The difference between Baihao Yinzhen and Bai Mudan

Due to the long history of tea culture, there are many types of tea. However, the taste and appearance of some teas are very similar, making it difficult to distinguish them. For example, Silver Needle Baihao and White Peony are two very similar teas, but there are subtle differences in the taste of the tea brewed with these two teas. Both Silver Needle White Tea and White Peony White Tea belong to the category of white tea, but what is the difference between them?

The difference between Baihao Yinzhen and Bai Mudan

1. Difference in raw materials

Baihao Yinzhen belongs to the white tea family and is produced in Fuding, Zhenghe and other places in Fujian. It is known as one of the top ten famous teas in China. The picking standards are very strict. Only the plump single buds of Fuding Da Baicha and Zhenghe Da Baicha are selected. If new shoots with one bud and one or two leaves are picked, only the bud core is picked, commonly known as pulling out the needle. Because the fresh leaves of Baihao Yinzhen are all tea buds, after being made into the finished tea, the buds are plump and needle-shaped, with dense white hairs and silver-white color, hence the name Baihao Yinzhen.

White Peony Tea belongs to the white tea category. Its main producing area is Zhenghe County, Fujian Province. Its raw materials are picked from tea trees of Zhenghe Da Baicha, Fuding Da Baicha, Fuding Dahao Tea, etc. Different from Baihao Yinzhen, the picking standard of Bai Mudan is that one bud and two leaves are picked from the first round of tender shoots of spring tea. The length of the bud and the two leaves are basically equal, and "three whites" are required, that is, the bud and the two leaves are covered with white hairs. Its appearance is that the hair center is thick, the leaves are plump and tender, the leaf color is gray-green, with silver-white hair center, forming a "heart-embracing shape", and the back of the leaf is covered with white hairs.

2. Differences in production processes

Baihao Yinzhen uses a single tea bud as raw material, while Bai Mudan uses one bud and two leaves. Although the production process of the two is basically the same, there is no frying or kneading in the production process, and there are only two processes: withering and baking. However, in the withering process, White Peony is more difficult than Silver Needle Baihao. Silver Needle Baihao is a pure single bud with a relatively consistent water loss rate, and the color of the finished product is easy to control; while the water loss rates of White Peony buds, leaves, and stems are different, so it is extremely difficult to produce a White Peony with color, fragrance, and taste.

3. Differences in soup color and taste

After brewing, the Baihao Yinzhen tea soup is light apricot yellow in color, clear and bright, with a mellow and refreshing aroma with a distinct aroma of Baihao. Because it is made entirely of buds, the taste is more refreshing, the taste is sweet and mellow, and the leaves are plump, tender, soft and bright. When the tea is brewed in the cup, there will be a scene of white clouds shining, floating milk filling the cup, and buds standing upright, which is pleasing to the eye.

After brewing, the buds and leaves of White Peony stretch out, just like blooming flowers, which is extremely beautiful. The soup color is apricot yellow or orange yellow, the soup color is bright, clear and transparent, the taste is mellow and slightly sweet, the tea aroma is fresh and long-lasting, the leaf bottom is tender and complete, the leaf veins are slightly red, and they are distributed among the green leaves. It is known as "red dressed in white".