Our own gushu (ancient trees) Yueguangbai 月光白 white tea harvested and han-crafted in Spring 2026 is again an outstanding witness of the powerful taste that time impresses on tea leaves. At every new harvest this white tea brings flavor complexity and depth to our cups.
Harvested from our ancient tea trees that have stood for over three centuries in the forest of Lunan mountain, this white tea is a reflection of time, strength, and quiet resilience. Season after season, these trees have shaped a personality that now pours into every cup.
In the flavor profile of 2026 gushu Yueguangbai we find the great depth and clarity of previous years, with a long-lasting, nectar-like sweetness that evokes notes of ripe papaya and stone fruit. Round and smooth in the mouthfeel, with floral undertones emerging in the prominent dark honey taste, making it sweet and refreshing at the same time.
The local cultivar, Menghai Dayezhong 勐海大叶种, famous for the strength it brings to pu’er, here shows its softer side. That power hasn’t disappeared; it’s transformed into a lingering sweetness, and a subtle aftertaste of agarwood and lilies, that stays with you long after drinking the golden liquor. This is a tea that shines in any season, vibrant enough to be enjoyed young, or it can be aged, allowing time to create an even richer and more complex treasure.
The optimal weather and environmental conditions of 2026 climate, allowed these leaves to grow with gentle sun and consistent fog. The good balance of sunny days that preceded and followed the harvest time, allowed the leaves to store less catechins and produce more aminoacids, translating in less astringency and more fragrance in the taste of the tea. Moreover, the Yunnanes traditional sun-drying of tea leaves was flawless, gifting all our Yueguangbai and Pu'er tea with a long ageing life and great maturing potential.
For more informations about 2026 harvest, read our insightful tale of this season.
Farmed, harvested, processed, and distributed by Eastern Leaves.
Plantation altitude: 1850 meters
Origin: Lunan Mountain, Xishuangbanna prefecture, Southwest Yunnan.
Production date: early spring 2026
Pressed on: May 21st 2026
Storage: avoid heat, light, and moisture.
Infusion Parameters
EASTERN BREWING
Quantity: 1 gr. of tea for every 30 ml of water
Rinse: before starting the infusion, rinse the leaves with a very fast washing in order to let them rehydrate and release a more intense brew. Gently cover the leaves with warm water and pour it after a few seconds.
Brewing time: Begin with a 30/40 seconds brew. Increase by 10 seconds with each successive brew.
Water temperature: 85-90°C
Number of brews: 10
WESTERN BREWING
Quantity: 1 gr. of tea every 100 ml of water
Brewing time: 2-3 minutes
Water temperature: 85-90°C
COLD BREW
Quantity: 1 gr. of tea every 100 ml of water
Brewing: put the tea leaves in room temperature water and steep for 4-5 hours, or in the fridge for 8-9 hours. Filter the liquor and drink within 24 hours.
