2020 Guanyang Silver Needle White Tea

Silver needle white tea, the epitome and pinnacle of white tea. Classed as the highest grade of white tea out there, this type of tea is nuanced, easy drinking, yet packed full of what the Chinese call "haoxiang" (毫香), a certain flavour caused by the trichomes (white hairs) on the buds of the tea leaves. Silver needles consist only of buds, while other lower grades like white peony or shou mei consist of buds and leaves. It is important to note that the classification of grade here is not an indicator of quality, but of the picking standard of the tea, which in turn affects the taste and character of the tea. Silver needles have a greater haoxiang taste, while Shou Mei has a greater sweetness to it.

So, what if we combine the best of both worlds. What if we have a tea that tastes simultaneously sweet and packed with the haoxiang flavour? The result is our 2020 Guanyang Silver Needle White Tea. Aged for 5 years, the tea starts to present itself with sweetness and herbaceousness in the mouth, before that punch of trichomial flavours kick in. Made from 28 year old tea trees near Guanyang Town, one of the famous towns for the production of Fuding white tea, this tea really is a treat, with a complexity like no other silver needle.

There is a traditional Chinese saying “一年茶，三年药，七年宝” which means “A tea in its first year, a medicine by the third, a treasure by the seventh”, often used to describe White tea and its aging value. Try this specialty wonder today!

Tea Information

• Harvest Date: 12th March 2020
• Origin: Chayang Village, Guanyang Town, Fuding City, Ningde Prefecture, Fujian Province, China (中国，福建省，宁德市，福鼎市，管阳镇，茶阳村)
• Varietal: 28 Year Old Trees Da Bai (大白)
• Elevation: 710m
• Source: Directly from Farmer
• Organic?: Unknown

Map

Brewing Guide

Gongfu Brewing:

• Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/100ml
• Temperature: 90°C/194°F
• Steeping time: 30s, +15s for each subsequent steep

Western Brewing:

• Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/400ml
• Temperature: 90°C/194°F
• Steeping time: 3m, +1m for each subsequent steep

Grandpa Style:

• Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/300ml
• Temperature: 90°C/194°F
• Steeping time: 2m30s, top up to taste

Don't know anything about these brewing styles? Fret not! Read our "How to Brew Chinese Tea" article here!

* Ultimately, experiment with the different parameters to find what works for you. If you think it's too bitter, reduce the temperature. If it's too strong, reduce the number of leaves used. This is just a guide with rough parameters to get you started.