Yellow TeaThe term “yellow tea” used to refer to a high quality tea that was served at the Imperial court in China as it was the color of royalty.
In processing this tea, the leaves are subjected to a slower drying phase than white or green tea. This allows the damp leaves to turn yellow without oxidizing them. They are called golden needles.
The resulting liquor is a pale yellow with a honey sweet aroma, very different than green tea. In fact, it sometimes resembles the smell of black tea.
This tea should not be brewed in water hotter than 180 degrees, with a steeping time of 3 to 5 minutes, depending on one’s preference. Yellow tea certainly deserves consideration if you haven’t tried it before.
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