Snow Bud China Green Tea

Snow Bud Tea (Xue Ya) is a relatively new tea made from the Da Bai Haoi cultivar. Plucked in early March this tea shares characteristics of both white and green teas and, as such, is classified in both categories. Da Bai Haoi is the white tea cultivar but the tea has been processed using the green tea production method. Like silver needle white tea, Snow Bud Tea  consists mostly of buds, which have a downy appearance. The tea does contain some larger leaf though, which has a bolder green color. Compared to silver needle, the leaf is very silvery and tippy with the down still very evident however it tends to be more curled and wiry. The pale yellow liquor is very bright. The harvest window is only a few days in duration in early Spring in order to maintain correct coloration and size of the leaves. The result is naturally sweet with delicate notes. As this varietal grows at a high elevation, its taste is fresh and light. The leaf aroma is quite vegetal while the taste is naturally sweet and clean.  A refreshing tea, it is great as an afternoon beverage and it goes very well with food. Our Snow Bud Tea can be infused three times between 175-185 degrees which is a slightly higher temperature than most green teas, but more in keeping with its white tea lineage. For a more delicate taste you’ll want to infuse for only one minute, two minutes for a more pronounced taste.