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Snow Buds

 
Last Updated: May. 1, 2014 

About Snow Buds

Loose-leaf green tea with many downy, silvery tips and rich green-yellow leavesLoose-leaf snow buds from Arbor Teas, showing the downy white hairs on the buds, and the curled shape of the leaf. Photo by Alex Zorach.
Snow buds, or xue ya(雪牙) in Chinese, is a relatively new type of tea, sharing characteristics of both white tea and green tea, and alternatively classified in both categories by different retailers. We classify it as a white tea as a rather arbitrary choice, because our category of white tea has fewer varieties listed in it.

According to Rishi Tea, this variety was developed in the 1980’s by blending some techniques from green tea and white tea production.[1] It is usually described as having a delicate aroma; the flavor shares attributes in common with Chinese green teas, and lighter white teas.

Like silver needle, snow buds consists mostly of buds, which have a downy appearance. The tea does contain some larger leaf though, which has a bolder green color. Compared to silver needle, the leaf tends to be more curled and wiry.

Other teas named xue ya or snow buds

Both the names "xue ya" and "snow buds" can also refer to a type of yellow tea. They can also refer to several types of green teas, including ones from Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Guizhou provinces.

References:

1. Snow Buds (Xue Ya), Organic White Tea, Rishi Tea Store, Retrieved Nov. 3, 2009.

Recent Snow Buds Reviews — RSS rss icon

73 / 100
Picture of Snow Buds Green Tea

Snow Buds Green Tea from Arbor Teas

Style: Snow Buds – Region: Fujian, China
Aug. 13th, 2014

Tastes to me like a fresh, light green tea, though I do feel like the white tea undertones gives it a fuller flavor. Very smooth, no bitterness, a nice cup of pure tea. Slightly floral in aroma. I think I may have used too little leaf for the first cup because my only complaint is that I'd like a slightly stronger cup....

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77 / 100
Picture of Snow Buds Green Tea

Snow Buds Green Tea from Arbor Teas

Style: Snow Buds – Region: Fujian, China
May. 12th, 2014

A delightful, light tea that tastes to me more like a delicate green tea than a white tea. I've tried two other snow buds or Xue Ya teas, and I think this is a prime example of this style.

Dry leaf is coarse and hairy, silvery.

Brews fairly slowly, as I'd expect for an intact, whole-leafed tea. I steeped for th...

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77 / 100
Picture of Snow Buds 1st Flush

Snow Buds 1st Flush from Rishi Tea

Style: Snow Buds – Region: Fujian, China
Aug. 13th, 2010

This is very similar to the Xue Ya I tried from Adagio, but I prefer this tea as it is richer and more full-bodied.

I find this to be a very grassy tea, more like green tea than white. It has a sharpness, a bite to it. The cup is quite astringent and pleasingly bitter, but the finish is sweet and has depth to it. ...

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73 / 100
Picture of Xue Ya Ballad

Xue Ya Ballad from Adagio Teas

Style: Snow Buds – Region: ?????
Nov. 5th, 2009

This is my favorite tea from Adagio so far. When brewed as recommended this tea is very light with a sweetness and some fruity tones. But I found it too thin this way.

I like brewing it much longer (8+ minutes) and with slightly warmer water (190-ish)...it comes out much stronger and more interesting...more grassy...

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Top Reviewers

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1Reviewer icon Alex Zorach330
2Reviewer icon Brytta Sóþword110

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Most-Rated Snow Buds

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Snow Buds Green Tea

Brand:Arbor Teas
Style:Snow Buds
Region:Fujian, China
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
2 Ratings
Picture of Snow Buds 1st Flush

Snow Buds 1st Flush

Brand:Rishi Tea
Style:Snow Buds
Region:Fujian, China
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
1 Rating
Picture of Xue Ya Ballad

Xue Ya Ballad

Brand:Adagio Teas
Style:Snow Buds
Region:?????
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Leaf:Loose
1 Rating

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