Pai Mu Tan (White Peony) - Tea of the Month
It’s beginning to feel a little fresher outside. Coat weather still, but you can leave your gloves at home. Bluebells are popping up along footpaths while pungent wild garlic fills the air. May is the time to recap, refresh & use the longer evenings to unwind & relax.
Our Tea of the Month for May is the fruity fresh Pai Mu Tan – or White Peony. Use the code MAYREFRESH for 10% off Pai Mu Tan throughout MAY.
Aroma, Colour, Flavour Notes
Pai Mu Tan is a subtle cup of tea with sweet, fruity notes. While on the nose it may smell a little earthy, it delivers a juicy, almost honied flavour. Never heavy, our Pai Mu Tan is light & refreshing, slips down smooth due to the delicate sun-dried bud & two downy leaves. You’ll be looking for a light liquor in your cup - any darker & you may have over brewed it.
How to Brew White Peony Tea
2g of white peony leaves to 200ml of 80c water.
If you don’t have a temperature controlled kettle, leave boiled water for around 3 minutes then brew. Steep for 2-3 minutes or until a light liquor forms.
As these are high quality leaves, you can re-infuse up to 3 times - steeping 1 minute longer each infusion.
Make hay while the sun shines. Using code MAYREFRESH will get you 15% our Pai Mu Tan but don’t worry about storage — there is a Chinese saying: 1 year - a tea; 2 years - a cure; 7 years - a treasure!
Where is White Peony Tea from?
White Peony tea is form China, specifically the Fujian Province. Located 1000m above sea level, the Fujian Province is the spiritual home of white Tea. Its subtropical climate, with wet summers & dry winters, makes for profitable tea production. Acidic mountain soil gives the camellia sinensis bush more than enough nutrients to flourish & bud.
What’s the difference between White Peony tea & White Needle?
Silver needle white tea is the classic white tea. The difference between white needle & white peony is in leaf shape & flavour. White Needle tea is just the bud of the tea plant, whereas white peony is the bud and first two leaves.
White Needle buds are very delicate & fresh in flavour, green & white to the eye. Owing to the extra leaves, white peony offers an earthier, more floral profile with a longer lasting taste.
How is White Tea made?
The process to make white tea is a simple four part procedure. After plucking leaves are left to wither in the sun, drawing moisture from the leaf to the surface allowing natural fermentation to begin. After 18 to 21 hours, the leaves are fixed. This is the process of turning up the heat to stop the fermentation without damaging the leaf. The leaves are then rolled & dried ready for retail.
White Peony Health Benefits
Because of the minimal processing, white tea retains all of its goodness! Here’s a list of the top 3 health benefits of White Peony tea:
Dental Hygiene
Full of natural fluoride, catechins & tannins, white peony tea is great at fighting plaque & fighting off bacteria. Catechins & fluoride create an acid resistant layer on teeth that prevent plaque build up.
Skin Cancer
White tea is antioxidant rich, with catechins fighting off free radicals in the body which reduce the risk of skin cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of white tea also aid in maintaining healthy skin complexion too!
Weight loss
Boosting metabolism, white tea allows for more calories to be burned aiding in weight loss. The anti-inflammatory properties destress the body, suppressing appetite as it does so.
White Peony tea side-effects
One known side effect of drinking too much white peony tea is temporary nausea. This is usually caused by drinking on an empty stomach - so we suggest always drink tea with a biscuit!
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