Yellow Tea Buds

About Yellow Tea Buds

An incredibly rare and precious yellow tea from China. Yellow tea is rare because only a few modern tea masters have the traditional skills to produce it – a craft that is slowly disappearing. These "Yellow Tea Buds" are fine, pale needles covered with downy hairs, creating a pale yellow, almost oily infusion. They release aromas of sour plums and fermented citrus fruits. The finish is vibrant, offering soft notes of meringue, white grapes, and subtle violet undertones. Over multiple infusions, the infusion grows deeper in colour and reveals a raisin-like sweetness and cucumber high notes. A wonderfully experiential and surprising tea! 

About Guizhou

Guizhou, although less known than other tea regions, produces some of the finest teas in China. The tea farmers in Guizhou have developed unique techniques to preserve the distinctive flavour and exceptional quality of this tea. The region, with its elevation of about 1,200 to 1,700 metres and mild climate, offers ideal conditions for tea cultivation. These special yellow tea buds are picked before Qingming at an average height of 1694 metres in a mild and pleasant climate. Traditional handcrafting and careful processing in the organic tea gardens contribute to the outstanding quality of the buds.

Cultivation

The carefully hand-picked buds of the tea bushes are rich in amino acids after a long winter. Yellow tea often undergoes a lengthy withering process and micro-fermentation, known as "yellowing." During this process, the leaves are covered with canvas while still warm from roasting. This complex process requires the highest level of craftsmanship and results in a tea of remarkable depth and complexity.

Effects

Yellow tea has many health benefits. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body from free radicals and helping to reduce inflammation. Additionally, it may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Lightly fermented teas can also stimulate the production of gastric juice, thus aiding digestion.

How to enjoy

This tea pairs excellently with light, sweet snacks such as almond cookies or shortbread and offers an interesting contrast to savoury dishes like smoked salmon or mild cheeses.