Bai Mu Dan White Tea Mini Cake 白牡丹 (2023)
Tea Profile
Type: White Tea (Pressed Cake)
Location: Guwankeng 古玩坑, Tongmuguan, Wuyishan
Altitude: About 1000 meters
Harvest Date: May 2023
Cultivar: Qun Ti Zhong 群体种
Age of Tea Bushes: At least 80 years old
Processing: Sun-dried with gentle hand-shaking oxidation
Compression: Hand-pressed mini cake (~5 g each, loose style)
The Story of This Tea
This small-batch white tea was made from ancient Qun Ti Zhong (群体种) bushes in Guwankeng, a high-altitude village in Tongmuguan, Wuyishan. These mixed-variety heirloom trees were once used for the earliest Lapsang Souchong and Jinjunmei and were distributed to local farmers during China’s land reform period, making them living witnesses to over eight decades of tea heritage.
In 2023, we harvested young spring leaves from these trees and processed them by hand, combining traditional white tea sun-drying with a gentle oolong-style shaking step. This touch of oxidation adds depth and fragrance to the tea’s natural sweetness. After two years of quiet aging, the leaves were lightly hand-pressed into loose mini cakes to preserve their layered aroma. The result captures both the purity of Wuyi white tea and the mineral soul of its mountain origin.
Aroma and Flavour
This tea opens with a warm floral-honey fragrance that deepens with each steeping. Its liquor is golden and clear, offering a smooth, mellow texture that carries the mountain’s mineral freshness beneath gentle sweetness. A refined choice for those who love the calm sweetness of aged white tea yet appreciate the complexity of Wuyi terroir.
- Aroma: Floral honey, dried wildflower, hint of stone fruit
- Flavor: Smooth and layered, balancing white tea softness with subtle rock tea depth
- Texture: Thick and rounded with silky mouthfeel
- Aftertaste: Clean, sweet, and lingering with cooling mineral freshness
- Steeping Endurance: 6–8 infusions
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Porcelain gaiwan or Duanni 段泥 teapot for gentle warmth
- Ratio: 5–6 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 90 to 95°C, ideally low-TDS spring water
- Infusions: Quick rinse if desired, then 10–12 seconds for the first 3 steeps, gradually lengthening
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain or glass teapot to appreciate the liquor colour
- Ratio: 3–4 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 90°C
- Steeping: 3–4 minutes for the first infusion; can be resteeped twice with slightly longer times
Why Choose This Tea
Harvested from ancient Qun Ti Zhong trees high in Tongmuguan, this tea bridges Wuyi’s white tea tradition with the spirit of rock oolong craftsmanship. Its gentle hand-shaking and natural sun-drying reveal a rare floral-honey sweetness layered with subtle minerality. Clean, organic, and naturally aged, it represents authentic Wuyi heritage in every sip. Perfect for collectors or anyone seeking to buy authentic Chinese white tea online that offers both depth and calm elegance.