Many people think they are not familiar with white tea, but they may actually be drinking it every day. Shou Mei, which is commonly consumed in tea houses, is one type of white tea. White tea is mainly produced in the southern foothills of Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province, China, which is very close to the origin of Wuyi Rock tea. It is a lightly fermented tea with a tea-making process that is exactly opposite to that of rock tea. The process is relatively simple, involving only withering and drying. Withering can be done in the sunlight or indoors, while drying can be achieved through sun drying, air drying, or baking.

White tea has a long history, dating back to the Song Dynasty over nine hundred years ago. The famous variety of white tea, known as Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle), originates from Jianyang, the place where the Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi settled and lectured in his later years during the Southern Song Dynasty. Jianyang is most renowned for producing Baihao Yinzhen, with the highest quality coming from Fuding and Zhenghe, particularly Fuding. Baihao Yinzhen is made from the big white cultivar, using the one bud, one leaf method to produce white bud tea. The leaves of this variety are covered in fine white hairs, and since they are not rolled during processing, they retain their original appearance. The tea buds of Baihao Yinzhen from Fuding and Zhenghe are plump and covered in abundant white hairs, but the yield is very limited, making them particularly precious.

Baihao Yinzhen is best brewed with water at 90°C in a glass cup, allowing one to appreciate the shape of the tea leaves and their graceful movements in the water. Due to the lack of rolling during processing, the tea liquor seeps out slowly, so it can be steeped for a longer time before slowly enjoying it. The tea soup is pale with a hint of yellow, and although the taste is light, it is full of charm. After brewing, the tea buds sink slowly and stand at the bottom of the cup, which is quite impressive. Baihao Yinzhen has a cooling nature and is known for its therapeutic effects in reducing fever, clearing heat, and detoxifying the body.