Organic Silver Needle White Tea (Yin Zhen)

Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) is one of the most prized white teas in the world, made only from the youngest, unopened buds of the tea plant. Ours is organic loose leaf Silver Needle: light-bodied and silky, with a naturally sweet, soft floral character and an ultra-clean finish. It is the most delicate tea we carry, and one of the most rewarding.

• Size: 1 oz of loose leaf tea.
• Ingredient: Organic Silver Needle white tea buds (Camellia sinensis).
• Caffeine: Contains caffeine, usually less than black tea.
• Brew: 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz of water at 175–185°F (not boiling). Steep 2–4 minutes, then strain.

What Is Silver Needle Tea?

Silver Needle is a white tea from Fujian province in China, where white tea has been made for centuries. It is picked in early spring and made only from the plump, unopened leaf buds, which are covered in fine silvery-white down. That down gives the tea its name, Bai Hao Yin Zhen, which means "white hair silver needle."

White tea is the least processed of all teas. The buds are simply withered and gently dried, with no rolling, firing or deliberate oxidation. That light touch keeps the flavor soft, sweet and delicate. For more on how white tea is made and how the styles differ, read What Is White Tea?

Meet Our Silver Needle

The dry tea is a jar of slender, silvery-green buds, soft and downy to the touch. Brewed, it pours a very pale, clear golden cup with a light, sweet, fresh aroma. The flavor is silky and light-bodied, with soft floral notes, a gentle natural sweetness and a clean, refreshing finish. There is no bitterness, and nothing heavy. Packed to order in a 1 oz size.

How To Brew Silver Needle

Hot: Silver Needle needs cooler water. Heat water to 175–185°F, or let boiling water rest for about 3 minutes. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons per 8 oz (the buds are light and fluffy, so be generous) and steep 2 to 4 minutes, then strain. It re-steeps well: add a minute for each of two or three more cups.

In a glass: brew it in a clear glass or glass teapot to watch the buds rise and stand upright in the water, one of the loveliest sights in tea.

Chilled: cold brew 2 tablespoons in 32 oz of cold water in the fridge for 6 to 8 hours, then strain. It makes a delicate, naturally sweet iced tea.

Does Silver Needle Have Caffeine?

Yes. Silver Needle is made from the tea plant, so it contains caffeine. White teas are usually lower in caffeine than black tea, though young buds can contain about as much as some green teas, and the amount depends on how much tea you use and how long you steep it. Cooler water and shorter steeps give a gentler cup. For no caffeine at all, try one of our caffeine-free herbal teas.

Silver Needle vs. Our Other White Teas

• Silver Needle – buds only: the most delicate, silky and sweet.
• Organic White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) – buds and young leaves: fuller, more floral and honeyed.
• White Tea – our everyday white tea for a simple, gentle cup.

Browse them all in our loose leaf white tea collection.

Who Silver Needle Is Best For

• Anyone who loves subtle, delicate teas over bold ones.
• Green tea drinkers who want something softer and sweeter with no grassiness.
• Tea lovers looking for a special-occasion tea or a gift.
• People who enjoy re-steeping and tasting how a tea changes over several cups.
• Fans of floral teas such as jasmine or Tie Guan Yin. For a crisper green tea, try sencha.