Chinese yellow tea is a rare variety with a long history, made from a carefully picked, downy single bud and its adjacent tiny leaves. As the name suggests, both the dry leaves and the infusion are yellow, acquired by an extra processing step during which the leaves are gently baked over a charcoal fire. This brings about complex and subtle changes, softening the grassy and bitter taste that some green teas have and creating a mellow, aromatic cup.

If yellow tea isn’t available, you can substitute green tea, but the dish will have a slightly different flavor. If you’re not vegan, poached shrimp or eggs make a nice addition.