Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Canton Tea Co.
Product Description:
This high grade Fuding Silver Needle is entirely made up of soft, plump young ‘needles’ or immature leaf buds that are densely covered in tiny silvery hairs. Very high in antioxidants, the buds are hand- picked at dawn and scattered in the sun to dry. The liquor is the colour of champagne and has a light creamy, delicate taste with sweet notes of melon. Try nibbling on a bud of this top Silver Needle after infusion: it will be sweet and delicious, unlike lower quality Silver Needle which can be bitter and woody.
Taster’s Review:
There are a lot of Silver Needle teas out there. And quite a few are very good! I think that this Silver Needle from Canton Tea Company ranks right up there with the very best. It has such a beautiful, serene quality that seems to wash away the stress of the day. So relaxing and rejuvenating!
As the description above suggests, this tea does brew to the color of champagne – very pale and lovely! It has a sweetness to it that is as light as the color, the flavor is very delicate and smooth. I am tasting the melon-like notes, along with a whisper of floral tone in the background.
I do recommend using a little extra leaf when steeping this Silver Needle. This will give the cup an extra creaminess that is almost buttery – reminiscent of a green Oolong but without the heavy quality that an Oolong might possess.
While silver needle teas tend to be more delicate than other teas, I really enjoy them, especially later in the day. It is a very gentle taste and seems to not only calm the body but restore the spirit. A wonderful tea, indeed!
