WHITE TEA PERFECTION - Finding PINNACLE tea in China (FUJIAN TEA TRIP PART 2)

Finding the best tea on the planet is our mission every year. Expensive Silver Needle White Tea is sold everywhere but is commonly sold for looks rather than taste. So we travelled to Fujian to search for authentic, traditionally crafted White Tea to add to the Mei Leaf collection.
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[@heather9857]

I'm only a little over 5 minutes in, but I had to pause and make a comment. When Don said "traditional crafts" and was speaking about the tea industry being more and more influenced by robotics and automation, my mind went in so many directions. I loved the video on tea and autism. I myself am a mental health disorder survivor (#realOCD) caused by childhood trauma. I do not believe that the ramp up of technology is benefiting our mental or physical health. I am not anti technology or anti progress but I do believe we are going in the wrong direction. So back to when Don said "traditional crafts" it hit me how important it is for us to keep those traditions, pass it on to other generations and enrich each other's lives. Whether it's art, food, tea :), music, creative writing, real books (and how they smell!), etc. etc. we should support traditional crafts before they are lost. I love that Mei Leaf works so hard and has a strong commitment to these traditions

[@FaceEatingOwl]

I totally agree. I myself have Aspergers and am really creatively minded, but it is so hard to pick up a craft or make any money with it these days. I think a lot of depression etc could be lessened if people had jobs where they felt valued and that their efforts were appreciated and meant something. People on the whole just don't get job satisfaction anymore and I think it is having a massive impact. People are not human resources! Pay people properly. Reward hard work properly. Ban zero hour contracts. Go back to smaller companies that want to create amazing products and have to, to survive. Instead of huge corporations pumping out miserably made merde, watching their profits and milking every penny out of everything, rather than putting out passionately made quality.

[@johnminney3758]

Hey Don. It’s John from Sunny California. The odds of my being able to visit your tea shop are slim so I was wondering if you could do a video of what happens when someone orders tea from you at the shop. I’m mainly curious about the way you serve gong fu style tea to a customer. Thank you for the wonderful videos and the delicious tea

[@teaandphysics3846]

Ohh I would so love that, as my chances are also fairly slim of getting there

[@aminboumerdassi2334]

You place the order, they collect the desired items either in-store or in the warehouse, package it and send it off along with a cool free tea sticker and usually email a link to track the delivery

[@teaandphysics3846]

@@aminboumerdassi2334 um I think we both ment the situation in the tea house. But thanks anyways💞

[@aminboumerdassi2334]

@@teaandphysics3846 ohhh!😅 you choose a tea and they give you a choice of three ways to brew: western, basic or true tea(gongfu) and they bring out the equipment and hot water to your table. It's pretty much just like making tea at home but in a different environment. You can also order cocktails and ice and cold brews

[@teaandphysics3846]

@@aminboumerdassi2334 ohh that sounds so cool! I wish I could go there 😍

[@mariannefleur6671]

Dear Don, This was one of the most exciting videos to date. I really loved the tour of the Taimushan tea factory and the visit to the two passionate young tea producers out to combine knowledge and heritage to make the best white tea out there. The “resting” phase is fantastic. Just ordered my pouch and baimudan flight box. Looking forward to the charcoal roasted and well-rested experience. I remember the first Yingzhen from you from back in 2017 or something, it was from Fuding if I remember correctly and very smooth, thick, and mellow without the overwhelming sweetness or grassy greeness of other Silver Needles since/ from other provinces. Your tasting description of this one seems very promising. Looking forward to trying some and leaving some for aging & sharing. Take care & long live passionate craftsmanship and spirit of experimentation in the tea industry. Hope that never gets standardized away.

[@TheClyde1993]

The beginning was so cute! Genuinely put a smile on my face. Lot's of love for you Don and Celine.

[@brotomann]

I wish we could try Mr. Ling's Bai Mu Dan. I find I'm usually much happier with the quality at the price of BMD than I am of Yin Zhen. I prefer the warmer spicier flavours when it comes to white tea.

[@samaritan29]

This is a very clever reference to Don Mei from the local cult Mei Leaf. You see: when you step into the vast world of drinking white tea, you're not going any old place. You're coming to the underground fight club of flavour. Prepare for your taste buds to be battered. But don't worry, after you've spent your newbie time keeping your cakes in your dusty cabinet, you'll have joined the ranks of the tealite. Then you'll see the world for what it truly is. All those people going around without a cup of tea in their hand and a gaiwan in their back pocket. You'll hate it. You'll become just like him. And you'll start loving it. The power of aged bai mudan's absolutely unbridled cha qi. It'll become a high you chase, constantly sipping and tasting. You'll finally be a Don. An awakening of your sense of taste.

[@jimmyhsp]

this is one of the highest quality videos i've ever seen.

[@NoelleLocke]

These videos are SO incredibly educational and HELPFUL in understanding tea better--thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all who help make this video available to us out here in KZbin land!

[@mr.valinch]

Great approach, Don, to find craft produced tea! World needs craft, not roboters! Great video and work!

[@wanderingteaapprentice]

I have got to try more white teas.

[@livertine504]

As some others already mentioned also my thoughts immediately start to spread into so many direction but fist and foremost a BIG THANK YOU for all the effort and passion you let us being a part of. Those videos about detailed insights and like being their with you are worth a million. I am not sure if I ever will get the chance to see these production sides for real but at least I can watch you videos to revisit them. About my thoughts: It's not only China but especially there that modern and everything being fancy and showing a certain wealth seems to be the major important aspect of being successful. I find it really sad that old techniques and also craftsmanship are dying with all those modernizations. I am definitely not a fan of those modern standards. Because there is no heart in it - it not only loses in terms of quality but also like you said this special extra which comes with the passion and heart made by hand. I understand that within a country where most of the people struggled because of pure living conditions for a long time money seems to be the ultimate thing and goal. But money is by far not the most important thing in the world. If we keep on focusing on money further on soon we'll lose not only skills, individuality, freedom, heart, passion and craftsmanship we'll lose ourselves in the end.

[@BreadTubeOfficial]

*"Wholesome, the two of you are!"*

[@mario7027]

Roasted Silver Needle, what a treat! 😋 That's gonna be the most expensive tea I've ever tried, at over £1/g 💸💸💸and 6 other new white teas! Well, my bank account is not empty just yet... oh well, JUST TAKE ALL MY MONEY AND GIVE ME ALL THE TEAS 😂😂😂

[@changfachou]

Please never stop making these amazing videos.

[@Lau_rao]

I was waitin for this 😍😍😍 thank you

[@katanasakura5285]

This is amazing. It makes me feel so happy.thx a lot

[@20thcenturyboy85]

Super Pro video! Thank You!

[@dnmotley]

Usually, the smaller packets are a bit more expensive per gram, and the larger pouches a bit less, but for this Heirloom Silver Needle it's the other way around. How come?

[@MeiLeaf]

Ah typo! The pack size should be 20g not 30g we will honour any tea purchased before 3pm UK today and ship 30g instead of 20g.

[@xiyucollector5350]

Handmade, dry under the sun--It has to be kept! Quality is the first and it is definitely different taste with the machine.

[@umiteasets]

When brewed it, it give a very pale, champagne-coloured liquor that has a very light, soft, sweet, velvety flavour.

[@jang.1185]

Hello, nice video, thanks :) I am glad that you find somebody who still cares for the final product. I think that the market will stabilize itself in the future. Because I have already got some experiences, I am searching for what I want. And if such products or such quality will not be available or affordable - yeah, I will switch to something else. We have great vine, beer, possibly new good tea will appear from different places all over the world. I can also make interesting things like liquors - the best I made was rose hip liquor and the walnut liquor - if you drink it in apropriate volumes (which means not much :) ) it has also good health benefits. And yes - also good quality coffe is here for us :D I would like to tell i to the commercial tea producers, or producers who are swithing to commercial production. But they would not be listening. Of course they woudn't, because they think they are doing the right thing - this is an issue which nothing else but an experience can change.

[@ronniesodhi2070]

LMAO! Who wakes up instantly hungry? "Get me some food first!"

[@dnmotley]

A pregnant lady, that's who. She's eating for two, and you'd better feed her pronto.

[@desertfox432]

Great video! Stash some of that charcoal roast and age it yourself for a future in house Jade Star.

[@carpegodi1]

I can´t do any pressure to the producers. You Mei Leaf you have to speak for me/us. If I buy my tea from you you have to be my voice. So I love traditional white tea, so please be my voice.

[@bigz8708]

Do you know when you might get some more of the silver needle from this tea plantation again? Love your videos keep up the amazing work!

[@MeiLeaf]

Yes. Heirloom Silver Needle is from these producers. We have 2021 harvest coming.

[@Ace_x_adi]

You are right sir totally agree

[@joetexas1546]

(Don) 'I betcha that Joseph dude gets yet another Tea! (Celine) Naw-No way-he will stop here! (me) Let me surrender at the wall of the Tea gods-bought a pouch-i am such a weakling.

[@arunavagreen]

Thank you

[@SnoopyholicsTealog]

Thank you very much again for great videos! :) yeah.....I am sad about price is going to sky.....as a person with thin wallet.... :(

[@dumbalek6001]

qualitea and varietea in this facilitea !

[@TheCynthiaRice]

Who is the lady to your left? Your translator?

[@mariamalisayivlztewasz5056]

I am speaking from Bangladesh, I am working on green tea white. May I know where you are speaking from

Does Don not speak chinese? I always thought he did. Anyway, great video as always

[@mrcvry]

China is large. It is like saying „Does he speak European?“ and China has even much more languages and dialects.

[@vgamedude12]

@@mrcvry yhats just being anal. You know when people say that they mean mandarin and standardized chinese

[@UnubtaniumTheCyborg]

Got me a small packet of Heirloom Silver Needle, can not wait to try it.. Else, thanks for doing the videos and giving out all this high grade information about tea! Will Deff pop by your shop in Camden.. :D (London here so yea lucky that way.But not for wallet XD )

[@sedatkars7589]

Türkçe altyazı neden yok?

[@sarahwood9858]

This is coming from Aaron Moore. The prices are to high there is going to be a problem. I’ve been drinking tea for a little while 6-7 years. With prices constantly rising I feel it’s going to be good idea to quit. How can people take something that is beneficial to humans and treat in such a manor. I can understand cigars because the people rolling them injure themselves. Money can not compensate for life, but tea can. In this time of new awareness I hope people are happy with there decisions

[@sadadswwasdsad8943]

Is gong mei considered a low quality tea? just bought a teacake

[@sarahwood9858]

Their*

[@joetexas1546]

Tea is just so expensive-i’m switching to coffee! jk

[@MeiLeaf]

This one is a bit crazy but that's the trend with Whites!

[@utopiadaniele]

Coffee, when one explores craft single origin coffees, can be very expensive too!!! Have a look at the prices of a Panama Geisha and see if it doesn’t exceed Yin Zhen! These white teas of course benefit of the fashion and they cost more than they should, as Don so clearly explained. Thanks for the beautiful series of videos!!!

[@janegarnham]

p

[@Lau_rao]

Poor celine 🤣

[@dnmotley]

So right. What a naughty husband to wake her up with a camera in her face. 🧐

[@Lau_rao]

@@dnmotley 😂 and he offers her tea instead of food

[@agskater1914]

Do these producers have social media?

[@forteandblues]

Lol is that how that pronounce “nougat” in GB?

[@_Brohan]

:( this is a sad development i hope reverses around in the coming decades. better tea, and most everything, is made with human hands, and the sun!

[@ehayes7849]

Don ...are you being hygienic when you caress and stick your nose in the leaves at their different stages? I am cringing - had you washed your hands since holding that umbrella and where was your hair net?

[@MeiLeaf]

Any specialty tea that you buy will have been touched by dozens of hands before eit reaches the market, this is the nature of tea production.

[@lapsusfreudien]

1) Whilst I agree with Don in principle, those of us in affluent western worlds tend to romanticise the virtue of "artisanal" craftmanship and the sanctity of "terroir". Your personal bias was clear in Part 1 of the video, clouding your judgment of teas produced by intense mechanisation, which is obviously legitimate; it's your video. But I do wonder how justifiable... 2) China is an ancient civilisation, so I tend to give them credit for knowing how to adapt to the changing world and challenges over the past few millennia, whilst maintaining some core principles. Like the saying "竹子長的越高,會彎的越低", I would keep an open mind to new ways of doing things.