Yue Guang Bai (月光白)

tea imagery: Moon moth

Yue Guang Bai is a Yunnan white tea known for the contrast between pale, downy buds and dark leaves. It may offer honey, flowers and fruit with a fairly full-bodied liquor. Its name means “Moonlight White”; tasting it alongside a Fujian white tea is a useful introduction.

History

Yue Guang Bai is closely associated with Jinggu county in Pu’er, including material from Jinggu Dabai tea plants. White teas under the same name are also made elsewhere in Yunnan. Buds and leaves are withered and dried. Timing, light exposure and drying methods vary by producer, so the name does not imply processing at night. The upper leaf surface can be dark, while pale down is visible underneath and on the buds. When buying, ask about the garden, plant material, harvest and processing; these details are more useful than promises of special sweetness from old trees.

Pale buds against dark leaves suggest the moon in a night sky. The moon moth in our illustration develops that image.

Terroir

Yunnan, including Jinggu county in Pu’er. Depends on the garden; the name specifies no elevation. Often acidic red soils; conditions vary. Monsoon climate with seasonal rain; temperature varies with elevation. Compare batches with a stated origin. Jinggu Dabai is one source of leaves, not a name for all Yunnan tea plants.

Leaf

dry leaf: Downy buds and leaves with a dark upper surface and a paler, hairy underside; contrast varies.

aroma in a warmed vessel: Honey, dried flowers and sometimes fruit.

aroma after brewing: Floral and fruity notes, sometimes a little grassiness.

taste: May suggest honey, ripe fruit or flowers. Strong brewing can bring out astringency.

finish: Notice sweetness after swallowing and the liquor’s body as it cools.

Properties

Traditional descriptions: White tea is often traditionally described as “cooling”.

What to know: Studies of Yunnan white tea have found varying amounts of caffeine, polyphenols and amino acids.

Over a cup of tea: For daytime tea and exploring Yunnan’s white teas.

Caffeine: Contains caffeine. Its moonlit name does not make it a bedtime tea.

How to brew

A 200 ml teapot or mug with a roomy filter. 3 g per 200 ml at 95 °C. Time for each infusion: 60 s, 90 s, 120 s.

When to drink

Morning or daytime. Year-round. When you want to explore Yunnan white tea. Pear or fig; taste the tea on its own first. With a book or conversation

What to notice

Look at a bud and both sides of a leaf.
Compare the dry and warmed aromas.
Taste it alone, then with a small piece of fruit.

Questions and answers

How do you brew Yue Guang Bai?

A 200 ml teapot or mug with a roomy filter. 3 g per 200 ml at 95 °C. Time for each infusion: 60 s, 90 s, 120 s.

What does Yue Guang Bai taste like?

May suggest honey, ripe fruit or flowers. Strong brewing can bring out astringency.

How much caffeine is in Yue Guang Bai?

Contains caffeine. Its moonlit name does not make it a bedtime tea.

What else should I know about Yue Guang Bai?

Studies of Yunnan white tea have found varying amounts of caffeine, polyphenols and amino acids.