautiful tones of brown, red, yellow, and a hint of green, reveal some of the nuances held within a cup of this exquisite tea.  You may be surprised to hear that the description of this white tea is anything but white and that leads us to the discussion of how white tea is categorized.  
White tea was used to name this category of tea because the most regarded version is Yin Zhen or Silver Needles.  This is a tea that only the first buds are used and this particular type of tea tree produces a higher percentage of trichomes than any other tea plant.  The trichomes are tiny hairs that are covered with crystals and have a white shimmer when looked at under a light. Appearance alone is not now white tea is categorized and that leads to some confusion.  
The explanation is simple though and it is the reason why Gongmei has such an alluring aroma! White tea is categorized by the process, or lack of processing since the leaves or buds should be left to wither without any physical agitation.  Tea is normally tossed or rolled to stimulate oxidation and it creates a very unique taste and smell found in oolong and red (aka black) teas.  
When large leaves are used to make white tea instead of just buds, the flavor and aroma become much more pronounced especially when the leaves are allowed to wither under the sun for an extended amount of time.  
In our selection, we have both a new harvest, which is slightly green in taste and full of energy from fresh tea leaves, and an exquisitely aged version which has less caffeine but deeper notes of malt, caramel, and osmanthus on the nose.  We hope you will enjoy comparing the two or blending them with your favorite teas.  A great way to spice up your everyday tea is to use an equal part of this Gongmei and brew it with Wild Tree Assam, Grains Sticks Leaves, or even Yin Yang Iron Cake Sheng Puerh 1993.  

Organic Gongmei 2020

Organic Aged Gongmei 2015