A treat!
Yay! This felt like a gamble and I’m so glad I took a chance on this. Smooth, sweet, and delicious - a joy to drink. Brews to a very light color, then darkens quickly. Resteeps well.
Yin Zhen "Silver Needle" is a variety of remarkable and ethereal Chinese teas made with an exacting skill in plucking, handling, and processing. A delicacy, it is made using a fine pluck standard in which only buds are harvested. We think this lot captures the essence of the spring harvest. Clearly, Yin Zhen is a spring offering that should be in any tea lovers cupboard!
Lot Notes. This lot is made from a cultivar named #6. A notable cultivar for its rich flavors. Its origins are in the Fu'An area. Our lot is the first pluck of the season. The farm is located at an elevation of approximately 800 meters. The buds were withered using a warm-air method followed by light heat with minimal oxidization. Our lot hatrvested March 30, 2024.
Tea Facts. The cultivar for this year’s tea is locally known as Varietal #6, developed from the famous Fuding Da Bai cultivar. The buds are slender, a light green color and covered with tender, downy hair giving it a velvety appearance.
Tasting Notes. The liquor is fresh & herbaceous. Offers sweet, savory flavors - fresh apricot and honey as they coat the tongue. Offers a long, gentle grassy finish.
Brewing Suggestions. Use a rounded tablespoon or 3 grams of leaf for 6-8 ounces of water at a temperature of 165-195 degrees F. A lower temperature will preserve this tea's softer notes and preserve the flavors of the leaves. Steep for 2 minutes and taste. This tea can be steeped quite a bit longer to strengthen taste and it will remain sweet. Leaves offer multiple steeps.