Notes of Persian cucumber, rice milk, and jasmine.

White tea from Fujian, China・April 2019・金牡丹・Organic

Grown on a newly developed organic garden in northeastern Fujian Province, this white tea is crafted from a new oolong cultivar called jin mudan (Gold Peony) Since 2013, we’ve been collaborating with this garden to develop teas that apply traditional crafting methods to new and untraditional tea varieties.

Gold Peony White first appeared in our collection in 2014. The cultivar itself is fewer than ten years old. Its leaves are small, with a beautiful shade of apple green.

This tea consists of handpicked leaves and buds. The buds contribute the tea’s aromatics and texture, while the green leaves give the tea its complexity. Processing involves cool withering indoors for approximately 30 hours under constant airflow. This time-intensive process ensures even oxidation without significant discoloration or leaf damage.

The finished tea has bright floral notes with a mild creaminess. The texture is light and lively with notes of Persian cucumber, rice milk, and jasmine.

Brew: 5 grams・150 ml・205° F・1 min

High temperatures work best to intensify the aromatic quality of tea. Gold Peony takes well to this approach, as it delivers both sweetness and fragrance without bitterness, even at the high temperatures we prescribe.