Definition: Tea buds (also known as "tips") are the small, unopened leaves of the tea plant. Despite the name, buds do not form flowers. They are often considered to be better quality than the larger, older leaves of the plant and they cost more due to their heightened harvest/production cost. When a grade of tea has many buds, it is called "tippy." Some tealeaves (such as Silver Needle white tea) are made entirely of buds.
Also Known As: tips
