White Bud Puerh, White Puerh Tea

This is an excellent starting point for people who are new to puerh in general because of its mildness, but it is also an excellent change of pace for people who are lovers of the many different forms that puerh can take. Although white pu-erh tea is very new and has not been studied extensively, it stands to reason that it shares the same, if not more, antioxidants and health benefits of both white tea and pu-erh tea. Our White Bud Puerh is not a conventional white tea. White teas are simply picked and dried whereas this tea is processed just like other Sheng Puerh teas. The White Bud Puerh Tea is composed entirely of pure white buds that were hand harvested from tea plants grown in Yong De county of Lincang Prefecture near China’s border with Myanmar. It was harvested in the Spring of 2010 and was processed at a small facility in this rather remote area of Yunnan. Making it is something of an art.  Artisans hand select the buds of the broad-leafed white tea genus. Next, the crop is piled on a table and selected bud by bud for perfect color and form.  It is then fermented very mildly and hand sorted a second time.  [Now, we'll stop for a moment.  Fermented white tea?  Yes.  In order to be officially labeled as puerh, even traditionally unfermented teas, (white varieties included), must be fermented.  According to the Bureau of Standard Measurement of Yunnan Province, puerh teas are officially: "products fermented from green tea of big tea leaves] The tea is then withered, pan fired, and sun dried, creating a flavor profile that is different and more assertive than conventional white tea. It has a bit of a sweet malty flavor and subtle, lingering orchid finish without the bitterness common to other young Sheng Puerh.– a stunning tea.  (We put this one in the life-altering category!)  Ingredients: Artisan Organic White Pu-erh tea Origin: Lincang, Yunnan Province, China Brewing Instructions Water Temperature:  Boiling Water Quality:  Best with Spring Water Amount of Leaf (per 6 fl oz water):  1 Tbl. (2.5 grams) Steep Time:  2-3 minutes Number of Infusions: 4 We highly recommend brewing your tea in a teapot or mug with a removable infuser so that you can remove the leaves at the end of the steeping time. Whole leaf teas of this quality need room to unfurl and expand in the water in order to perform their "magic." However, leaving the tea leaves in the water will result in an over-infused, bitter tea. If you want a stronger cup of tea increase the amount of leaf rather than the steeping time. If you don't have a removable infuser, you can brew the loose leaves directly in the pot. At the end of the steeping time, pour all of the tea into a warm serving pitcher or pot.