2021 Fuding Early Pick Silver Needle White Tea

This 2021 Fuding Early Pick Silver Needle, or Baihao Yinzhen (白毫银针), is one of the highest quality white teas you can find. It’s made using only young, unopened buds that are covered in soft, silvery-white hairs — which is where it gets the name “Silver Needle.”

Grown in the mountains of Fuding, in northeast Fujian province China, this tea benefits from high elevation (around 600 meters), plenty of fog, and consistent humidity — perfect conditions for slow-growing, nutrient-rich buds.

What makes this tea special is how early it’s picked — even earlier than most Silver Needle teas. The buds are smaller, but they hold more concentrated nutrients from the winter. This gives the tea a cleaner, fresher flavor with more depth and excellent steeping endurance.

Even though it’s only been aged for 4 years, it’s already developing some richer, honey-like notes, while still keeping its fresh grassy and wildflower character. This “in-between” aging stage gives the tea a really unique balance that you won’t find in most white teas.

The texture is thick and silky, coating your mouth in a way that only high-end white teas can. You’ll notice a long-lasting aftertaste with soft floral and sweet honey notes that stick around even after your sip is done.

One of the best things about this tea is how forgiving it is. You can brew it Gongfu style in a small gaiwan — we suggest 4 grams of tea in a 90ml vessel with 204°F water. Give it a quick rinse, then steep for 45 seconds for the first infusion, and just 15–17 seconds after that. You can easily get up to 13-14 steeps this way.

Or, if you prefer something simpler, you can go grandpa style: just drop 5 grams of tea into a mug or cup with a strainer, pour in hot water (about 204°F), and sip. No need to worry about timing or technique. It won’t get bitter, and you’ll bring out more of the deeper, honey-like flavors this way. As you drink the tea, just keep adding more hot water to get more brews. 

Whether you’re new to white tea or already a fan, this early pick Silver Needle will impress you, is easy to enjoy and full of character.

Alternate Name: Bai Hao Yin Zhen (白毫银针)

Origin: Fuding County, China

Notes: Wildflowers, Sweet Grass, Light Honey