Anji Bai Cha安吉白茶

Anji Bai Cha is a green tea from Anji County, Zhejiang, China. Brew it at 78°C with 3.5g of leaf per 100ml of water; expect up to 5 short infusions in a small gaiwan or teapot. No rinse needed.

Tasting notes

The first thing that hits you with Anji Bai Cha is how thick it is for a green — there's a broth-like weight on the tongue that doesn't belong to the usual grassy crowd. That's the amino acids doing their work, and it's why this tea is forgiving where other greens punish you. Even so, don't push the temperature. At 78°C the umami stays centered and the soybean note reads clean; climb past 85°C and the whole thing flattens into something vaguely vegetal and slightly metallic. The pale, almost-white leaves look underbrewed even when they're done, so trust the clock rather than the color. Three strong steeps, a gentler fourth, and then it's finished — this tea doesn't pretend to go longer than it can. Use a glass vessel if you have one. Watching pale blades drift in pale-gold water is half the reason to drink it.

Flavor profile

Despite its name, this is a green tea processed from a rare albino cultivar whose leaves turn pale in cool spring weather. The result is extraordinary umami depth — often compared to chicken broth — owing to amino acid levels 3-5x higher than typical green teas. The cup is sweet and smooth with vegetal notes of soybean and cucumber, a hint of green apple, and virtually no bitterness. One of the most distinctive Chinese greens.

Terroir

Bamboo-forested hills (~300-800m), cool spring temperatures trigger the albino leaf phenotype

Cultivar: Bai Ye Yi Hao (白叶一号) — temperature-sensitive albino cultivar

Brewing

1. Steep 1: 15 seconds
2. Steep 2: 15 seconds
3. Steep 3: 20 seconds
4. Steep 4: 30 seconds
5. Steep 5: 45 seconds

Lower temperature (75-80°C) is critical — higher heat destroys the delicate amino acids that give this tea its signature umami. A glass vessel shows off the pale jade liquor beautifully.

Aroma & taste

Processing

• pan-fired
• hand-shaped

Sources

• https://pathofcha.com/blogs/all-about-tea/all-about-anji-bai-cha-green-tea
• https://sevencups.com/shop/ming-qian-an-ji-bai-cha/
• https://yunnansourcing.com/products/anji-bai-cha-from-zhejiang
• https://www.curioustea.com/tea/green-tea/an-ji-bai-cha/