A Fragrance Like Moonlight
Moonlight White tea carries a delicate, ethereal fragrance—crisp and elegant, like white moonlight cascading through the night sky. Unlike the bold intensity of Dan Cong oolong, this aroma gently diffuses through the air with enchanting grace.
A Natural Sweetness
Moonlight White is wonderfully sweet. Long after drinking, you'll still feel the refreshing sweetness lingering on your palate, with continuous salivation. This sweetness isn't cloying like sugar water—it's a smooth,润 (run) sweetness that greets you from the first sip.
What is Moonlight White Tea?
Moonlight White (月光白, Yue Guang Bai) is a specialty tea within the Pu-erh family, originating from Jinggu in Yunnan's Pu-erh region. Its production method is unique: the tea must be processed under moonlight, and each batch must be completed within a single day. The finished leaves display a striking appearance—black on the face, white on the back, with prominent silvery buds that shimmer like crescent moons.
The Origin of Its Poetic Name
The name "Moonlight White" comes from two distinctive characteristics:
First, the dried tea leaves are black on top with white downy hairs on the underside, creating a black-and-white contrast. The buds are covered in bright white fuzz and curve like a crescent moon. When you look at a single bud with one leaf, it resembles the moon in the night sky—hence "Moonlight White."
Second, both harvesting and processing occur at night, never exposed to sunlight—a practice completely different from other tea types. The tea is slowly dried under moonlight, further earning its evocative name.
Because Moonlight White is picked and processed without sunlight, its flavor is gentle, sweet, and smooth, embodying the "yin" (feminine, soft) philosophy of Taoism. Since only young women traditionally picked this tea, it's also known as "Moonlight Beauty" (月光美人).
The Mystery: Tea Made Under Moonlight
According to tradition, tea picking begins after midnight and must be completed before sunrise. Harvesters collect dew-kissed leaves—one bud, one leaf—from large-leaf tea trees.
In a shaded room, bamboo mats are laid on the floor, and fresh leaves are spread out individually to air-dry, never overlapping or covering each other. Each batch must complete its initial processing within one day.
The unique production method remains closely guarded, adding to the tea's mystique and allure.
Beautiful Form, Elegant Character
Many people assume Moonlight White is a white tea. While its production process is indeed similar to Fujian white tea, by strict white tea standards, Moonlight White is actually classified as a Pu-erh tea.
Moonlight White's processing incorporates light fermentation during the withering stage, reducing bitterness and astringency in the fresh leaves. The result is a soft, fragrant, sweet, and smooth tea with minimal bitterness. Because it's made from Yunnan large-leaf varietals, it contains more nutrients and water-soluble compounds than small-leaf white teas, making it more durable for multiple infusions.
Your Heart's Moonlight, Your Table's Moonlight White
Moonlight White has an extraordinary appearance—its buds seem to bloom under the glow of moonlight. The tea liquor is pale yellow and transparent, becoming increasingly clear and bright with each subsequent steeping.
It possesses a unique aroma—floral and honey-like, rich yet ethereal, refined and transcendent. The taste is sweet upon entry, mellow and soft, smooth and 润 (run). It combines the fresh fragrance of white tea with the depth and body of Pu-erh.
Once brewed, the aroma fills the air. After drinking, the sweet aftertaste lingers endlessly, with a texture as soft as moonlight itself.
Pro Tip: When brewing Moonlight White, water temperature must NOT be too high! Because the tea has many tender buds, boiling water will "overwhelm" the delicate leaves. Use water around 85-90°C (185-194°F) for best results.
Cold Brewing: Refreshingly Sweet
If you're outdoors without access to hot water but still want to enjoy tea, Moonlight White is perfect for cold brewing.
Simply take a small handful of Moonlight White tea, add it to purified or mineral water in a bottle, seal tightly, shake vigorously, and it's ready to drink in minutes!
Cold-brewed Moonlight White becomes even smoother and sweeter—a refreshing treat on warm days.
Aged to Perfection
Like moonlight itself carries a cool quality, Moonlight White tea is naturally cooling in nature. However, when aged for four years or more, the tea's character becomes milder and more 温 (wen, warming), making it suitable for people of all ages.
Explore Our Premium White Tea Collection
If you're captivated by the elegance of Moonlight White and similar teas, we invite you to explore our curated selection of premium white tea cakes:
- 2020 Wild White Tea Cake (357g) - Crafted from Yunnan big leaf variety, this wild white tea captures the untamed essence of ancient tea forests.
- Yiwu Bai Cha Yuan Ancient Tree Sheng Puerh Tea Cake 2021 - From the legendary Yiwu region, this ancient tree tea combines the delicacy of white tea processing with the depth of Pu-erh character.
Each of these teas offers a unique journey into the world of premium Chinese tea, perfect for both seasoned collectors and those beginning their tea exploration.
Experience the poetry and mystery of Moonlight White—a tea that captures the essence of moonlit nights in every cup.