Silver Needle White Tea (Bai Hao Yin Zhen, also searched as “baihao yinzhen”) is made exclusively from spring buds, with no leaves included, earning its reputation as the highest grade of white tea—celebrated for its exceptional purity and delicacy.

Fuding in Fujian Province, the birthplace of Chinese white tea, is where the craft of Silver Needle Tea originated. As early as 760 AD, the esteemed tea master Lu Yu, known as the “Sage of Tea,” recorded in his enduring work The Classic of Tea:

“永嘉东三百里，有白茶山。” (Three hundred li east of Yongjia, there are white tea mountains.)

Meaning Behind the Name “White”

The name “white” in white tea is deeply connected to the local Fujian dialect, carrying two meanings:

1. “Unadorned” (Minimalist Craft)

• In the Minnan language, “white” conveys “unadorned,” reflecting the tea's minimalist processing.
• White tea stands out among the six major tea types as the only one that undergoes no pan-firing or rolling—it is simply withered and dried.

2. Covered with Fine Silvery Hairs

• White” also refers to the fine silvery hairs that coat the tea buds.
• The more abundant these hairs, the younger and more tender the buds, making this a key marker of high-quality white tea.

Unique Value of Silver Needle Tea

These aspects define the distinctive value of Silver Needle and other white teas: only high-quality raw materials are selected, and with minimal handling during production, the tea’s natural flavor is preserved while the activity of polyphenol oxidase remains high.

This gives white tea outstanding aging potential.

• The longer it is stored, the richer, smoother, and more fragrant it becomes.
• Its rarity and value also increase over time.

For instance, our Shou Mei White Tea, though produced from a lower-grade leaf than Silver Needle Tea, has been aged for over 11 years and still offers remarkable value for both collection and enjoyment.

Appearance and Flavor Profile

Our Bai Hao Yin Zhen White Tea (Silver Needle) – Premium Grade is spring-harvested from Fuding Da Bai tea trees (Huacha No.1) in the core growing region.

• Through photos taken at our tea house, you can see that the dry tea buds are slender at both ends, full in the middle, and covered with silvery hairs.
• When brewed with boiling water, the tea releases a refined, lingering aroma—a delicate blend of the buds’ fragrance and subtle floral notes.
• The taste is mellow, with hints of jujube and complex floral notes; over time, the jujube flavor becomes more pronounced.

Premium Recommendation

As a premium white tea offered in Chinese Tea Group’s physical tea houses, this tea is a masterpiece we proudly recommend to tea lovers across the world.