Yabao White

Our Yabao is a fascinating and thoroughly unusual tea from Lincang, Yunnan, which differs fundamentally from classic tea varieties. It is harvested from the unopened terminal buds of old, often wild-growing tea trees. Botanically, it often comes from Camellia taliensis or other wild varieties of the tea plant. This origin gives it a very special character, which is reflected both in its appearance and in its unique flavor profile. Visually, the buds themselves resemble small, firm pine cones with a scale-like structure and shimmer in a spectrum of white, silver, green, and violet.

The flavor experience of Ya Bao surprises, above all, those who associate a tea from Yunnan with the typically heavy, earthy nuances of a ripe Puerh or the malty sweetness of a Yunnan black tea. Instead, the infusion presents itself as extremely clean, clear, and with a refined lightness.

On the palate, a pronounced, natural sweetness unfolds immediately, strongly reminiscent of light, juicy fruits such as white peach, watermelon, or ripe grapes, paired with light floral and herbal notes. Since the winter buds contain hardly any catechins (i.e., bitter substances), the tea has practically no astringency. It remains completely mild even with very long steeping times or the use of boiling water and never becomes bitter.

What makes Ya Bao so special, besides its taste, is the interplay between visual simplicity and aromatic intensity. The color of the cup after brewing is almost colorless or pale yellow. In addition, Ya Bao is extremely forgiving and easy to handle.

Why did we include this in our shop?

Since we have noticed that the topic of caffeine and tea is very relevant for many of our customers, we looked for something that still comes from the tea plant, tastes very delicious, but offers a low-caffeine, almost caffeine-free option. That is when we came across Ya Bao. We prefer to drink it as a cold brew on warm summer days. It is also suitable for late evenings, as it is very low in caffeine.

Origin: Yunnan, China

Harvest: Spring 2026

Contents: 40 grams

Best before: see packaging

Store in a cool, dry place away from light