I. Introduction
White tea, one of China's traditional famous teas, is beloved by tea enthusiasts for its unique flavor and health benefits. However, within the world of white tea, there are misunderstandings and inaccuracies, with the belief that “white tea must turn red to indicate its age” being a typical misconception. Today, let's unravel this great falsehood and delve into the true mysteries of white tea.
II. The Connection Between White Tea and Redness
Red is a color of special significance in Chinese culture, symbolizing celebration, auspiciousness, and good fortune. It is ubiquitous in many important occasions. However, there should be no erroneous connection between white tea and redness. White tea has its own inherent characteristics and development path, which should not be arbitrarily linked to redness.
III. The Normal Color of White Tea
On the tea plant, fresh leaves of white tea are green due to chlorophyll content. After plucking and going through processes such as spreading out and withering, spring white tea remains green, albeit with a slightly darker hue, while autumn white tea exhibits a colorful appearance with green as the base. The main color of white tea is always green and will never suddenly become red or black. This normal color change is a reflection of the white tea processing method, rather than an abnormal transformation.
IV. The Truth Behind Red-Infused White Tea
1. Artificially Aged Old White Tea Causes Red Infusion
Artificially aged old white tea is processed improperly through methods like piling, which severely depletes chlorophyll and promotes the generation of large amounts of theaflavins and thearubigins, causing the tea leaves to darken and the infusion to turn red. If you buy such artificially aged tea, the resulting infusion will inevitably be red.
2. Incorrect Brewing Methods Cause Red Infusion
Some tea enthusiasts use health pots to brew tea, which, due to their mechanized operation and excessively long brewing times, overcook the white tea in the pot, causing a large amount of bitter substances to dissolve, also resulting in a red infusion.
V. Characteristics of Normally Aged White Tea
No matter how long it has been aged, normally aged white tea should be a slightly darker shade of green compared to new white tea, not red. Under normal brewing conditions, the infusion color should gradually change from a tender yellow to a golden hue, clear and transparent like amber. When brewed in a pot with a reasonable tea-to-water ratio and brewing time, the color should be a reddish-gold. In short, aged white tea should not exhibit the red color typical of black tea.
VI. Appreciating and Tasting White Tea
When tasting white tea, we should pay attention to its aroma, taste, and infusion color. High-quality white tea has a fresh and natural aroma, a rich and sweet taste, and a clear and bright infusion color. We need to learn how to appreciate and savor the unique charm of white tea correctly rather than being misled by incorrect beliefs.
VII. The Culture and Legacy of White Tea
White tea has a long history and deep cultural heritage, embodying part of China's tea culture. We should cherish and pass on the culture of white tea, allowing more people to understand and love this precious type of tea. At the same time, we should maintain a rational and scientific attitude and not be misled by false information.
VIII. Conclusion
The world of white tea is rich and diverse, and we should approach it with the right knowledge and attitude. Do not be misled by inaccurate statements; instead, explore and learn to truly appreciate the wonders of white tea. Let us together enjoy the beauty and tranquility of life in the fragrant aroma of white tea.