{"title":"White","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhite teas are crafted with minimal intervention, making them the most delicate and unmediated of all types of tea.There is no steaming, pan-frying, roasting or heat used in making white tea – this is tea in its purest form.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"semi-wild-white-peony","title":"Semi Wild White Peony 2014","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Semi-Wild White Peony comes to us from one of our well-respected tea foragers, Mr. Fan, also aptly known as \"Hunter.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is made from trees planted by tea farmers in the 1970's that were abandoned as people left the villages for coastal cities. They grow amidst thousands of acres of old growth forest. Here, tea trees compete with a variety of other plants for sunlight, causing their roots to extend deep into the earth to draw nutrients. They grow slowly in the wild, accumulating these nutrients and compounds in their leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Fan crafts his white teas traditionally: the leaves are naturally withered and dried by sunlight, a slow and delicate process that takes between 48 and 60 hours. However simple it may sound, this method requires painstaking care and attention, along with a great deal of experience to do well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves are picked early in the morning and carefully carried down the mountain in bamboo baskets to ensure that they are not damaged as they are handled. The fresh leaves are then swiftly spread out on bamboo mats, initiating the process of withering. First they are withered in the sun and their moisture level is monitored closely. When the moisture level is around 50% the leaves are moved indoors. Finally, when the moisture level reaches 10-20%, the leaves are gently roasted over charcoal at a very low temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea maintains a sense of its wildness, even after being aged since 2014. It tastes earthy, brambly and warm. The age of the harvest comes across in its settled, patient qualities: it deepens slowly, across infusions, and stays with us for a long time, both in its finish, and in the number of infusions it will take.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32103015153769,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32103015186537,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32103015219305,"sku":"","price":95.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/semiwildwhitepeony.jpg?v=1774039197"},{"product_id":"semi-wild-shou-mei-2015","title":"Semi Wild Shou Mei 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Semi-Wild White Peony comes to us from one of our well-respected tea foragers, Mr. Fan, also aptly known as \"Hunter.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is made from trees planted by tea farmers in the 1970's that were abandoned as people left the villages for coastal cities. They grow amidst thousands of acres of old growth forest. Here, tea trees compete with a variety of other plants for sunlight, causing their roots to extend deep into the earth to draw nutrients. They grow slowly in the wild, accumulating these nutrients and compounds in their leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Fan crafts his white teas traditionally: the leaves are naturally withered and dried by sunlight, a slow and delicate process that takes between 48 and 60 hours. However simple it may sound, this method requires painstaking care and attention, along with a great deal of experience to do well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves are picked early in the morning and carefully carried down the mountain in bamboo baskets to ensure that they are not damaged as they are handled. The fresh leaves are then swiftly spread out on bamboo mats, initiating the process of withering. First they are withered in the sun and their moisture level is monitored closely. When the moisture level is around 50% the leaves are moved indoors. Finally, when the moisture level reaches 10-20%, the leaves are gently roasted over charcoal at a very low temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe picking standard for this Semi Wild Shoumei, of one-bud-three-leaves, makes its qualities particularly delicate. It is a very gentle and balancing tea, opening quickly in the gaiwan to reveal a forest floor of references. Its deeper, woody notes give it an autumnal feeling, while its sweetness conjures the concentrated sugars released into the ground by fallen leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32152310841449,"sku":"","price":22.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32152310874217,"sku":"","price":44.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32152310906985,"sku":"","price":82.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/semiwildshoumei.jpg?v=1774039138"},{"product_id":"laoshan-white","title":"Laoshan White \u0026 Tea Blossoms","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a rare white tea from Mr. Tang's small family farm in Laoshan, Qingdao. The tea blossoms come from the same tea trees that bore the leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is uncommon to find white tea from Qingdao, as white teas are usually from southern China. This is where Mr. Tang learned to craft white teas, when he visited the renowned tea forager, Hunter, in Zhenghe, Fujian, which is considered to be the birthplace of white teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe semi-wild tea trees that make up Mr. Tang's farm only blossom once a year. To craft this tea their flowers are carefully harvested as they bloom, dried in the sun, and finished over charcoal. The flower's nectar makes them very attractive to bugs, however Mr. Tang remains committed to farming and producing his tea without the use of sprays or chemicals. Dried, the organic flowers look like potpourri, having all been captured at slightly different stages of their opening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea leaves are handpicked in October and are processed following traditional methods of withering for white tea, before being dried in the sun. Combining them with the blossoms has resulted in a brilliant experimental white tea with a flavour that points to the mineral basin of Mount Lao, and the methodical craftsmanship of Zhenghe.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32103038451817,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32103038484585,"sku":"","price":58.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32103038517353,"sku":"","price":110.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/laoshanwhite.jpg?v=1774039106"},{"product_id":"green-peony","title":"Green Peony","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere is a small period of time in early spring, before the Qingming solar term, where the climate in Yunnan causes one side of the tree's leaves to turn a dark, intense shade of green, while the other side becomes a fuzzy silvery-white.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreen Peony is made only with first harvest leaves gathered at this moment and, as it is such a brief period of time, crafting this tea requires paying close attention to the weather. Mr. Tang is not always able to find enough hands to help him harvest before the leaves go through their next transformation, meaning Green Peony is a highly spontaneous creation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen successfully set into motion, the leaves are picked according to the traditional standards of one bud and one leaf. Then the fresh leaves are spread out on bamboo trays indoors, where they gradually oxidize. Once the leaves reach 20% moisture content they are taken to a glass house that Mr. Tang built for sun-drying. The tea is left there for a few hours each day in the morning, before the sunlight is too strong. When the leaves are dry they are placed in a large ceramic jar and aged for two weeks, balancing their flavor and dispelling the grassiness that fresh tea leaves have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dried tea leaves maintain their recto-verso appearance: very dark green on one side, while the other side is covered in a silver fuzz that almost looks like suede. As its appearance would suggest, this tea is about texture. Its mouthfeel is smooth and velvety, with a soft weight underlying its refreshing, floral qualities. Its taste has great clarity, with notes of honeysuckle, calla lily, plum blossoms and fresh apricots.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40175181529193,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":40175182119017,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":49740192907544,"sku":null,"price":108.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/greenpeony.jpg?v=1774036863"},{"product_id":"shou-mei-2012","title":"Shou Mei 2012","description":"\u003cp\u003eAged white teas are not easy to come by, as after they have turned 5 years old they become highly sought after for both their taste and their medicinal properties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Shoumei is from Fuding, Fujian, one of the two core areas for the production of white tea, the other one being Zhenghe, Fujian. This Shoumei is currently the only white tea in our collection from Fuding, all of the others are from Zhenghe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite tea trees in Fuding are of the varietal Fuding Dabai (Big White), unique to this region of Fujian and well suited to its particular geography. Fuding is flanked by mountains and faces the ocean, therefore the topography is \"open\" and sees sustained exposure to sun, wind, and rain. Since ancient times, white tea crafted in Fuding has been withered in the high sun and slowly dried entirely outdoors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is interesting to compare this to the other Fujian source of white tea, Zhenghe, which is situated amongst the mountains where the climate changes rapidly between sun and rain. Here we see traditional craftsmanship of white tea fluctuating between drying and withering indoors and outdoors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe acquired this Shoumei in 2013 and have been aging it ourselves since. There's an old saying about white teas that goes, \"3 years a medicine, 7 years a treasure.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 13 years age, this tea is experienced as both a medicine \u003ci\u003eand\u003c\/i\u003e a treasure. Its taste and texture has changed dramatically over the 10 years we've had it. At present it smells bright and fresh, but on the palate it's taste is mellowed and settled. The liquor and its synthesized flavour produces saliva instantly, before bringing a very compelling aftertaste, something like aged orange peel. It is a slightly clearing tea without being very stimulating, and it transforms and deepens over many infusions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32102763135081,"sku":"","price":20.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32102763167849,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32102763200617,"sku":"","price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/shoumei2012.jpg?v=1774038944"},{"product_id":"wild-white-peony-king","title":"Wild Peony King","description":"\u003cp\u003eWild Peony King comes to us from the well-respected tea forager, Mr. Fan, also aptly known as \"Hunter.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis take on traditional White Peony is made from trees planted by tea farmers in the 1970's that were abandoned as people left the villages for coastal cities. They grow amidst thousands of acres of old growth forest. Here, tea trees compete with a variety of other plants for sunlight, causing their roots to extend deep into the earth to draw nutrients. They grow slowly in the wild, accumulating these nutrients and compounds in their leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAside from the use of wild foraged leaves, the other reason this tea stands out from the average White Peony is its picking standard; only the fresh bud and one fresh leaf is harvested for this tea, making it more akin to Silver Needle. But the craftsmanship of this tea is very traditional, following steps used to make Zhenghe white tea for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA key feature of this traditional method is 阴干, or shade drying. The foraged leaves are spread out on bamboo mats and are attentively dried in the shade. Essentially, shade dried tea leaves are still \"alive,\" as this method retains as many live enzymes and nutrients as possible. Nowadays it is a very uncommon practice, as it is so laborious, time-consuming, and requires a substantial amount of space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis patient method results in a tea that is as nourishing as it is enjoyable. Its nutritive density and richness is offset by the delicate nature of the young leaves it is made of. The liquor coats the mouth and throat with a complex and lingering sweetness. We find notes of fresh soy milk, mountain herbs, and nuts. In later infusions it becomes more floral and fruity; we taste bamboo, plum blossom and rose.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32459981815913,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32459981848681,"sku":"","price":90.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32459981881449,"sku":"","price":170.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/wildpeonyking.jpg?v=1773981422"},{"product_id":"semi-wild-silver-needle","title":"Semi Wild Silver Needle","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Semi Wild Silver Needle comes to us from one of our well-respected tea foragers, Mr. Fan, also aptly known as \"Hunter.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is made from trees planted by tea farmers in the 1970's that were abandoned as people left the villages for coastal cities. They grow amidst thousands of acres of old growth forest. Here, tea trees compete with a variety of other plants for sunlight, causing their roots to extend deep into the earth to draw nutrients. They grow slowly in the wild, accumulating these nutrients and compounds in their leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Fan crafts his white teas traditionally: the leaves are naturally withered and dried by sunlight, a slow and delicate process that takes between 48 and 60 hours. However simple it may sound, this method requires painstaking care and attention, along with a great deal of experience to do well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves are picked early in the morning and carefully carried down the mountain in bamboo baskets to ensure that they are not damaged as they are handled. Then the leaves are swiftly spread out on bamboo mats, initiating the process of withering. While they wither in the sun their moisture level is monitored closely. When it reaches around 50% the leaves are moved indoors. And finally, when the moisture level reaches 10-20%, the leaves are gently roasted over warm charcoal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilver Needle is considered the most precious of all white teas as it is made entirely of the fresh, single buds of the trees. Approximately 30,000 buds are needed to make 500 grams of tea and it requires great understanding of the trees to successfully harvest the buds before they sprout leaves. A very good harvest will depend on an unforeseeable cooperation between the budding trees and the weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Silver Needle has unique notes of wet bark and oud that point to its wild origin. Its mouthfeel is soft and suede-like, aligned with its creamy undertone. In later infusions it has amassed a dense sweetness, while maintaining its soft, uplifting qualities, reminding us of fresh soymilk.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32459980505193,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32459980537961,"sku":"","price":100.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32459980570729,"sku":"","price":190.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_18670_WEB.jpg?v=1773981373"},{"product_id":"silver-needle","title":"Silver Needle","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis experimental white tea comes to us from Mr. Tang in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang left his corporate job in Kunming city, in 2006. He had rented a small place in rural Yunnan where his only intentions were to read, reflect, and drink tea with friends. In one of these conversations an old friend, Li, suggested that Tang grow tea in Li's hometown, Yangta Village. That July the two of them traveled to Jinggu in Yangta and leased 11 acres of forested land from Li's niece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe area they leased was wild growth at 6500 ft elevation. This is where they would eventually plant 70,000 Jinggu Big White tea trees. Tang also leased another tea garden in the mountain that locals had shown him; a highly regarded area that was home to ancient pu'erh trees. And so, while he waited for his Jinggu Big Whites, Tang began making pu'erh from these very old trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Mr. Tang, crafting beautiful teas from a clean and balanced ecosystem is sacred. He is deeply dedicated to the craft of traditional tea making; this philosophy guides everything he does, and is embedded in every single tea he makes. Alongside being an expression of this special ecosystem, his teas are so distinctly peaceful, and feel extremely clear, just as he feels as a person.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Jinggu Big White varietal of pu erh trees were widely planted between 1985 and 1993. The varietal was popular for its beautiful leaves and high yield. Back then, most tea farmers either processed the leaves as pu erh and sold them as Mao Cha to bigger pu erh factories, made them into silvery green tea and sold them to Guangxi to be turned into jasmine tea, or made them into golden tips black tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this instance Mr. Tang is doing something we have never seen before with Jinggu Big White, and we can consider him a pioneer for dedicating so many years of experimentation to achieving it. With beautiful results, he has applied the traditional method of craftsmanship for Fujian white tea from Fujian to the young buds of the Jinggu Big White varietal of pu erh tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fluffy silver needles have been pressed into a cake that looks like a shimmering silk cushion. The tea is clean, with a long lasting finish. It is both sweet and sustained, giving us time to marvel at the new experience we are being offered by this traditional form of ingenuity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32877425361001,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32877425393769,"sku":"","price":155.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_19118_WEB.jpg?v=1774036752"},{"product_id":"silver-needle-with-tea-flower","title":"Silver Needle \u0026 Tea Blossoms","description":"\u003cp\u003eTea Blossom in Silver Needle is a very unique and special tea from our collection of Mr. Tang's tea. The Silver Needle is made from the leaves of the Jinggu Big White varietal – trees that Mr. Tang had planted when he first started his tiny organic tea farm 18 years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTea trees flower! – Something easy to forget, as we are always so engaged with their leaves. They blossom once every year, in November. The delicate flowers used to make this tea come from the same trees grown on Mr. Tang's farm. They are carefully hand harvested as they bloom, and left to slowly dry in the sun, before being finished over charcoal to remove their remaining moisture; a process that takes over two weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe will always be struck by the appearance of this tea cake: the contrast of the burnt-orange flowers pressed into the pale, silver needles. Both the orange of the dried blossom and the liquor it brews is a deeper colour this year. Wet in the gaiwan, the petals and leaves look fleshy and metallic, almost like copper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is an especially good year for our pressed Silver Needle \u0026amp; Tea Blossom cake. Dry, it's intensely fragrant, like baked fruit, vanilla, and grains. We detect the quality and robustness of the silver needle both in its soft, integrated mouthfeel and in the clarity of its taste. This gentle, viscous texture is the perfect medium for its white flower and stone fruit notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe liquor is also extra golden this year, and delivers a stronger taste of the tea blossoms' nectar, especially in later infusions. You'll think someone melted wildflower honey into the tea when you weren't looking.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":33093862031465,"sku":"","price":38.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":33093862064233,"sku":"","price":76.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g cake","offer_id":45779107283224,"sku":"","price":145.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260203_Cultivate_17464_WEB.jpg?v=1770503938"},{"product_id":"arbor-white","title":"Arbor White 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes to us from Mangnuo village in Shuangjiang County of Lincang. Mangnuo is one of two villages located along the incredible Lancang River; the other being Dawen. The name Mangnuo comes from the Dai dialect, meaning \"a place with pools of freshwater.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the name implies, Mangnuo is surrounded by bodies of water. Lahu ethnic tribes settled in Mangnuo around 600 years ago, planting tea trees in the village during the Ming Dynasty. One of the ancient tea trees in this village stands roughly 20 ft tall with a diameter of 5 ft!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea garden this tea comes from is situated on the sunny steep hills of Mangnuo Baha where mountains tower over it. The garden is surrounded by mist and fog from the Lancang river year round, shielding the plants from direct sun and higher temperatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fresh leaves are harvested between late March and early April with a picking standard of one-bud-two-leaves. They are then withered and dried naturally outdoors on bamboo mats for at least 72 hours, and pressed into mini cakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a delicious tea: smooth and delicate, with elegant floral aromatics. It feels like drinking the nectar of wild alpine flowers, as it leaves the lingering taste of honey on the palate long after the tea is swallowed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39301089525865,"sku":"","price":32.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39301089558633,"sku":"","price":64.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_18693_WEB.jpg?v=1773981770"},{"product_id":"wild-white","title":"Wild White 2015 Reserve","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis 2015 Wild White comes to us from one of our well-respected tea foragers, Mr. Fan, also aptly known as \"Hunter.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is made from trees planted by tea farmers in the 1970's that were abandoned as people left the villages for coastal cities. They grow amidst thousands of acres of old growth forest. Here, tea trees compete with a variety of other plants for sunlight, causing their roots to extend deep into the earth to draw nutrients. Some are so tall that villagers must prop ladders against their trunks to harvest their leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBig White is an ancient varietal of tea tree, indigenous to Zhenghe, with origins tracing back to the Song Dynasty. If only the bud is picked, then the white tea would be a Silver Needle. Wild White \"Big\" consists of the bud, leaves, and stem, and is considered a Shou Mei.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite teas, especially a Shoumei grade, look rustic and full of vitality. They are well suited for aging, as they have nutrients in them that develop character over time, and pressing them into a cake as Hunter has done here encourages an effective aging process. (A common saying suggests that at 3 years white tea becomes a medicine, and at 7 years, a treasure. This tea is now at an age that it would be considered both!)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea is made following local traditional craftsmanship, which involves slow, indoor drying. It was indoors for 18 days before being pressed into cakes, and has not been sun-dried, baked, or even roasted over charcoal. The cakes are beautiful to look at, displaying the tonal array of various stages of oxidation, while maintaining a sheen on account of such delicate handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs you might expect, this is a deeper white tea: we taste more earth matter, burnt sugars, and cooked fruit — all qualities that come with age. It is grounding, slightly tannic, and warming, evolving through infusions with an even temper — another attribute of age, or wisdom.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":33121776271465,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":33122305376361,"sku":"","price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":33122305409129,"sku":"","price":150.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_19125_WEBcopy.jpg?v=1773981534"},{"product_id":"jasmine-wild-white","title":"Jasmine Wild White","description":"\u003cp\u003eComing to us from one of our well-respected tea foragers, Mr. Fan, also aptly known as \"Hunter,\" this tea is made from trees planted in the 1970's, then abandoned as people left the villages for coastal cities. They grew from seeds that were washed downstream by a river that runs through the middle of this vast, old growth forest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere, tea trees compete with a variety of other plants for sunlight. Thus, the roots of the tea trees extend deep into the earth to draw nutrients, growing slowly while accumulating these rich compounds in their leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreserving their wildness, the tea is crafted following local traditional methods. The leaves are withered slowly in the sun for roughly 50 hours, then air-dried for 2 weeks. This slow, natural drying allows the leaves to go through the full process of oxidation, gently transforming their astringent and grassy qualities to something that tastes warm, sweet and floral.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlong with white teas, the unique microclimate of Zhenghe County also has a reputation for producing some of the most delicate jasmine flowers in China. Jasmine farms in Zhenghe grow at 1100m elevation, in the misty mountains where the temperatures vary drastically and the soil is sandy and nutrient-scarce. These challenging conditions cause jasmine plants to allocate more resources to survival and less to flowering, making the flowers they produce potent and quite unique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Fan has combined this white tea with dried local jasmine, pressing them together into small, 100g cakes. The combination of these Fujian treasures produces a tea that tastes woven together by flowers: threads of jasmine cross with the inherently floral qualities of the sun dried Shou Mei.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is as stabilizing as it is enchanting. Much of it is enjoyed in its aftertaste, as we breath in the sweet, opal scent of the jasmine. While we brew it we enjoy watching the flowers reanimate, floating on the surface of the water. They appear much like how they taste: fresh, clean, and suspended in a cloud at the top of our palates.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":49901218201880,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":49901218234648,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g Cake","offer_id":49901218267416,"sku":null,"price":98.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2001.jpg?v=1773713741"},{"product_id":"imperial-white-orange-peel","title":"Imperial White \u0026 Orange Peel","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Shou Mei is from Fuding, Fujian, one of the two traditional regions for white tea, the other one being Zhenghe. Fuding is flanked by mountains and faces the ocean, therefore the topography is considered \"open\" as it sees sustained exposure to sun, wind, and rain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere, tea trees are covered in mist and fog all year round, shading them from direct sun. After harvest, the tea leaves are withered and dried, first outdoors, and then indoors for at least a week, in a process that follows ancient local traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dried tea leaves are combined with the aged peel (Chen Pi) of red mandarin oranges grown in Xinhui, Guangdong, (a village famous for producing aged orange peel). Orange peels are revered as both a medicine and a deeply satisfying flavour in China. They must be aged for at least six years before being used in tea; any younger and their moisture and sugar content will compromise the tea cake. Once combined with the tea leaves, they are pressed together into small cakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNaturally aged Shoumei tends to have a subtle aftertaste of aged orange peel on its own. Combining these leaves with the orange peels themselves produces tea with an incredible depth of flavour. The spiced, medicinal qualities of both the white tea and the aged peels play off of one another, offering us something very satisfying, as well as balancing and supportive, especially suited to the winter months.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39476660797545,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39476660830313,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":39476660863081,"sku":"","price":108.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_19128_WEB.jpg?v=1774038655"},{"product_id":"white-moonlight","title":"White Moonlight","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this tea we see pioneering craftsmanship from Mr. Tang, who has applied the Fujian method for white tea to the leaves of Jinggu Big White pu'erh trees, that he planted himself. This method took years of experimentation, an intimate understanding of the climate in Jinggu, and has produced something truly delicious — hot or cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne bud and one leaf are picked from the pu'erh trees in early fall. Then they are carefully withered indoors, being turned numerous times a day depending on the amount of sunlight, rain, and humidity in the air. Usually this process lasts between 7 to 10 days. Afterwards, the tea is slowly dried in the sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis white tea is so aromatic it reminds us of a light Darjeeling, with an enveloping fragrance of ripe apricots, grapes and wildflowers. It brews a gold-coloured liquor with rich undertones of milk chocolate and manuka honey, and a long-lingering taste of ripe orchard fruits.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39497687761001,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39497687793769,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":39497687826537,"sku":"","price":106.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260316_Cultivate_18893_WEB.jpg?v=1773981865"},{"product_id":"wild-white-2018-single-tree","title":"Wild White 2018 Single Tree","description":"\u003cp\u003eA true gift from nature, this is an extremely precious wild white tea, from the alpine forests of Zhenghe, Fujian. It comes to us from one of our well-respected tea foragers, Mr. Fan or Hunter who coincidentally discovered a mountain region with wild tea plants in his hometown of Zhenghe, Fujian when he was working in the Forestry Department for the local government, managing the population of wild boars that were wreaking havoc for local farmers. Zhenghe, Fujian is one of only two origins for an authentic white tea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis tea was foraged from one single centuries-old wild tea tree, standing at more than 12 feet high.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe centuries-old tea tree is wild and of the traditional Zhenghe Dabai (Big White) 政和大白 varietal, situated within thousands of acres of ecological ancient old growth forest more than 3600 feet above sea level. In these vast old growth forests, the wild tea trees compete with a diverse variety of trees seeking precious diffused sunlight; the roots extend deep, drawing nutrients from the ground and, thus, the tree grows slowly and the tea leaves accumulate rich nutrients and compounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe craftsmanship is authentic and traditional. Zhenghe white tea is processed by way of  阴干 shade drying, as opposed to the more common sun-dried or oven-baked white teas. The foraged tea leaves are spread on bamboo mats and naturally dried in the shade, without any exposure to sun or fans or mechanical roasting.\u003cbr\u003eThis is significant—the tea leaves are allowed to dry slowly and naturally, without any application of external heat. This translates into tea leaves that are still \"alive\" and still retain the maximum amount of live enzymes and nutrients. This centuries-old white tea craftsmanship is extremely laborious, time-consuming and requires a substantial amount of space.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdding to the particulars of this tea production is the impermanent alpine microclimate in Zhenghe, Fujian. The weather shifts between thunderstorms during the night, drizzles and fog in the morning, and blue sky by mid-day. Surprisingly, this ever-changing weather is the ideal condition for crafting traditional white tea. Craftsman of Zhenghe white tea, with decades of experience, can instinctively predict the changes in weather, and optimally time each stage of the tea processing to the weather. Slowly and continuously over time, the fluctuations in temperature and humidity act to \"wring out\" the moisture in the fresh tea leaves. Having respect for nature, learning how to work with nature, and achieving harmony between heaven, earth and human, is the philosophy for ancient crafters of tea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Zhenghe Wild White tea is one of the most intriguing we have tasted. The leaves are strikingly beautiful - enormously full and rustic. From such leaves and stems, I imagined the taste would mirror the form—rustic and earthy. Yet, it turned out to be the sweetest tea we have experienced. The sweetness is wonderfully pure, like tasting sugar cane, and, a surprising sweetness borne simply from leaves and stems. It also boasts a beautiful wood taste, like a fine, sweet wood incense.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39643131576425,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_9209_d2787a3f-6d64-4c2b-bca9-f2fdb5526c76.jpg?v=1632342585"},{"product_id":"wild-laoshan-white","title":"Wild Laoshan White","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Wild Laoshan White is a special \"Reserve\" release from the Tang family; only a few kilos were crafted in 2020, a small portion of which we are extremely grateful to have acquired.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang's family are generational tea farmers in Laoshan Mountain of Qingdao, Shandong. Shandong, of Northeastern China, is named after Mount Lao, a magnificent mountain range recognized by its striking, slim, elongated cliffs. The many small plots that make up Mr. Tang's tea farm are scattered along this coastline, at the foot of Mount Lao. Some are distributed right along the beaches, exposed to the salty wind that blows off of the water, while others are tucked slightly up into the forested hills, protected by the pine trees and the mountain behind them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLaoshan is a very unique tea producing area in China. It is as far North as a tea region can be, and at the highest latitude, before temperatures become too cold for tea trees to survive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe small farms in Laoshan have Mount Lao on one side, and are otherwise surrounded by ocean. The air here has very high humidity, and it sees longer winters of frost and snow than tea regions further South. Another special feature of Laoshan is that the water that irrigates the tea trees comes from natural springs that run through Mount Lao. This water is very pure and high in the minerals it collects from the cliffs of the mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes from a once deserted tea garden that the Tang family came across, tucked into the forested hills at the foot of Mount Lao. Here, the smell of the ocean gives way to dense red pines and cherry trees laced with honeysuckle vines. The Tang family recognized this special tea garden for its particular peace and tranquility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea trees here are around 30 years old, and were abandoned about a decade before they were rediscovered. Some of the tea trees stand at a towering 7 feet tall, which is highly unusual for the small-leaf varietal of tea plants indigenous to Laoshan. The Tang family wanted this deserted, self-sustaining tea garden to remain \"wild\" and so they harvest it with little intervention. The rotted pine needles and pine cones that fall around it are used as natural fertilizers, and the weeds are not removed. The tea leaves are foraged for a period of two weeks, between the end of April and the beginning of May. Only a mere 5 kilograms were crafted in 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is fascinating to taste a tea inspired by Fujian white teas, and yet inflected with the very particular characteristics of this terroir. Because it is uncommon to see traditional white tea craftsmanship in this region, we consider this tea experimental. The delicate and precise processing without the application of any external heat leaves this tea full of its essential energy.  It is thic,k yet crisp and refreshing and carries the rhythm of pine and cypress with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe liquor is a bazaar lime-water colour.  It has a lemony, electrolyte finish and lingering lichen-green notes.This dense, vibrant fluid tastes mossy and detailed, describing a miniature forest, or even a midsummer night's dream to us, within our mouths.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39998600839273,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_5630-2.jpg?v=1649117089"},{"product_id":"ms-qiongs-heritage-white","title":"Ms. Qiong's Heritage White","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe can attribute this tea's unique character to it being crafted from a very old, indigenous varietal of tea tree, handled with great care and respect by Ms. Qiong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trees in the deserted tea garden she inherited from her father are rare: an heirloom varietal in the region, the majority of which were cut down in the 1980's in favour of the higher yield varietals with uniform leaves. These trees are farmed regeneratively by Ms. Qiong, as part of her greater practice of rebalancing and listening to the land.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Spring she harvests during the daytime and crafts the tea by hand at night. It is extremely labour intensive, as she performs every step on her own. Working this way, and following traditional methods, Ms. Qiong produces a very small amount of tea each year. This practice is truly a labour of love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce picked, the tea leaves are dried on bamboo trays, laid out in a bamboo forest under dappled sun. This softens their taste and results in the beautiful variation we see in the finished tea — some leaves oxidize, while others maintain their sharp, verdant green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is such an unmediated expression of the trees from which it comes; delicious and satisfying, with a body that reminds us of softer oolongs. It is floral, dense, and contains so much minerality, it's like drinking the sweet milk of a stone.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39997927260265,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39997927293033,"sku":"","price":90.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A7327.jpg?v=1689212393"},{"product_id":"purple-cloud","title":"Purple Cloud","description":"\u003cp\u003eCrafted from leaves of the Zi Ya 紫芽, or \"Purple Bud,\" a varietal of pu'erh known to contain significantly higher anthocyanin in their leaves than other varietals. This compound causes their buds to emerge a deep purple colour, before turning green as they mature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the past it was most common for the leaves of Purple Bud to be made into black tea. It is unusual, and very captivating, to see them crafted as a white tea as they are here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese trees were planted by Mr. Tang in his personal tea garden. He harvests them early in the spring, when the buds and leaves are soft and rich in substance. They are spread thinly on bamboo mats and naturally withered indoors. The density of the leaves extends the withering process, causing active enzymes in the leaves to undergo gradual oxidation and hydrolysis without being damaged. When the leaves are almost dry Mr. Tang roasts them over charcoal for 6 hours. Then the tea is left to sit for 2 weeks, before being pressed into a cake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePurple Cloud has all of the intense sweetness of a white tea, with the depth and downward-pull of a high quality pu'erh. If you are looking for traces of its purple origin, you'll find a violet note to this tea, floating on top of the taste of caramelized sugar.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40402094784617,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":40402094817385,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":40402094850153,"sku":"","price":105.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g cake","offer_id":40402094882921,"sku":"","price":198.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A8851.jpg?v=1667434869"},{"product_id":"white-shuixian","title":"White Shuixian","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe consider this an experimental tea, as it is highly unusual to see Shuixian leaves crafted into anything other than oolong. White tea processing is so minimal and gentle, with this tea it is as though we taste the Shuixian varietal undressed, without any of the characteristics imparted by roasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese semi-wild trees grow in a dense, protected forest, where they were discovered by Mei on a foraging trip. The grove was planted in the 1970's, and has been growing untended in the mountains for over 20 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first thing we notice when drinking this tea is its unique mouthfeel: it is oily and grassy from the oolong varietal, yet has the refreshing sweetness and evenness of a white tea. The weight of the liquor is persistent, carrying a heady floral quality with it. It has a vanilla flavour on the finish that, combined with its sundried sweetness, approaches tasting like birthday cake. This chance encounter with an undressed Shuixian is certainly some kind of celebration.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44545105297688,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44545105330456,"sku":null,"price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":44922354467096,"sku":"","price":108.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A0894.jpg?v=1676494438"},{"product_id":"wild-ancient-white","title":"Ancient Wild White","description":"\u003cp\u003eMade from wild foraged pu'erh leaves, Mr. Tang crafted this tea for the first time in 2023, creating something we rarely see done with the leaves of ancient pu'erh trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese pu'erh trees were planted by the ancestors of local indigenous tribes over a thousand years ago, in a steep jungle terrain remote from any villages. Unlike cultivated tea trees, wild trees only sprout once each spring, making their single bursts of life particularly valued.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeaves are gathered at the beginning of spring, then processed very carefully to preserve as much of their enzymes and vitality as possible. To do this, Mr. Tang spreads them out on bamboo mats to wither, with rounds of gentle piling that initiate a subtle micro-fermentation. They dry naturally under the cool alpine sun and the dried leaves are stored in large clay jars for one month to deepen their aroma and taste. Then they are roasted over a gentle flame, using as little heat as possible, before being steam-pressed into small tea cakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bright green, paper thin tea cakes look as precious and refined as this tea truly is. The leaves revitalize instantly in the gaiwan, appearing as though they were picked yesterday. They smell tropical, like dehydrated pineapple and coconut nectar, and glow with colour. Tropical notes appear on the palate as well: we taste fresh longan and fruit peel, amidst a bouquet of roses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForaged in such an extreme landscape, this tea bears the markers of its wilderness. Mr. Tang has managed to preserve its wildness, something no cultivation could ever imitate, while producing one of the most elegant teas we carry. Its energetics feel both grounding and expansive, offering comfort and clarity in equal measure. This tea will last for around ten infusions, with all of its sweetness and unmediated presence intact.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":50853852741912,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":50853852774680,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251111_Cultivate_0028_WEB.jpg?v=1763226162"}],"url":"https:\/\/cultivatetea.com\/collections\/white\/style-wild.oembed","provider":"Cultivate Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}