Yellow tea vs white tea

Two small categories often grouped as 'the delicate ones', made by opposite philosophies — one adds a step, the other removes them all.

tea type

What is being compared

Point by point

AspectYellow teaWhite tea
ProcessingGreen tea plus a slow smothering step.Withering and drying, with nothing else.
What the extra step doesRemoves grassiness and rounds the tea.Not applicable — there is no extra step.
FlavourMellow, sweet and grain-like.Hay, melon and light honey.
RarityVery rare, and the step is often omitted.Not rare, though good grades are.

The short answer

Yellow tea is closer to green tea than to white. Grouping them by delicacy hides that one is a green tea refined and the other is barely processed at all.

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