Zhenghe White Tea

Zhenghe white tea is a specialty of Zhenghe County in Fujian Province and is also a Chinese geographical indication product. Zhenghe white tea mainly includes Bai Hao Yin Zhen‌, Bai Mu Dan‌, Shou Mei‌, and Gong Mei‌. Zhenghe white tea has a soft taste, elegant fragrance, and a bright golden-yellow tea broth colour. It is one of the famous teas loved by tea lovers. Zhenghe white tea has a long history that can be traced back to the late Tang and early Song dynasties. Today, with its outstanding quality and rich cultural heritage, Zhenghe Bai Tea has won numerous accolades and certifications and has become a treasure among Chinese teas.

Zhenghe Bai Tea Detail:

Name: Zhenghe White Tea Cake Tea
Origin: Fujian Province, China
Net Content:300g
Craftsmanship: Traditional
Shelf life: 3650 days
Storage: sealed against moisture, sunlight and odour

Zhenghe White Tea Picking:

The picking of our Zhenghe white tea follows strict standards and principles: ‌Picking time‌: It is picked in spring, summer, and autumn each year. Spring tea is picked around the spring equinox to the grain rain, summer tea is picked from the grain fullness to the summer solstice, and autumn tea is picked from the heat of summer to the autumnal equinox. The exact picking time varies depending on the region, the variety of tea bush, and the grade of the tea. ‌Picking standards‌: Bai Hao Yin Zhen picks plump single buds, Bai Mu Dan picks one bud with one or two leaves, Gong Mei picks one bud with one or two leaves from the Cai Cha group of species, and Shou Mei is made from one bud with one or two leaves and the young shoots of the buds that have stopped growing or the young shoots after the ‘needles’ have been pulled. When picking, the ‘nine don'ts’ principle must be followed: no picking in the rain, no picking while the dew is still wet, no picking of thin shoots, no picking of purple shoots, no picking of hollow shoots, no picking of damaged shoots, no picking of shoots damaged by pests or diseases, no picking of shoots that have split open, and no picking of deformed shoots such as those bent by pests or diseases.

Zhenghe White Tea Production:

The production process of our Zhenghe white tea mainly includes two processes: withering and drying.

‌Withering: Withering is a key process in the production of white tea. The traditional methods of withering white tea include natural withering indoors, heating withering, and compound withering. During the withering process, it is important to ensure aerobic withering with good air circulation to accelerate the evaporation of water, prevent the accumulation of undesirable gases, and supply the oxygen needed for the biochemical changes in the withered leaves. Timing is also very important. Withering is usually carried out at a temperature of 20°C to 25°C and a relative humidity of 70% to 75%, lasting 48 to 60 hours, with the moisture content of the leaves ultimately controlled at 8% to 9%. When the moisture content of the leaves reaches 30% to 50%, they need to be sieved again to facilitate the formation of the unique leaf shape of white tea.

Drying (Roasting)‌: Roasting is another important process in the production of white tea. Its purpose is to stop fermentation, fix the aroma, adjust the colour of the tea broth, disperse impurities, prevent mildew, and extend shelf life. The roasting of Zhenghe white tea is usually done in a charcoal roasting basket. The temperature and number of times the fire is used are determined based on the method and degree of withering and the experience of the tea maker. During the roasting process, attention must also be paid to turning the tea and adjusting the fire temperature to ensure the quality of the tea.

In addition, the production of Zhenghe Bai Cha also includes other refining processes such as sorting and blending. Sorting is mainly done by hand mainly to remove impurities and tea leaves that do not meet the standards. Blending is done according to a certain ratio after the quality of each sieve of tea has been evaluated separately based on the standards of each grade.

Zhenghe White Tea Brewing Method:

1. Prepare the tea set‌: a transparent glass cup with a capacity of about 200 ml.
   
2. Put tea leaves into the teapot‌: take 3–5 g of Zhenbaicha and adjust according to personal taste.
   
3. Water temperature‌: use boiling water at about 90 degrees Celsius for brewing.
   
4. Brewing steps‌: Pour boiling water into the glass first, warm the cup, and then discard the waste water.  Add the tea leaves to the glass, pour in a small amount of boiling water, and gently shake the glass to allow the tea to infuse briefly. Then quickly pour away the rinsed water.
5. Pour in more boiling water, close the lid, and control the brewing time according to personal taste preferences. Generally speaking, the first brew can be slightly longer, and the time can be gradually shortened for each subsequent brew.
6. When brewing Zhenghe baicha, you should also pay attention to the following points:
7. Tea quantity‌: It should not be too much or too little, and is generally adjusted according to personal taste and the size of the teaware.
   
8. Water temperature control‌: Different types of Zhenghe white tea may have slightly different requirements for water temperature, but generally, 90-100°C boiled water is more suitable.
9. Brewing time‌: The length of the brewing time will directly affect the taste and aroma of the tea broth, so it needs to be controlled according to personal preferences and the type of tea

Zhenghe Bai Tea Characteristics:

Elegant fragrance‌: Zhenghe Bai Tea has an elegant and refined floral and fruity fragrance, which is refreshing and long-lasting.

‌Mellow taste‌: After the tea enters the mouth, it has a mellow taste and a distinct aftertaste, giving a feeling of warmth and gentleness.

Soft texture‌: Zhenghe Bai Tea has a soft texture, neither bitter nor astringent, and is perfect for sipping.

Bright tea broth‌: After brewing, the tea broth of Zhenghe white tea is bright golden in colour, clear and transparent, and very pleasing to the eye.

Zhenghe White Tea Benefits:

Zhenghe white tea has the benefits of relieving summer heat, reducing fever, clearing internal heat, generating body fluid, and quenching thirst. It is very suitable for drinking in the summer, helping people to cool down in the heat and relieve the discomfort caused by the heat.

White tea is also rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids. These substances have a strong antioxidant effect, can delay aging, and protect cells from free radical damage. At the same time, the polyphenols in white tea can also promote fat decomposition and metabolism, effectively control insulin secretion, and break down excess sugar in the blood. It also has a certain auxiliary effect on the prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, etc.

White tea is also rich in provitamin A, which can be converted into vitamin A in the human body, helping to prevent eye diseases such as night blindness and dry eye disease. At the same time, flavonoid natural substances such as dihydromyricetin in white tea also have the effect of protecting and nourishing the liver, reducing the damage caused by alcohol to the liver.