Pai Mu Tan Walnut / Silky

Pai Mu Tan - The largest leaf of the White China Teas
Pai Mu Tan is the largest leaf of the White China Teas you will find in Atkinson's  shop. It is the most unprocessed, unoxidised version of a tea leaf you are likely to find. It has come all the way from China's Fujian province. Here they produce not just a lot of tea but a lot of the best tea. It never ceases to amaze me how such a delicate item is transported all this way, to our glass tea jars, still with the downy hairs in tact. Some of the smaller particles will gather as a white dust inside the top of the jar, magically hanging there in the static of the glass. It is this white blanket of tiny hairs that give these teas their name - White Teas. (...and nothing to do with adding milk, ok? Which would really ruin this experience!)
Delicate and Sweet
As you would expect of a white tea the gentle, floral, aromas gradually yield themselves up to the nose followed by a subtle mildness on the tongue and a sweet mouthfeel. Some say there is more concentration and astringency in Pai Mu Tan than its more expensive counterparts, like Bai Hao Yinzhen but I think these qualities just add to its character. Its a good place to start your journey into the world of White Teas and also a more welcoming price point than the top grades!