Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle) (白毫銀針)

tea imagery: Silvery heron

Baihao Yinzhen, or Silver Needle, is a white tea made from individual buds covered in silvery down. Fresh batches may suggest flowers, hay, melon and a gentle sweetness. The liquor is usually pale but can have plenty of body: let a sip cool slightly before deciding the tea is weak.

History

Fuding and Zhenghe in Fujian are well-known production centres. Suitable tea cultivars include Fuding Dabai and Zhenghe Dabai. The buds are withered with attention to temperature, humidity and airflow, then dried and sorted. Withering develops flavour and aroma, so a short list of steps still calls for skill. When buying, ask about the garden, cultivar, harvest year and storage. Taste aged batches before buying: age alone says little about quality.

The silvery heron in our illustration echoes the down on the buds. It is our image for this tea; a white porcelain cup helps you see its subtle colours.

Terroir

Fujian, particularly Fuding and Zhenghe. Both lowland and mountain sites; check the particular garden. Acidic soils, varying in composition between gardens. Fuding is closer to the sea; Zhenghe lies inland. Picking dates depend on cultivar and weather. A date alone cannot replace tasting.

Leaf

dry leaf: Whole, needle-like buds covered in thick pale down.

aroma in a warmed vessel: Hay, flowers and sometimes a gentle honey note.

aroma after brewing: Flowers and young greens, with possible fruity notes.

taste: Gentle sweetness, floral or melon notes and, sometimes, a surprisingly full texture.

finish: Notice sweetness and any drying sensation after swallowing. A batch you enjoy should invite another sip.

Properties

Traditional descriptions: Traditional descriptions call fresh white tea “cooling”.

What to know: During withering the buds lose moisture and their composition changes, developing the tea’s characteristic aroma and flavour.

Over a cup of tea: For an unhurried tasting when you can notice small differences between infusions.

Caffeine: Contains caffeine. Pale colour and a mild taste do not tell you how much.

How to brew

A porcelain teapot or filter mug holding 200 ml. 3 g per 200 ml at 95 °C; try freshly boiled water if the flavour is weak. Time for each infusion: 120 s, 180 s, 240 s.

When to drink

Morning or daytime. Any season. When you want to take your time with a bud tea. Pear or plain biscuits; try a few sips without food first. Alone or with one other person to compare impressions

What to notice

Look at the down on the dry buds.
Smell the tea in a warm cup.
Compare the body of the first and second infusions.

Questions and answers

How do you brew Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle)?

A porcelain teapot or filter mug holding 200 ml. 3 g per 200 ml at 95 °C; try freshly boiled water if the flavour is weak. Time for each infusion: 120 s, 180 s, 240 s.

What does Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle) taste like?

Gentle sweetness, floral or melon notes and, sometimes, a surprisingly full texture.

How much caffeine is in Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle)?

Contains caffeine. Pale colour and a mild taste do not tell you how much.

What else should I know about Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle)?

During withering the buds lose moisture and their composition changes, developing the tea’s characteristic aroma and flavour.