White tea, its basic process includes withering, baking (or shade drying), sorting, and re-firing. Withering is the key process in forming the quality of white tea. It is named because its finished tea is mostly buds, covered with white pekoe, resembling silver and snow.
The characteristics of white tea are both its efficacy and what distinguishes it from other types of tea.
1. No Fire Qi (Cooling Nature)
Ming Dynasty's Tian Yiheng wrote in "Notes on Boiling Spring Water": "Tea made with fire is inferior, while sun-dried tea is superior, as it is closer to nature and free from the fire's energy." White tea, neither pan-fired nor rolled, is the closest to natural breath, containing no fire qi, making it cool and refreshing.
2. Rich in Components
In addition to the inherent nutrients found in other teas, white tea contains a rich variety of amino acids. Its nature is cool and cold, possessing the function of reducing fever, dispelling summer heat, and detoxifying. The Republic of China scholar Zhuo Jianzhou recorded in "The Complete Annals of Taimu Mountain": "Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle White Tea) is produced in the Hongxue Cave of Taimu Mountain. Its nature is cold, its efficacy similar to rhinoceros horn, and it is a sacred medicine for treating measles."
3. Full of Charm
White tea is elegant, with a clear and bright liquor color and a delicate, elegant aroma. It is smooth and sweet in the throat, making it likable in character.
4. Medicinal Value
It prevents heatstroke, dispels heat, detoxifies, and treats toothache. Especially, aged white tea can be used as a fever reducer for children with measles, its effect being better than antibiotics.
5. Reduces Three Highs (Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Hyperglycemia)
White tea contains essential active enzymes for the human body, which can significantly increase lipase activity, promote fat decomposition and metabolism, effectively control insulin secretion, delay intestinal absorption of glucose, decompose excess sugar in the blood, promote blood sugar balance, and has prominent effects on lowering blood lipids and blood pressure. It is suitable for people with the "three highs."
6. Brightens Eyes
White tea is also rich in vitamin A原 (precursor), which is quickly converted into vitamin A after being absorbed by the body. Vitamin A can synthesize rhodopsin, enabling clearer vision in dim light, preventing night blindness and dry eye syndrome. Simultaneously, white tea contains anti-radiation substances that significantly protect the body's hematopoietic function and reduce harm from computer and TV radiation.
7. Protects the Liver
It protects the liver and helps sober up from alcohol. Dihydromyricetin and other natural flavonoids abundant in white tea flakes can protect the liver, accelerate the rapid breakdown of acetaldehyde (a metabolite of ethanol/alcohol) into non-toxic substances, and reduce damage to liver cells.
8. Prevents Summer Heat
"Spring corresponds to the liver for nurturing life, summer to the heart for nurturing growth, late summer to the spleen for transformation, autumn to the lungs for nurturing harvest, winter to the kidneys for nurturing storage." Summer belongs to the heart/fire element; all things grow to their peak, and summer heat is intense. The focus is on nurturing the heart, avoiding irritability and anger, keeping the mind gentle and the disposition broad and harmonious. Turbid qi is released, and skin pores are unobstructed,顺应ing the characteristic of summer's yang energy being outward. Aged white tea is suitable for drinking.
9. Suitable for Appreciation and Enjoyment
White tea has a beautiful appearance. Silver Needle tea, covered in pekoe when in water, is extremely adorable. White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) unfurls, with buds and leaves complementing each other as if about to speak yet holding back. It fits the trend and is particularly interesting,深受 loved by female tea friends.
10. Suitable for Long-term Storage
White tea is "tea for one year, medicine for three years, treasure for seven years," meaning it can be aged for a long time with many benefits. Precisely speaking, white tea stored for five to six years can be considered old white tea. Over time, the compounds in white tea transform through aging, becoming mellower and richer, while the distinctive pekoe aroma of white tea coexists with the aged fragrance. The taste becomes rich and fragrant, the liquor color turns amber, red, bright, and transparent.
Why Shou Mei Has High Collection Value:
Reason 1: Shou Mei possesses all the efficacies attributed to white tea.
Reason 2: The collection cost of Shou Mei is lower than that of Bai Mu Dan and Bai Hao Yin Zhen.
Reason 3: Because Shou Mei grows more fully, its transformation (aging) is considered better than that of Bai Mu Dan and Bai Hao Yin Zhen.
Reason 4: Shou Mei is easy to collect, has a relatively sweeter taste, and an extremely rich flavor profile.
Why This Year is a Good Time to Collect Shou Mei:
Reason 1: The upward trend for white tea has already formed, making it a good time to start.
Reason 2: Bai Mu Dan and Bai Hao Yin Zhen saw significant price increases in the past two years, while Shou Mei's value has not yet been fully recognized.
Reason 3: This year, the overall white tea market has not continued to rise and has even declined somewhat.
Reason 4: This year's tea growth in Fuding is better than in previous years, which is beneficial for collection.