Recently, a tea enthusiast asked: “What is Autumn Tea? Is it tasty?” Today, the editor will share some knowledge about autumn tea.

Tea is categorized by the time of harvest into Spring Tea, summer tea, autumn tea, and winter tea. As the saying goes: “Spring tea is bitter, summer tea is astringent; for good taste, go for autumn's White Dew (referring to autumn tea).”

01 Why is Autumn Tea Delicious?

Autumn sees less rainfall and drier weather, allowing the tea to retain its aroma to the fullest during growth, harvest, and processing.

The tea produced in this temperate climate not only preserves its inner quality but also contains less moisture, with an aroma that is not overpowering but harmonious and full-bodied.

In recent years, with the rise in popularity of White Tea, autumn tea has been further divided into White Dew Tea and Cold Dew Tea. The two terms, both from the 24 Solar Terms, are only one month apart, such as this year's White Dew on September 7th and Cold Dew on October 8th.

As autumn teas, what subtle differences do they have? Let's use white tea as an example for comparison.

02 Bud and Leaf Characteristics

White Dew signifies the end of summer's heat and the transition from sultry to cooler weather. However, daytime temperatures are still relatively high. At this time, the tea plant enters a prime growing period. In autumn teas, White Dew Tea has higher tenderness, with smaller and narrower leaves and plumper buds.

During the White Dew period, the daytime sunlight is intense, and the chlorophyll within the leaves is transformed into pigments like carotenoids and xanthophylls, resulting in White Dew Tea with shades of green, dark green, yellow, brick red, and reddish-brown.

Cold Dew marks the deepening of autumn. When Cold Dew arrives, the temperature is lower than during White Dew, and the growth rate of the tea plant slows down. But because Cold Dew tea grows for a longer period, the leaves are older, thicker, and richer in substance.

During the Cold Dew period, the daylight hours shorten, the intensity of sunlight weakens, and the temperature difference between day and night increases. This directly leads to more chlorophyll in the tea leaves, with only a small portion being transformed. Therefore, Cold Dew Tea is predominantly green in color.

03 Infusion Color

The chlorophyll content in White Dew Tea is relatively low, giving the infusion a yellowish hue.

The chlorophyll content in Cold Dew Tea is high, making the infusion yellow-green and clear.

04 Taste and Flavor

What stands out most in White Dew Tea is its floral fragrance and sweetness.

After brewing, the liquor is bright, with a fresh aroma, a mellow and fresh taste, and a sweet, pleasant flavor.

The aroma of Cold Dew Tea is more restrained and subdued, with a refreshing quality.

The overall mouthfeel is characterized by sweetness, smoothness, and a soft texture. Overall, the taste is softer than that of White Dew Tea, with almost no astringency and better balance.

Apart from white tea, Tieguanyin, known for its “spring water, autumn aroma,” is also a representative of autumn tea. The production volume of autumn Tieguanyin is greater than that of spring.

However, for Tieguanyin, there is only the term Cold Dew Tea.

The flavor of Tieguanyin after Cold Dew is more fragrant, and the mouthfeel is smoother. Additionally, because winter follows autumn, the temperature is suitable for storing tea, making it easier to preserve.

The production process affects the final quality of the tea. Whether it's White Dew Tea or Cold Dew Tea, a skilled tea maker adjusts based on the different characteristics of the tea to achieve a balance in aroma and taste.

It seems that whether White Dew Tea is better or Cold Dew Tea is better cannot be generalized. Even in the same season, there can be regional and varietal differences. Taste is the ultimate criterion!