2018 Fujian Silver Needle White Tea

Silver Needle is made exclusively from buds, with no leaves included. This makes it the most delicate and labor-intensive of all white tea styles: each bud is hand-plucked during a narrow window in early spring, covered in fine silver hair, and processed with minimal intervention. The result is a tea that is lighter and more refined than Bai Mu Dan, with a natural sweetness and clarity that is difficult to find elsewhere.

This lot has been aging since 2018 as loose leaf, which develops differently from compressed cakes. Without the pressure of compression, the leaves age more openly and evenly, allowing the transformation to happen at its own pace. At 8 years, this tea sits just past the threshold of what Fuding tradition calls “seven years treasure.”

In the cup, the years of aging have deepened and rounded what was once a delicate fresh tea. Expect honey, soft floral notes, and a silky smooth texture with a long, sweet finish. The refinement of Silver Needle remains, but with an added complexity that only time can bring.