Moonlight White, a tea with a poetic name, often sparks curiosity and discussion among tea lovers: Is it actually a white tea or a Pu-erh tea? Let’s explore the question “Is Moonlight White a white tea or Pu-erh tea?” from four aspects: origin, tea tree variety, production process, and characteristics.
Is Moonlight White a White Tea or Pu-erh Tea? Distinguishing Them from Four Aspects
- Origin: Moonlight White is mainly produced in Yunnan Province, China. Yunnan is the main producing area for Pu-erh tea, but white tea is also produced here. The high altitude and unique climatic conditions of Yunnan result in excellent quality tea leaves, making them advantageous for making Pu-erh or other types of tea.
- Appearance: Besides loose leaf form, Moonlight White is also partially made into compressed tea, such as the common tea cakes and tea bricks. This is a common production style for Pu-erh tea, leading many to mistakenly believe Moonlight White is Pu-erh. The way to tell them apart is that Moonlight White features distinct black and white contrast between its white downy hairs and dark leaves, whereas Pu-erh tea has a relatively uniform color. (The image above shows Moonlight White tea, and the lower two images show Pu-erh tea)
- Tea Tree Variety: The primary tea tree varieties used for Moonlight White are Yunnan large-leaf and Jinggu large-white, which are commonly used varieties for Pu-erh tea. The leaves of these tea tree varieties are large and thick, making them suitable for producing Pu-erh tea. However, this does not mean these tea leaves can only be used for Pu-erh; Yunnan large-leaf and Jinggu large-white are equally suited for making other types of tea, including white tea.
- Production Process: The production process of Moonlight White is relatively simple, mainly involving picking, withering, and drying. The harvested tea leaves undergo natural withering in a shaded environment, followed by mild drying. This process allows the tea leaves to retain their natural freshness and slight fermentation. In contrast, the production technique of Pu-erh tea is more complex, requiring multiple steps such as fixing, rolling, fermentation, and drying.
Conclusion: Is Moonlight White White Tea or Pu-erh Tea
In summary, Moonlight White is often mistaken for Pu-erh tea because of its origin, tea tree variety, and compressed appearance, which are similar to Pu-erh. However, looking at the production process, Pu-erh requires fixing, rolling, and fermentation, whereas Moonlight tea only goes through withering and drying. Therefore, Moonlight White is not Pu-erh tea, but belongs to the “white tea category”.