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Bai Mu Dan (White Peony)

白牡丹, White Peony

8.2/10 editor's score

White tea of a bud with two young leaves, from Fujian. Fuller than Silver Needle, softly sweet and easy to brew.

GentleAgeableFujian
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Bai Mu Dan (White Peony), top-down

What you need

2.5 g leafBai Mu Dan (White Peony)
250 ml water85 to 90°C
Steep 3:002 steeps
LiquorPale gold to apricot
Served inGaiwan (lidded bowl)

At a glance

White tea of a bud with two young leaves, from Fujian.

CaffeineLow to medium~15 to 35 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit9.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestSpringThe main picking.
Pairs withFruit, Soft cheese, Almond cakeLess good with very spicy food
Grown atCoastal hillsFuding, Fujian
Served inGaiwan (lidded bowl)Porcelain bowl, lid and saucer

About Bai Mu Dan (White Peony)

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe a fuller white tea than Silver Needle, with the taste shaped by long withering and brief oxidation 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

FudingFujianCHINA
Pick
One bud and two young leaves 1
Cultivars
Fuding Da Bai and Zhenghe Da Bai 1
Process
Long sun-withering, brief piling 1
Styles
Fuding and Zhenghe 1

More from Fuding and China.

History and culture

Bai Mu Dan is one of the classic white teas of Fujian 1.

Editor's score

8.2/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 8.0Origin & heritage: 8.5Availability: 8.0Value: 8.5Beginner-friendliness: 9.0Versatility: 7.5Flavour 8.0Heritage 8.5Availability 8.0Value 8.5Beginners 9.0Versatility 7.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg
Bai Mu Dan (White Peony)~15 to 35 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Bai Mu Dan is a spring tea. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Da Bai (Big White) cultivars: Fuding Da Bai in the east, Zhenghe Da Bai in the north 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

Bud and two leaves 1.

02Withering

Long, in sun and shade 1.

03Piling

Brief oxidation 1.

04Drying

Gentle.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafSilver buds among green and brown leaves.
LiquorPale gold to apricot.
After steeping
Wet leafSoft green and tan leaves.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Fruit
  • Soft cheese
  • Almond cake

Best avoided

  • Very spicy food

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Grades depend on bud share: more buds, higher grade.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Pressed cakes are made for ageing.
  2. Look for the year and Fuding or Zhenghe.
FAQ
Bai Mu Dan or Silver Needle?

Silver Needle is buds only. Bai Mu Dan adds young leaves and is fuller.

Find it inWhite teasTeas from ChinaFudingGentleAgeableFujian

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Baimudan tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baimudan_tea
  2. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.