Da Bai
Honeyed, hay-like, melon notes. The defining cultivar for Silver Needle white tea.
Da Bai (大白, "Big White") is the cultivar that produces authentic Chinese Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) white tea. The cultivar's distinguishing feature is unusually large, silver-downy buds — the "big white" name refers to the prominent white pekoe hair covering the bud and young leaf. Fuding county in Fujian is the canonical Da Bai growing region; Zhenghe county nearby produces a related but distinct sub-variety.
Fuding Da Bai produces lighter, more delicate Silver Needle with honeyed and melon notes. Zhenghe Da Bai produces a more substantial cup with deeper honey and slight tropical notes. Drinkers comparing the two often have strong preferences. Beyond Silver Needle, Da Bai material also produces Bai Mu Dan (White Peony) and the lower-tier Shou Mei and Gong Mei white tea grades when more developed leaves are harvested alongside buds.
Teas produced
Flavor signature
Growing regions
- Fuding (Fujian)
- Zhenghe (Fujian)
Origins where Da Bai grows
Brands likely carrying Da Bai
Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.