Today is Haji (Summer Solstice), the heart of summer—the day when the sun rises highest and daylight lasts longest. After Haji, the real heat is said to begin. On this Sunday when solar energy peaks, even I—surprisingly an outdoorsy person—found my energy depleted today and took an unstimulating rest.
For days when appetite and stamina both flee, the fitting tea is Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle), the clearest of all white teas. Meaning “white-haired silver needle,” it’s a white tea made using only the young buds and tips of the tea leaf. Among all tea categories, it undergoes the least processing—a minimalist tea, so to speak.
The main process is withering the picked buds to some degree before drying them—neither artificially preventing oxidation like green tea, nor actively pushing oxidation like black tea. Yet it’s delicate and sweet, with subtle nuances of white flowers, honey, and herbs gently rising up. Said to have a cooling effect on body heat, it’s perfectly suited for welcoming summer.
These days, even running the dehumidifier all day, the water tank fills up before long. With sunlight, humidity, daylight hours, and bodily fatigue all intensifying, adding the stimulation of eating and drinking on top might just break us down easily.
But when crunching on ice alone feels insufficient, let’s revive ourselves with a cup of sweetly mellow white tea.
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