White Tea Yabao

Yabao - teas with a light, sweet shade, with herbs, flowers, honey, with a slightly woody aftertaste. The smell of a living tree reminded me of spring. It does not have pronounced bitterness and astringency, which is probably due to the special method of processing and collection, it is very, very easy to drink.

Gongfu brewing method:
Heat a teapot with water to about 90°C.
Add 2 teaspoons (approximately 4 grams) of tea to the teapot.
Pour hot water over the tea and steep for 60 seconds.
The tea can be re-steeped several times, increasing the steeping time with each subsequent infusion.


European method for 500ml of water:
Heat water to about 80°C.
Add 2-3 teaspoons (approximately 4-5 grams) of tea to a teapot.
Pour hot water over the tea and steep for 2-3 minutes.
Strain the tea, let it cool slightly, and enjoy.


Cold brewing:
Add 5-6 teaspoons (approximately 10 grams) of tea to a teapot or pitcher.
Add cold water, either immediately or leave it in the refrigerator for about 6 hours or even overnight for the tea to infuse.
Strain the tea and serve with ice, if desired.
Remember that steeping time and tea quantity may vary depending on your personal taste and preferences.

Antioxidant, soothing, with immunostimulating and detox effects, light.
Can be consumed throughout the day.

Yabao processing process:
Bud picking: For Yabao, only young, unopened tea tree buds are picked, usually in early spring. These buds often have a natural whitish coating that gives them a resemblance to white tea.

Withering: After collection, the buds are subjected to natural withering in the fresh air or in a shaded place. Drying is slow to preserve natural moisture and mild taste. This process is similar to how classic white tea is processed.

Drying: After withering, the buds are completely dried. In some cases, they are dried in the sun, which adds a natural aroma to the tea and makes it more like white tea. However, drying is done carefully to avoid fermentation or oxidation, which is characteristic of most other types of tea.

Features:
Minimal processing: Yabao, like white tea, is minimally processed. This means that the tea buds retain most of their natural properties and aroma.
Light taste and aroma: Due to minimal processing, Yabao has a very light, delicate taste with floral and herbal notes, which is also characteristic of white teas.
Visual Similarities: Yabao often has white or silvery hairs on the buds, giving it a resemblance to classic white teas such as Bai Mu Dan or Silver Needles.

📍 China, Yunnan