White Peony Tea

Last updated 2026-11-08 — Fujian Province’s Fuding County is renowned for producing White Peony Tea (one of China’s Top Ten Famous Teas). Legend has it that during the Western Han Dynasty, there was a prefect named Mao Yi who, disgusted by the corruption of greedy officials, resigned from his post and went into seclusion in the deep mountains with his mother. As they arrived before a verdant mountain, they were greeted by an intoxicating fragrance. Upon asking an elderly local, they learned that the scent came from eighteen white peonies by a lotus pond. The mother and son found the place to be like a paradise, so they decided to stay. One day, the mother fell ill due to old age and exhaustion. Mao Yi searched far and wide for medicine. One night, he dreamed of a silver-bearded immortal who told him, “To cure your mother’s illness, you must prepare carp with freshly picked tea leaves—both are essential.” Mao Yi believed this to be divine guidance. It was the dead of winter, so he broke the ice on the pond to catch carp, but where could he find fresh tea leaves in winter? Just as he was at a loss, the eighteen peonies miraculously transformed into eighteen tea bushes, covered in tender green buds and leaves. Mao Yi quickly picked the leaves, dried them, and the fuzzy, white-hairy tea leaves looked just like blooming white peonies. He immediately used the fresh tea to cook the carp for his mother, and her illness was miraculously cured. Ever since, the famous tea produced in this region has been called “White Peony Tea.”