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Green tea

Nannuo Baihao

南糯白毫Nan Nuo Bai Hao · Nannuo White Hairs

Nannuo Baihao is a Nannuo Mountain tea reference preserved here under the earlier green-tea profile. Baihao describes white hairs, not a white-tea process. Its historical drying method has conflicting accounts; the name should not automatically be used as a synonym for every modern Nannuo pu-erh.

By TeaPlain · Updated

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Dry-leaf reference photograph for the Nannuo Baihao guide
Dry-leaf illustration · Nannuo Baihao
All sections in this tea guide

At a glance

Nannuo Baihao is a Nannuo Mountain tea reference preserved here under the earlier green-tea profile. Baihao describes white hairs, not a white-tea process. Its historical drying method has conflicting accounts; the name should not automatically be used as a synonym for every modern Nannuo pu-erh.

Detail What to know
Chinese name 南糯白毫
Tea family Green tea
Associated origin Nannuo Mountain, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
Leaf form Substantial, tightly worked strands with visible white hairs

Taste and appearance

The original tiers describe tight, substantial strands with visible tips and white hairs, tender-green colour, yellow-green bright liquor and rich clean fragrance. Taste is full, mellow and brisk. The older honey-like aroma comparison for ancient-tree material is a sensory/provenance account, not proof of tree age or an added ingredient.

The original liquor and infused-leaf photograph is withheld because identical pixels were assigned to another tea name. Its named identity could not be confirmed; the original file is preserved.

The cover is the original dry-leaf illustration. These images are not TeaPlain tasting samples or proof of origin, grade, age, authenticity or image rights clearance.

Grade characteristics

This preserves the earlier Chinese edition’s sensory comparison. It is not a complete verified current standard table and does not grade your packet. Plant material, growing area, processing and grade are separate details. Decorative star rankings are omitted.

On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the grades.

Feature Extra grade Grade 1 Grade 2
Dry-leaf shape Tight, substantial strands with tips and visible white hairs Tight, fairly substantial strands with tips and visible white hairs Tight, fairly substantial strands with tips
Dry-leaf colour Tender green Tender green Tender green
Liquor Yellow-green and bright Yellow-green, fairly bright Yellow-green
Aroma Rich and lasting clean fragrance Pure clean fragrance Clean fragrance, fairly lasting
Taste Full, mellow and brisk Full and fairly mellow Full and brisk
Infused leaves Tender, even, intact bud-and-leaf sets Tender and even, fairly intact sets Tender and even

The three original sensory tiers are retained as an earlier editorial comparison, not a verified current specification for every maker.

Names and origin

The earlier article associates it with Nannuo Mountain in Menghai and gives 1981 as the development date, with large-leaf material and an opening bud-and-leaf picking. A reviewed investigation reports both earlier development accounts and 1981 completion, with conflicting recollections of pan, sun and baking drying. It explicitly acknowledges missing surviving samples. Retain the old baked-green description and illustrated baking step as this article’s record, not a resolved universal history. The old Dai bamboo-shoot-sauce name explanation is a naming account, not an ingredient statement.

Everyday benefits

Brewed without added sugar, this is an ordinary tea drink that can be an alternative to sweetened drinks and contribute to fluid intake. It contains caffeine. These everyday properties do not establish that this named tea treats disease, lowers blood sugar or improves sleep. No TeaPlain clinical or brewing test is claimed here.

Who may enjoy this tea

It may suit someone exploring Nannuo Baihao through its described flavour and leaf form. Compare an actual packet and complete preparation rather than a historical ranking or medical promise.

When to take care

  • Caffeine sensitivity or sleep problems: consider your total intake and timing if tea affects your sleep. A pale infusion is not a caffeine-free claim.
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding or medicines: ask a clinician or pharmacist about your actual product, caffeine intake and relevant medicine instructions.
  • Iron supplements: follow the medicine’s instructions about separating tea from the dose. Do not use tea as treatment for anaemia.

These are product and individual considerations, not a blanket ban based on traditional “hot” or “cold” labels, age, sex or a constitution category.

How to brew

Original prose: heat-safe glass

The earlier method uses a heat-safe glass, 1:50 tea-to-water ratio and 85–90°C / 185–194°F water. It says to refill when about one-third of the liquid remains, and describes roughly three infusions/refills. It supplies no first steeping time. Keep the retained illustration’s method separate below.

Detail Original prose with an explicit ratio example
Tea 3 g Nannuo Baihao as an editorial arithmetic example
Actual water 150 mL / about 5.1 US fl oz, measured water; 3 g at 1:50
Vessel Heat-safe glass with room for the leaves and actual water
Water temperature 85–90°C / 185–194°F
First drinking infusion No first steeping time recorded in the prose; follow a complete packet method
Refill At about one-third liquid remaining; refilling is different from a full fresh measured batch

These inherited directions and explicit ratio examples are awaiting hands-on testing. Nominal vessel capacity and a drawn fill fraction do not measure actual water. Three repeat cups is not a guarantee of equal strength. If leaves remain in the glass, extraction continues; transfer or strain if the cup becomes too strong. Let the drink cool enough to sip.

Read the original illustration separately

The original graphic uses a heat-safe glass, 3 g, 85°C / 185°F and 1:50, implying 150 mL actual water by arithmetic. Start with water to one-third of the glass, gently swirl, then fill to seven-tenths and leave 2–3 minutes. Refill at about one-third remaining; it describes roughly three infusions. No vessel capacity is stated. The drawn fill fraction does not independently measure the water volume.

Original Chinese-labelled Nannuo Baihao brewing illustration with English conditions
Original Chinese brewing illustrationOriginal graphic: heat-safe glass, 3 g, 85°C, 1:50 (150 mL by arithmetic), initial one-third water, gentle swirl, seven-tenths fill, 2–3 minutes; refill at one-third remaining. Capacity not supplied.

For ordinary teaware options, see brew without a gaiwan. Keep each complete method together instead of selecting temperature, dose and time from different preparations.

Adjust your cup

What you notice One change to try
Too strong, bitter or drying Separate the liquid from the leaves; shorten contact time or use less tea next time
Weak or watery Keep the measured water fixed and try a longer infusion before changing the leaf dose
Later infusions become stronger Check whether liquid was left sitting with the leaves
Different from a flavour description Compare the actual product and method; a description is not a promise for every cup

Change one variable at a time. For a fuller sequence, see fix a disappointing first cup.

How to buy

Ask for maker, actual garden, harvest, material and drying method. The old ancient-tree and honey-fragrance wording cannot authenticate tree age or make every modern Nannuo product equivalent to the historical named tea.

See buy your first Chinese tea for packet comparisons.

China price reference

Undated figures retained from the Chinese edition, in Chinese yuan (CNY). No original brand, batch, harvest or quotation date was recorded. These are not verified current retail quotes, a market average or manufacturer-suggested retail prices.

Chinese-edition tier CNY per 500 g (one jin) Equivalent CNY per 100 g
Extra grade 450 90
Grade 1 300 60
Grade 2 230 46

Per 100 g is an arithmetic conversion, not a quoted packet. Do not infer a missing sensory or price tier. Compare actual growing area, style, harvest, roast, weight and channel. A currency conversion does not make a UK or US retail offer comparable to a China historical figure.

How to store

Original storage method

The original method places green tea in a closed foil pouch, gently removes excess air, then puts the pouch inside a lidded iron or tin container upright for refrigerated storage, protected from light, moisture and smells. Check that a paper pouch is actually lined and moisture resistant; plain paper alone is not an airtight moisture barrier.

Its general reference was 12 months, with storage below 10°C / 50°F and below 50% relative humidity. It also described a cool, shaded room-temperature option for tea expected to be finished within two months. These are inherited conditions, not a verified expiry or a remaining-life prediction for an opened packet. Follow the actual maker’s label, package and specified conditions first.

In a UK or US kitchen

If following a product’s cold-storage directions, keep the pack sealed against fridge moisture and food smells, and let it warm while still sealed before opening. Keep a working portion away from the hob or stove, dishwasher steam, sunlight and spices; reseal after use. Do not apply a refrigerator recipe to another tea automatically. See storing an opened packet for handling.

The original green-tea handling note keeps a separate one-to-two-week working portion to avoid repeatedly warming and opening the bulk cold pack. Portion in dry conditions and seal each pack.

Origin, processing and history

The original map shows picking, spreading, heat fixing, rolling and baking dry. Historical interviews disagree about whether different periods used sun drying, pan drying or baking; this image is retained as the earlier article’s version, not a resolution of all historical making. Do not turn it into a recommendation to age every current pack as pu-erh.

Original Chinese-labelled Nannuo Baihao process illustration
Original process illustrationOriginal map: picking, spreading, heat fixing, rolling and baking dry. Retained article version; conflicting historical drying accounts remain unresolved.

Common questions

Does Baihao make this white tea, or does Nannuo make it automatically pu-erh?

Neither name alone settles the processing. This entry preserves the earlier green-tea profile; historical drying accounts conflict and the same mountain also supplies other products. Check what the actual maker produced rather than classifying by a mountain name or visible hairs.

Can I move one number from this recipe into a different vessel?

Keep leaf form, measured dose and actual water, temperature, timing and separation together. Nominal capacity or a fill fraction is not a measured ratio.

Compare Lvbaoshi Green Tea, or browse the green tea overview.

Editorial notes and updates

Updated 16 October 2026. Valid original descriptions, sensory comparisons, prose and image methods, storage handling, China price figures and usable pictures are retained with their scope. Doubtful medical, ranking and exact historical claims are revised or omitted. Current full grade clauses and historical prices are not certified. Original Chinese-labelled graphics have English reading notes; no TeaPlain tasting or brewing test is claimed. Internal research and image audits record the decisions.