Mutan White

Mutan White comes to us from China, where white teas have long been prized for their gentle character and minimal processing. The dry leaves are green and white, and once brewed, they yield a pale yellow cup that resembles warm water, which is precisely the point. This tea is dried slowly, and that allows for just a bit of oxidation. White tea oxidizes by patience, not by machine, like black teas.

The aroma is the quiet star here: fresh, softly sweet, like walking past a tea garden in the early morning. The body is light (consider it the opposite of a rich, malty black tea), and the overall experience is clean and uncomplicated. With a medium caffeine level, it sits in a comfortable middle ground, present without being pushy. It does have higher levels of theanine, the amino acid that gives it a mouth-filling body. And since it has the buds, it's sweeter than most teas.

We recommend brewing Mutan White at 175°F for four minutes. Higher temperatures can turn delicate white teas bitter, so a bit of patience with the kettle goes a long way. It's a good introduction to white tea for those new to the category and a reliable, low-key pleasure for those who already know their way around it.