Harvest Date: Spring 2019
Origin: Jinggu, Yunnan
Cultivar: Camelia Taliensis
Flavor: Fresh-cut hay, earthy, sweet and mellow
Dry Leaf: Buds and 1 leaf, white face, black back
Liquor: Clear, pale yellow
 
Our Yue Guang Bai, aka Moonlight White, is a rare and evocative white tea made from the leaves and buds of Camellia taliensis — a wild-growing tea species native to the high mountain forests of Yunnan Province, China. Unlike the more common Camellia sinensis var. assamica, taliensis offers a larger bud, thicker leaf, and a distinctively creamy, floral profile that sets this tea apart from other white teas.
 
The name “Moonlight White” refers to a romantic tradition that the tea was once dried overnight under the moonlight. While this practice is more legend than standard today, the tea retains its name and mystique. In modern processing, indoor withering with warm air is used — a slower method than sun-drying — which allows for slight oxidation, deepening the flavor and enhancing its signature honeyed sweetness and fruity depth.
 
Visually, the dry leaves are stunning: downy silver buds contrasted with dark, oxidized leaves, creating a dramatic two-tone appearance — light and shadow, like moonlight filtering through trees.
When brewed, Yue Guang Bai produces a pale gold liquor with a smooth, full-bodied texture, subtle floral aromas, and a soft, sweet finish that lingers with notes of dried apricot, vanilla, and hay.
The use of Camellia taliensis lends a rich, slightly wild character that makes this tea especially prized by white tea enthusiasts and pu-erh collectors alike.  Harvested mostly in Lincang and Baoshan at elevations above 1,800 meters, Yue Guang Bai is a beautiful expression of Yunnan’s biodiversity and a graceful bridge between ancient tea forests and modern craftsmanship.