Fuding White Tea: Flowers bloom within the wall—and their fragrance spreads far beyond, both inside and out.

　　June 8, West Lake Longjing Information Platform: Luo Shaojun, former member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Director of the National Tea Quality Inspection Center, often emphasizes that Fuding white tea belongs to the category of "flowers blooming within the wall yet fragrant beyond." In the preface to her book *Fuding White Tea*, she writes: "Since ancient times, there have been numerous records highlighting white tea's cooling, detoxifying, and restorative properties—particularly its effectiveness in treating and caring for patients suffering from measles. As a result, early overseas Chinese immigrants relied on white tea as an essential remedy to combat discomfort caused by unfamiliar environments and climates, making it a cherished health staple both at home and abroad. Today, with advancements in science and medicine, Western medical circles have once again confirmed white tea’s remarkable ability to aid in detoxification, cancer prevention, and even cancer treatment as a complementary therapy. Consequently, among China’s traditional export teas, white tea is widely regarded as one of the most health-promoting varieties—and it now holds a significant position in international markets."

　　On June 16, 2012, Professor Liu Zhonghua from Hunan Agricultural University, speaking at the launch event titled "Science Unveils the Health Benefits of Fuding White Tea" held in Beijing, shared that when he was a student in the Department of Tea Science, he had come across foreign reports highlighting white tea's health-promoting properties—but at the time, he had no idea what white tea actually was. This, he noted, clearly demonstrated how few people in China were even aware of white tea back then.

　　Tea expert Zhuang Ren discusses in *The Chinese Book of Tea* as follows: White tea began being exported as early as 1891, reaching its peak between 1912 and 1916, when the counties of Fuding and Zhenghe each produced 1,000 dan annually. However, from 1917 to 1921, the outbreak of World War I severely disrupted sales channels, causing production to plummet dramatically. In the past four decades, however, Silver Needle production has remained stubbornly low, hovering between just a few hundred kilograms and around one ton per year—making it an exceedingly rare and prized delicacy. Today, Silver Needle Baihao is primarily marketed in Hong Kong and Macau, while also finding its way to markets in Germany and the United States. In 1968, Fujian Province’s Bailin Tea Factory introduced a new processing method for white tea to meet the growing demand from consumers in Hong Kong. By 1969, the factory had officially begun producing 1,000 dan of this specialty tea, scaling up to 1,500 dan by 1979—and since then, annual output has steadily risen to 2,000 dan.

　　In 1963, Zhang Tianfu noted in his study "Investigation and Research on Fuding White Tea": "While white tea production may seem straightforward—simply involving withering and drying—it is actually quite complex and not easy to master. Locals have observed that making white tea carries significant risks: in spring, there’s concern about the leaves turning black; in summer, they might turn red. Yet, surprisingly, the same tea leaves used for producing black or green teas can fetch top-tier prices, whereas white tea often sells only at a second-grade level—resulting in a price difference of several dozen yuan. Moreover, harvesting white tea requires more labor but yields far less product. To overcome these challenges, we must break free from the mindset of relying solely on nature and embrace bold innovation in both thinking and execution. Moving forward, it would be wise to focus research efforts specifically on improving the withering process through controlled heating methods. Currently, with global demand for white tea outstripping supply, I recommend repurposing some of the large-leaf red tea and Narcissus tea areas to produce white tea, thereby meeting the growing export needs."

　　Judging from the situation at the time, white tea itself was produced in very limited quantities. It was primarily exported through foreign trade to earn foreign exchange, which is why white tea was rarely seen domestically. According to local historical records from Fuding that the author has reviewed, white tea production was extremely scarce and mainly destined for export. Some local tea farmers in Fuding would carefully keep a small stash of Bai Hao Yin Zhen, using it regularly to help clear heat, detoxify the body, relieve digestive discomfort, and even treat childhood illnesses like measles and colds.

　　With the advancement of modern technology, white tea production has entered a new era of development. Traditionally, Fuding white tea could only be produced using sun-withering techniques; today, however, producers are leveraging innovative methods such as composite withering, indoor sun-withering, and indoor hot-air withering—enabling seamless, "no-touch" production of white tea. Several leading tea companies in Fuding, including Pinpinxiang, Tianhu, Yinlong, Fangming, and Good Tea Industry, are actively investing in developing proprietary technologies for white tea production. As a result, Fuding white tea now boasts remarkable improvements in both yield and quality. These companies are also deeply committed to building strong brand identities for Fuding white tea, making it readily available in major cities across China today.

　　Previously, international research institutions studied the health benefits of white tea; now, domestic organizations are also actively joining in the investigation of Fuding white tea's wellness properties. For instance, Researcher Han Chi leads the Food Toxicology Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Toxicology in exploring white tea's effects on immunity and blood sugar reduction, while Liu Zhonghua heads a collaborative effort involving five leading domestic research institutes to delve deeper into the health-promoting benefits of white tea.

　　In fact, the day has come when Fuding white tea not only blossoms within its own walls but also fills both the inside and outside with its fragrant aroma.