Re: White tea

Livio [EMAIL PROTECTED]/1/03
20:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

snip snip snip

> 
> Lewis and Michael,
> I think you are both right. I think we can put it in this way: there are
> some cultivars, such as Fuding Baihao and Fuding Dabai, which are used (for
> what I know) only for the production of white tea, and can be indeed called
> "white cultivars"; others, such as Shuixian and some other kinds, might be
> used for the production of white tea as well oolong or maybe other types (I
> must admit that I haven't ever tryed anything but Chinese Fujian and
> Zhejiang whites). Apart this, I can hardly imagine the thiny and tender buds
> of cultivars such as Longjing 43, or Japanese Asahi or Midori, used for
> making white tea.
> Regard to silver needle Pu'er and Darjeeling white, I don't have any direct
> experience nor available literature on them. Can you tell me something about
> these teas?
> L

Livio,

Here is the web page for the Darjeeling white, which is in the style of a
Bai Mudan. The tea is acceptable, actually quite pleasant. It is in no way
spectacular. The leaf is very Bai Mudan-like. I usually buy my Darjeelings
from Kevin at Kyela Teas.

<http://www.kyelateas.com/index.php?colour=White&session=2a83c9e69789f40b6ba
e630af94c1339>


Here is a web page for the Ceylon Silver Tips, another white tea, which is
in the style of a yinzhin. I drank it some time ago. It was nearly tasteless
-- sorry, guys -- but absolutely beautiful in a glass. I got this from IPOT.

<http://store.yahoo.com/teastores/cesiti.html>


Here is a web page for the the Silver Needle Beencha, produced in a "green
pu-erh" style from "white" tea leaf. This is a remarkably beautiful and
complex tea. Another one I get from IPOT, and this one I highly recommend..

<http://store.yahoo.com/teastores/silneedpuerh.html>


I have no other information, and my observations of the leaf are pretty
superficial, as I've said. I know enough about biology, systematics,
taxonomy, and evolution to realize that casual similarities do not a
relationship make.

Michael