About
"One year as tea, three years as medicine, seven years as treasure" is a traditional Chinese saying that highlights the different aging stages of white tea and its evolving properties.
The term "Three-Year Medicine" refers to white tea that has been stored for three to five years. At this point, the tea's properties have undergone subtle changes. With proper storage, within two to three years, the internal components of the tea begin to transform. The greenness fades, and the color of the tea liquor deepens from pale yellow to apricot yellow to orange-yellow, with its internal qualities stabilizing and settling.
Fresh white tea has a sweet fragrance and a delicate aroma of tea fuzz, commonly described as "the fragrance of tea fuzz with a honeyed charm." However, white tea that has been stored for three to five years often develops a lotus leaf fragrance. The aroma becomes gradually mellow, and the taste grows much smoother and softer. At this stage, the tea can be savored for the slow transformation brought by time, as its flaws gradually fade, and its nature shifts from cool to calm. At this point, white tea can be considered both tea and medicine, suitable for both tasting and collecting for longer storage.
Behind This Tea