King of Bai Mudan

Fuding, in China's Fujian province, has long been the heartland of white tea, and it's where Mike Harney travels to source the finest examples. On a recent visit, amid the region's quietly transformative work with white tea processing, he found this: a white tea that earns its name. Where our classic Mutan White offers a delicate introduction to Bai Mudan, the King brings a noticeably sweeter, fuller character. Large, downy silver tips and whole green leaves unfurl into a pale yellow cup with soft vegetal notes of bok choy and fresh hay, light-bodied but with more presence than you'd expect.