white Origin: Fuding, Fujian — China

Silver Needle

Made exclusively from unopened buds covered in silver down: the gentlest, sweetest, most temperature-shy tea here.

Essential Brewing Parameters

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Water Temperature

75–80°C (167–176°F)

Do not overheat — preserve aromatics

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Steep Duration

3–4 min

Decant fully to prevent over-extraction

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Dose & Resteeps

2 tsp (5 g) · 3 steeps

Low-medium (~15–25 mg)

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Quick Steeping Timer

Keep this tab open while water heats up

About Brewing Silver Needle

Silver Needle is all buds and no leaf: honeydew melon, hay, and a downy softness that boiling water flattens into nothing (or burns into bitterness — the bud's astringents are fragile). Use double the leaf of normal tea and cooler water; the flavor is quiet, and quiet needs concentration. Cheap versions blend in leaves — real Yin Zhen is uniformly needle-shaped.

Western Mug vs Gaiwan Sessions

The numbers above optimize for a standard Western mug (8–12 oz). If brewing Gongfu style in a gaiwan, double the leaf dose (5–7 g per 100 ml), use boiling or near-boiling water, and reduce steep times to 15–30 seconds for 6–8 distinct infusions. Read the full Gongfu breakdown →