Guangxi White Downy: white or green?

I've just sampled a beautiful batch of Guangxi Ling Yun Bai Hao "White
Downy" tea. Highly aromatic and a very sweet taste. Some sources on the
net refer to this tea as a "green tea" whilst others mention it as a
"white tea". HELP, I'm puzzled.

It's a white tea from the name Bai Hao. It is also a YinZhen but they
use Ling Yun to identify the county in Guangxi. The links I saw talked
about a green infusion which is typical. I've seen arguments white tea
is from a particular plant in Fujian.

Jim

aloninna wrote:
> I've just sampled a beautiful batch of Guangxi Ling Yun Bai Hao "White
> Downy" tea. Highly aromatic and a very sweet taste. Some sources on the
> net refer to this tea as a "green tea" whilst others mention it as a
> "white tea". HELP, I'm puzzled.

> > Lewis Perin wrote:

> Sorry, but Bai Hao has so little meaning that saying it's used
> incorrectly seems quixotic. There are also Bai Haos that are green
> (scented and unscented), white, and red/black teas.

So we're back to square one: the Guangxi Bai Hao could be either green
or white, unless someone can point out the exact processing method.

No. Guangxi Ling Yun is also referred to as Yinzhen or silver needles
which makes it a white tea. Some people might takes exception Yinzhen
only applies to white tea from Fujian ie besides little or no oxidation
it applies to a particular cultivar.

Jim

aloninna wrote:
> > > Lewis Perin wrote:
>
> > Sorry, but Bai Hao has so little meaning that saying it's used
> > incorrectly seems quixotic. There are also Bai Haos that are green
> > (scented and unscented), white, and red/black teas.
>
> So we're back to square one: the Guangxi Bai Hao could be either green
> or white, unless someone can point out the exact processing method.

"aloninna" <aloninna@> wrote in message
news:1156994049.053310.327280@e3g2000cwe. ...
> So we're back to square one: the Guangxi Bai Hao could be either green
> or white, unless someone can point out the exact processing method.
>
I am surprised that you cannot tell a green tea from a white tea, aloninna.
The two tea types taste very different from each other.

Who's talking about Guangxi Bai Hao here? Please be specific here. Guangxi
Bai Hao is any tea from Guangxi with white down tips, be it green, black,
red, white or yellow. Guangxi Lingyun Bai Hao is a green tea made from
Lingyun Bai Mao varietal.

Guangxi Lingyun Bai Hao is also known as Gunagxi Lingyun Bai Mao - the Hao
and Mao are inter-useable here. It is a green tea.

I'll explain the processing method in another post.

Danny

"Space Cowboy" <netstuff@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:1156961639.860534.240660@h48g2000cwc. o...
> Technically you are right. BaiHao is used incorrectly where BaiYe is
> nornally used for oolongs with a smattering of white tip or leaf.
>
> Jim
>
No, Jim, no.

Bai Hao in its technical term or otherwise indicates White Hairs - Hao is
small fine hairs.

Bai Ye is White Leaf, which indicates a genetic mutation of chlorophyll and
amino acids in the young leaves of some plants, including tea plants.

Whoever the Taiwanese tea shop person is, is definitely not clear on the
definitions.

Yin Hao is also Bai Hao, as in some plants the find hairs turn a silvery
colour, it is also the colour of down found on buds and young about to
unfold shoots.

You mentioned also that the only Bai Hao you know is Bai Hao oolong, that is
true, because not many other oolongs uses buds and young shoots. Bai Hao
oolong is a new term, indicating oolongs that are processed with heavy
oxidation but without the bug bites, those with bug bites is technically
referred to as Oriental Beauty. Bai Hao oolong, since they use the buds and
shoots, tastes sweet, but Oriental Beauty has an underlying fruity tangy
flavour due to the bite.

Danny

samarkand wrote:
> Guangxi Lingyun Bai Hao is also known as Gunagxi Lingyun Bai Mao - the Hao
> and Mao are inter-useable here. It is a green tea.
>
> Danny

Danny, thanks for your educated reply.
Case is closed - Guangxi Lingyun Bai Hao is GREEN after all...

Alon