Anji White Tea

Description

Anji White Tea is also known as Anji White Flakes or “Yurui Tea”. It is produced in Shanhe Township, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

Lu Yu, the tea saint of the Tang Dynasty, said in The Classic of Tea that “there is a white tea mountain 300 miles east of Yongjia County”. Anji white tea is flat and straight in shape, with one leaf covering one bud, and looks like an orchid. Its production process is very complicated, and it needs to be sifted, winnowed, picked, and spread before frying. Its white hair is exposed and its color is tender green. After brewing, it has a strong and lasting fragrance, and the buds and leaves are identifiable.

The special thing about Anji white tea is that in spring, its young buds are white, and then turn into light green after they become new leaves. Therefore, it is commonly known as “immortal grass tea”. Local mountain people regard spring tea as “holy spirit” and often pick it to treat diseases.

History and Origin of Anji White Tea
The term “white tea” was first mentioned in the Tang Dynasty. Lu Yu, a famous Chinese “Tea Saint”, mentioned in his book “The Classic of Tea” that there was a “White Tea Mountain” east of Yongjia County, Zhejiang Province, where the tea leaves were as white as paper and were often drunk by local residents.

Later in the 12th century, “white tea” was mentioned again in the “Daguan Tea Theory” by the ancient Chinese emperor Song Huizong, who referred to tea as a tea plant with white jade leaves.

Many experts believe that Lu Yu and Song Huizong were referring to Anji white tea from Anji County, Zhejiang Province today.