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Moonlight White月光白

bud-and-leaf · Jinggu, Yunnan, China

Moonlight White is a bud-and-leaf white tea from Jinggu, Yunnan, China. Brew it at 85°C with 5g of leaf per 100ml of water; expect up to 10 short infusions in a small gaiwan or teapot. No rinse needed.

Quick facts

Origin
Jinggu, Yunnan, China
Category
White tea
Cultivar
Jinggu Dabaicha (large-leaf Yunnan varietal)
Oxidation
light
Roast
None
Water temp
85°C
Leaf ratio
5g / 100ml
Infusions
up to 10
Rinse
No

Tasting notes

Moonlight White doesn't belong to the same conversation as the Fujian whites, and comparing them usually does both a disservice. The leaves are dark on one side, pale on the other — a visual joke about the drying process — and the cup comes out thicker and fruitier than anything Fuding makes. Think mango skin, maple sap, custard at the edges. The texture is the giveaway: a good Yue Guang Bai coats the mouth almost greasily, in a way that tells you this is large-leaf Yunnan material. First steep moderate, then flash-steep once the leaves open. If you lean into it with 90°C it gets more honeyed; too hot and you lose the top-end floral lift. Where it disappoints: lower-grade Moonlight can taste vaguely muddy, like watered-down shou puerh, which makes sense given the region. Fresh, airy ones are better than aged. This is not a tea that rewards waiting.

Flavor profile

Distinctly Yunnan — richer and more complex than Fujian whites. The thick, fuzzy buds yield a creamy, almost custard-like texture with maple sap sweetness and hay. Fruity notes (mango, stone fruit) emerge across steeps. The large-leaf Yunnan material gives it more body than typical white tea.

Terroir

High altitude (1400-1800m), subtropical plateau climate, ancient tea tree forests

Cultivar: Jinggu Dabaicha (large-leaf Yunnan varietal)

Brewing

  1. Steep 1: 15 seconds
  2. Steep 2: 10 seconds
  3. Steep 3: 10 seconds
  4. Steep 4: 15 seconds
  5. Steep 5: 20 seconds
  6. Steep 6: 25 seconds
  7. Steep 7: 30 seconds
  8. Steep 8: 40 seconds
  9. Steep 9: 50 seconds
  10. Steep 10: 60 seconds

The large Yunnan leaves unfurl quickly. Start with a moderate first steep to let the buds open, then drop to short flash steeps. Can handle slightly higher temps than Fujian white teas.

Aroma & taste

Aroma

  • maple sap
  • hay
  • dried flowers
  • malt

Taste

  • custard
  • mango
  • stone fruit
  • cream

Processing

  • indoor-withered
  • sun-dried
Start brewing Moonlight White

Sources