Silver Needles White Tea (백차)

사실 작년에 구입한 차인데 올해까지 마시고 있다.

구입한 iherb.com의 설명에 의하면

Origin

Hunan, China Also known as ‘Yin Zhen’, Silver Needles is an organic, famous white tea made from the prized, newly sprouted ‘tips’ of the tea plant. At least five tea bushes are needed to produce approximately 50 grams of this limited production tea.

White Tea

The tips have silvery white hair ‘down’ that provide a honey texture to the brew. The tips are ‘heated braised’ in covered pans or dried in direct sun with minimal or no oxidization- a process exclusive to making white tea.

Hunan

Hunan is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting (its name meaning ‘South of the lake’). The known attractions in Hunan include Changsha- main city, Dongting-a famous lake, Yueyang- historical tower and Mt. Hengshan and Taohua Yuan- nature reserve. Hunan is also famous for its spicy food.

Season

Although, Silver Needles can be made at several times in the year, the young buds are the best in spring. If stored well (airtight in dark low humidity), the buds retain flavor over time.

Flavor Profile

Roasted chestnut and wild honey aroma with a delicate, lingering honeysuckle sweetness.

The Tao of Tea

Like the Tao, the art of tea is universal. We began our work with tea in 1997 to be a connecting thread for tea culture. Practicing the art on a daily basis in our teahouses in Portland, Oregon, we are a group of tea enthusiasts from different backgrounds and cultures. We travel, learn, take delight and seek to offer pure leaf teas with great flavor, artistry and soul. Our reward comes through actions that help people’s lives, sustain the art of tea and promise a healthy environment.

백차(白茶)는 솜털이 덮인 차의 어린 싹을 닦거나 비비지 않고, 그대로 건조시켜 만든 차이다. 이렇게 시든 차를 약간 발효시켜서 만든다. 어린 싹은 백색의 솜털이 덮여 있어서 차에서 은색의 광택이 나며, 향기가 맑고, 맛이 산뜻하다. (위키피디아)

백차 중에서 가장 유명한 것은 중국 푸젠성에서 나는 백호은침이라고 하는데 언제 기회가 되면 꼭 구입해서 맛을 보고 싶다.

내가 마신 차는 백호은침은 아니고 후난성에서 난 은침(Silver Needle) 백차이다.

백차는 어린 잎으로 만들기 때문에 카페인 성분이 거의 없다. 따라서 녹차나 홍차를 마시면 잠을 못자는 사람도 마셔도 잠을 설치지 않는다. (홍차나 녹차에는 카페인이 있지만 다른 성분(카테킨, 테아닌)이 카페인의 흡수를 막아서 커피보다 흡수양이 적다고 한다.)