2019 Bai Mu Dan “White Peony” White Tea Cake

Bai Mu Dan (白牡丹, "White Peony") is a classic white tea made from a combination of silvery buds and tender young leaves, typically following a one-bud, one-to-two-leaves picking standard. Within Bai Mu Dan, there are three recognized subcategories: Da Bai, Xiao Bai, and Shuixian Bai. This particular tea falls under the Da Bai category, as it is crafted from the Fuding Da Bai cultivar, known for its high quality and rich flavor profile.

Bai Mu Dan is prized for its naturally sweet, floral, and well-balanced character, offering a more layered and structured taste than Silver Needle, yet still maintaining a smooth and refreshing profile. While fresh Bai Mu Dan is light and delicate, this 2019 Bai Mu Dan has been compressed into 100g cakes and aged for three years, allowing its flavors to mature. Over time, the tea has developed a mellower body, deeper sweetness, and a rounded, honeyed aroma, making it softer and more complex compared to its younger counterpart.

This tea originates from Diantou Village, often called "China’s No.1 White Tea Village". Though it sits at a lower elevation than other core white tea-producing regions in Fuding, Diantou is historically significant as the birthplace of the Fuding Da Bai cultivar and serves as the center for white tea trade and exchange. Many of the region’s most renowned white tea producers are based here, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship in each tea.

With aging, Bai Mu Dan white tea gains more depth and richness, transitioning from its fresh floral and grassy notes to a smoother, honeyed sweetness with subtle fruit and wood undertones. This tea can be enjoyed in multiple ways—lightly steeped for a delicate, floral infusion or brewed stronger for a more robust experience. Additionally, boiling aged white tea is a traditional method that brings out its deep, nourishing qualities.

This 2019 Bai Mu Dan cake is a fantastic option for aging enthusiasts, collectors, or those looking for a balanced yet evolving white tea with layers of unfolding flavors over time.