Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) White Tea, 100g

Silver Needle, or Bai Hao Yin Zhen, is one of the most refined expressions of white tea. Traditionally associated with Fujian, China, it is made only from young unopened buds covered in fine silver-white down, which gives the tea its distinctive appearance and remarkable delicacy. The result is a tea that feels pure, elegant, and precise rather than loud. 

In the cup, Silver Needle is soft, silky, and light-gold in tone. Its taste tends toward sweet hay, young blossom, mild honey, and delicate floral notes, often with a fresh clarity that can recall melon, cucumber, or a faint creamy softness depending on the lot and the infusion style.

What makes this tea special is not intensity, but purity of material and restraint in processing. Because Silver Needle is composed only of buds and is minimally processed, it preserves a clean, airy, highly elegant character that white tea is prized for. It is especially suited to those who appreciate teas with softness, precision, and a long, quiet finish rather than overt strength.

Taste profile

Expect a cup that is delicate, smooth, and naturally sweet, with notes that may unfold as floral, honeyed, herbaceous, and lightly creamy. Depending on the tea and the brewing, you may also notice hints of fresh hay, white blossom, melon, cucumber, or soft mineral freshness.

How to brew

For a clean and balanced cup, brew Silver Needle with water below boiling, ideally around 80–85°C.

In western style, a practical starting point is 1 gram per 100 ml for around 2–4 minutes, adjusting slightly depending on the softness or concentration you prefer.

In gongfu style, use a higher leaf ratio with short infusions starting around 10–20 seconds, allowing the tea to open gradually over several brews.

Silver Needle is well suited to multiple infusions, and its character often becomes rounder and sweeter as the session continues. 

Properties

As a white tea, Silver Needle is minimally processed and naturally contains compounds commonly found in tea, including catechins, caffeine, and L-theanine. On a product page, it is best described not through heavy health promises, but through the kind of experience it offers: a cleaner, gentler tea profile with subtle stimulation and a calm, refined character in the cup.

Tea details

Tea type: White tea.
Style: Bud-only tea.
Origin style: Traditionally associated with Fujian, China.
Leaf appearance: Slender unopened buds covered in fine silvery-white hairs.
Liquor: Pale gold to light yellow.
Best for: Slow mornings, quiet afternoons, refined tea sessions, and those who prefer softness over heaviness.