An Ji Cha

[chado.my.teaway]

I have a question for you. In your country(local shop etc.) An Ji Bai Cha its white tea or green tea? In Poland its green tea. Its very similar to Long Jing. The name of tea its white tea...so? e.g. in Xi'an its white tea.

[Jangular.Khaari]

The tea shops I frequent Anji Bai Cha is definately a green tea. It looks a bit different from the Long Jing I've seen since the Long Jing is usually steamed flat, while the Anji Bai Cha is usually the bud and the first, sometimes second leaf. The white teas I've seen are usually a lot more "downy" looking on the bud than the Anji Bai Cha.

[chado.my.teaway]

Yes. Thats true. But I talk today with my polish friend. He live in Xi'an. In Xi'an thats white tea;)

It looks a bit different from the Long Jing I've seen since the Long Jing is usually steamed flat

Yeah. But in late harvest, An Ji its roasted in small level like Long Jing.(info from my friend;)) It looks like green tea, taste like green tea...but its white tea. How you brew this tea? I brew this tea in 85 degrees,(185F). Sometimes 70.

[bilochun]

green

[Chip]

I had read some time ago, that it is sometimes green and sometimes white. I do not know if this is true or not. And other than that, I know nothing of it ... well I guess I know nothing at all about it.

[JRS22]

Every Chinese and American tea seller that I've patronized has classified An Ji Bai Cha as a green tea. Seven Cups describes the Tea Bush as follows:

Tea Bush: Bai Ye #1 (White Leaves #1)

Possibly the leaves from this bush could be used to make either green or white tea, but the processing determines that An Ji Bai Cha is green.

[debunix]

the version I have bought from my local tea shop (Wing Hop Fung) is identified as 'Precious Rare White Tea' in the english label on the jar.

[teaisme]

I think having white tea (bai cha) in last 2 characters of its chinese name throws people off

rehashing some things from vendor websites vicony, seven cups, norbu, teaspring...
it was called white because the color of the leaves are lighter green, whiter. Supposedly because this varietal produces less chlorophyll.

Supposedly this varietal was mentioned 900 years ago in tea book called Da Guan Cha Lun. Then in 1980's they finally found a bush in anji that fit the description of the one in the book. Thus Bai Ye (white leaf) No.1 Cultivar was born.

Now I imagine there are a few people who make white tea out of this varietal. But the majority of it is probably designated for green tea since its past history has shown it to work well for that style. Plus market price for green style is probably much more stable and high.

[jbu2]

As I understand it, the class of the tea are going the tea leaves by color and there are green so i would said green .