2020 Fruity Autumn White Tea

2020 Fruity Autumn White Tea – white tea for the days you are busy

White tea almost always means spring: the famous Silver Needle and White Peony are picked in the first flush. This one is different on purpose. It was picked in autumn 2020 during the White Dew (Bai Lu) solar term, when cooler nights and a slower growth rhythm let the tea trees concentrate their nutrients – and it comes out with an unusually fruity character that no spring tea has. It is also pressed into small pieces, so it is the most convenient tea in our range: no prying, no weighing, just drop a piece in and pour hot water.

The White-Dew difference

Autumn-picked white tea has a different personality from spring material: it is more open and sweet, with a fuller body. The White-Dew window is short, and tea picked in it behaves differently from a spring harvest in ways you can taste – day-night temperature swings build up sugars and aromatic compounds in the leaf, so the tea lands somewhere between a fresh white and a gently mellow one.

Tasting notes

The dry leaf smells fresh with a faint sweet fruit note. After brewing, the liquor is clear and the fruity aroma comes forward immediately, layered over the fresh character of white tea. The fruit reads as soft and rounded rather than sharp – closer to dried apple or apricot than to citrus. The body is smooth and medium, with a gentle sweetness that sits on the tongue and a clean, quick finish.

On later infusions the fruit softens and a lightly herbaceous note comes through, keeping the tea interesting across a whole session rather than fading after two cups.

How to enjoy it

Use one piece per cup or 5 g per 150 ml of water at 95°C. It is ideal for the office or travel – keep a few pieces in a drawer or bag and brew on demand. In a covered cup or travel flask, one piece with about 300 ml of hot water and a three-minute steep gives a good cup, and the same piece can be re-steeped two or three times during the day. For a stronger brew, add a second piece or lower the water to 90°C and steep longer. The pressed format keeps the tea fresh and simple to portion. Available as a 300 g pack.

Who it suits

Because it brews quickly and needs no tools, this tea is a practical choice for everyday drinking, for the office, and for introducing white tea to someone who wants a simple, reliable cup. The fruit-forward sweetness also makes it a good afternoon tea, with or without food. Keep the pack sealed in a cool, dry place and it will hold its fresh character while slowly developing the deeper fruit note that comes with age.