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White tea · Buds only

Silver Needle

白毫银针, Bai Hao Yin Zhen

8.2/10 editor's score

The most prized white tea: only the silvery, downy spring buds from Fujian, simply withered and dried. Delicate, sweet and very easy to drink.

Buds onlyDelicateSweet
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Silver Needle, top-down

What you need

3 g leafSilver Needle
200 ml water80 to 90°C
Steep 4:002 steeps
LiquorPale gold, almost clear
Served inGaiwan (lidded bowl)

At a glance

The most prized white tea: only the silvery, downy spring buds from Fujian, simply withered and dried.

CaffeineLow to medium~15 to 40 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit9.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestMarch to early AprilBuds are picked before they open, early in spring.
Pairs withFresh fruit, Light pastries, Mild cheeseLess good with spicy and very salty food
Grown atHills, about 200 to 800 mFuding, Fujian
Served inGaiwan (lidded bowl)Porcelain bowl, lid and saucer

About Silver Needle

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe a light, sweet cup with honey and hay, and a velvety texture from the downy hairs 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

FudingFujianCHINA
Region
Fuding and Zhenghe, Fujian 1
Leaf
Unopened buds only 1
Processing
Withered and dried, no rolling 1
Plant
Fuding Da Bai and Da Hao cultivars 1

More from Fuding and China.

History and culture

White tea from Fujian's buds was developed in the 19th century, after the selection of the Fuding Da Bai cultivar 1.

Editor's score

8.2/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 8.5Origin & heritage: 9.0Availability: 8.0Value: 7.0Beginner-friendliness: 9.0Versatility: 6.5Flavour 8.5Heritage 9.0Availability 8.0Value 7.0Beginners 9.0Versatility 6.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg
Silver Needle~15 to 40 mg

Our estimate: buds hold caffeine, but cool water and long steeps keep the cup moderate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Only a short window in early spring. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Fuding Da Bai (Big White) and Fuding Da Hao, with large, downy buds 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

Buds only, early spring.

02Withering

Slow withering in air, sometimes sun.

03Drying

Low heat to finish.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafPlump, silver-white downy buds.
LiquorPale gold, almost clear.
After steeping
Wet leafSoft green buds.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Fresh fruit
  • Light pastries
  • Mild cheese

Best avoided

  • Spicy and very salty food

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Graded by bud size, plumpness and down. Fuding is the best-known area.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Should be all buds, no leaves.
  2. Avoid broken, dusty buds.
FAQ
Is white tea low in caffeine?

Not always. Buds can contain a fair amount, but cooler water extracts less.

Does it age?

Pressed white tea is often aged. Loose Silver Needle is usually drunk fresh.

Find it inWhite teasTeas from ChinaFudingBuds onlyDelicateSweet

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Baihao Yinzhen". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baihao_Yinzhen
  2. Wikipedia, "White tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_tea
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.