White Peony Tea, or Bai Mudan Tea as it is called in China, is a slightly oxidised white tea, produced with the same minimal processing as Silver Needle white tea. The difference between the two is that Silver Needles is only made from the unopened new tea buds, while White Peony also includes one or two freshly opened leaves. When dry, this tea's leaves and buds are an olive-green color, covered in with a down-like covering of fine white hairs.
TeaVivre's White Peony tea is premium quality tea produced by a gold medal winning plantation in Fujian.
This year, good growing conditions mean that our White Peony has an excellent clean pekoe scented fragrance and taste. When it is brewed it will have a pale orange-yellow color, with a very subtle flavour, without any bitterness or astringent taste, characteristic of the best quality White Peony tea.
Brief Health Info
Just like Silver Needle white tea, White Peony tea undergoes minimal processing and so it retains all the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that all white teas are renowned for. TeaVivre works closely with this tea's supplier to constantly ensure that the tea contains only the new tea buds and leaves, and doesn't include any larger leaves or stems. This ensures that when you drink our tea you will be getting the maximum health benefits possible.
For more information on the remarkable health benefits of TeaVivre's White Teas, see our article on General Health Benefits of Tea.
Where is this White Peony Tea produced
Like our Silver Needle tea, TeaVivre's White Peony Tea is produced in the Mt. Taimu area, near the city of Fuding, in Fujian province, on the south eastern Chinese coast.
This tropical mountainous coastal area is absolutely perfect for growing all white teas, both Silver Needle and White Pekoe. It has abundant rainfall, with many misty days in spring, and temperatures that are neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. The mountains around the farms are more than 80% forested, ensuring the soil has a high natural fertility and organic content, removing the need to use fertilizers.
Abou Tea Tree
The species in Fuding is Fu Ding Da Hao, “Da hao” for short. It is asexual propagation, belonging to semi-tree form. In 1985 it was certificated as national variety in the number GS13002-1985. Its plant could reach up to 2.8 meters high, and has obvious trunk. Spring tea, which contains 1.8% of amino acid and 28.2% of tea polyphonels, is the material of high quality for making Silver Needle White Tea and White Peony Tea.
About Tea Farmer
Lin Jian, who is born in Fuding, Fujian, has been living under the environment of teas. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather are all tea farmers. When he was in elementary school, he helped to pick the tea after school at the tea picking time when there’s not enough people to pick the tea. The dream of engaging in tea business was came up at that time. He said: “My original idea is to make a good life for my family by tea business. But from 1993 when my tea business was gradually developed, I changed my mind. Fuding is the best place of planning white tea. So I want to create a long-term Organic Tea business.” Through our contact with Mr Lin, we felt that he is a man of frankness, speaking quickly, walking quickly and working quickly.
Not exaggeratedly speaking, now Lin Jian is the first founder of Chinese white tea. He owns near 2800 acre high quality tea gardens in Fuding including 500 acre organic tea garden which is the only organic tea garden in Fujian that has passed the USA, Europe and Japan organic certification. He also owns 200 acre Jasmine tea garden in Guangxi. Meanwhile his heshan organic tea base was regards as the national agricultural standard base.
In 2007 his Bai Mudan tea won the honour of White tea King at the White Tea King Competition in Ning De.
In 2010 his Bai Mudan tea won the Gold Award of White tea at the Tea King Competition in Ning De.
In 2010 his Bai Mudan tea won the award of the best taste at the Taimu Tea Ceremony.
History of White Peony Tea
Following exactly the same processing method and using the same plants as Silver Needle White Tea, with the only difference being which parts of the tea plant is used, the history of Bai MuDan and Silver Needle white teas is very similar.
White Tea is the earliest form of Chinese tea. Farmers found out that cooling, sun-drying or baking the leaves ensured that the tea could be easily stored and used at a later time. These steps, of course, formed the basis of the withering and drying processes that are still used to this day.
The Bai MuDan version of white tea – essentially the same as Silver Needle except for the inclusion of one or two new leaves with the tea bud – was first produced in the early 1870's by people in the area around ShuiJi, in Zhenghe county Fujian province. Later on, in the 1960's, production spread to Songxi county in Fujian. At present, the main areas for the production of Bai MuDan are in Songxi, Zhenghe, Fuding and Jianyang counties.
Gaiwan 3oz
Tea: 5g
5 steeps: rinse, 25s,45s,1m10s,1m40s,2m30s
90ºC / 194ºF
Teapot 8oz
Rating :
This sample very generously provided to me by Teavivre.
This tea smells and tastes like a weak black tea (I’m not familiar with white teas so I’m using the knowledge base I have). There is a roasted, vaguely honeyed undertone that I’m picking up on (the black tea part) but there is also a grassy note that exists alongside it. Together I guess that does equal the hay-ish taste others were getting.
This tea is very smooth and light, with no astringency. The brew does seem a little thin, but I may have been too stingy on the leaf used because I’ve never measured out leaves that fluffy before and likely miscalculated as a result of it. I will change that for next time and see if that improves the mouthfeel any.
This tea is quiet and understated; the kind of tea you’d want to be able to focus on while you’re drinking so you don’t miss any of the flavors.
This review was originally published on Steepster by JoonSusanna on December, 2012. TeaVivre add this whole review here by getting permission from JoonSusanna.
Rating :
The leaves are a nice quality with a fresh and gentle green smell.
Once brewed the leaves gain strength and sweetness.
The tea soup is pale yellow in colour.
Flavour wise it’s sweet and fresh and a little green tasting. The sweetness is almost like subtle sweetpea.
During the second and third steeps the colour becomes golden yellow and smells gentley floral, like flowers in a breeze.
A green vegetal flavour becomes prominant during the third and fourth steeps.
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This is a great white tea for a great price!
Rating :
This tea is so fluffy that I had trouble measuring out each teaspoon! I brewed three teaspoons for two minutes. Slighty sweet taste with an amazingly refreshing after taste. I will probably buy this again.
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This is a repeat of what I put on Steepster. White Peony reminds me of Teavivre’s Organic Silver Needle white. I brewed it at 195 for a minute as instructed, which is hotter than I normally steep whites, but it is fine, definitely not bitter. I was generous with the quantity of leaves. Yes, this tea is gentle and soothing, but at the same time has several flavors going on. I pick up on hay, cucumber and creamy notes. This tea exceeded my expectations, as white teas are not usually what I gravitate toward. I would like to try this one again.
Rating :
The first thing you will notice when opening your silver bag of White Peony is that these buds and small tea leaves are too fluffly to easily measure. Throw away the measuring spoon and grab a fat 3-fingered pinch instead.
The next thing you will notice is the light, silky straw color and clean aroma of freshly cut hay. This is a tea for those who like subtlety. That's the operative word.
However, if you ever want to see what a White Peony can do, let it steep for 6-8 minutes. The color deepens from straw to amber, and the flavor accelerates from subtle notes of damp wicker to rich chords of orchard blossoms. Try it.
Rating :
Dry smell: tastes like sweet hay and fresh grass
Taste: I still taste the hay a little bit but there is certainly floral and sweet notes poking through this very fresh white tea base. I like white teas because they are so fresh and light!
2nd steep: 95degrees, 3minutes, now the white hay base is lighter and the floral sweetness is really taking centre stage, my favourite steep
3rd steep: 95degrees, 4minutes, losing the sweet floral taste but still good.
I think this tea would also be good to mix with other teas that are floral
Rating :
I’d say white teas are usually my least favorite. But this one ISN’T everything I hate about a white tea. It doesn’t have that crummy dry mouth feel. It doesn’t have a horrible flavor. The flavor here is mild, light, floral, delicate, sweet. Probably the best white tea I’ve tried, though to be honest, I’ve avoided them in the past. This tea could actually make me like white tea. I certainly like this one. Looking forward to trying more from Teavivre!
Rating :
I got this as a sample with my order from TeaVivre. The tea tastes light and floral, with a hint of wildflower honey lingering in the aftertaste. Very refreshing.
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Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, sweet, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral, lightly delicate vegetal
Flavor: smooth, silky, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral, vegetal
Liquor: translucent light yellow-green
Delicious, smooth, silky, wonderful cup of tea for just sipping and enjoying. 2 minutes was better than 3.