Silver Needle (Yin Zhen)

Customer Reviews

Perfection

Review by Marcin

Rating

I have neve drunk tea like this in my life, it's gentle but bold taste is experience I will never forget. Next 50g on order after second cup - it's that good. (Posted on 4/14/13)

delicious

Review by Harlequin

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Chose this at the Ritz. London, today...so lovely. (Posted on 3/27/13)

Aromatic and refreshing

Review by Sj

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I drink this tea at work. I think it is the best white tea I have had. The aroma and taste make it a relaxing and refreshing drink. (Posted on 2/9/13)

A Fantastic tea! Clear, subtle and extremely refreshing.

Review by Gabriel

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We love this tea, it is rapidly becoming one of our staples for day to day drinking. Very clear and refreshing tea, with beautifully subtle tones evolving with each brew. Cannot recommend this tea enough! :) (Posted on 10/23/12)

I had my doubts about drinking loose tea, but have become addicted to this tea.

Review by michael

Rating

I decided to start leading a healthier life a few months ago, stopped smoking, cut down drinking alcohol, exercise. Part of this change was to find a healthier option of tea then the normal PG type tea, i was lucky enough to stumble upon this site, though i have to admit i had serious doubts about how it would taste and how practical loose leaves would be. But my doubts have been totally unfounded on both counts, i got myself a tea infuser which i place in the mug and then heat the water(mineral water is best) catching the water before it boils can be a little frustrating, but this is all worth it when you taste the tea. A lovely light Melony taste, which i find delicous with some dark choclate, i have at least 3 cups of it a day now, 6 or 7 at weekends, what can i say? Not only is it great for me, its also the best drink ive ever had (including a £500 bottle of champers i had) (Posted on 10/22/12)

SPECTACULAR

Review by Frank Hadley Murphy

Rating

I'VE BEEN DRINKING SILVER NEEDLE FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HAVE EVEN BEEN INVOLVED IN CHINESE TEA COMPETITIONS AND THIS IS SILVER NEEDLE AT ITS BEST. A SOFT AND SOOTHING, VERY FEMININE TEA, IT ENGAGES THE ENTIRE SENSORIUM AND LEAVES ME FEELING BALANCED, GROUNDED, CENTERED AND HAPPY. AMEN!
FRANK HADLEY MURPHY AUTHOR "THE SPIRIT OF TEA" (Posted on 9/30/12)

Excellent white tea

Review by Becky

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Yum, yum, yum, yum. What more can you say about this delicate white tea. I love it! (Posted on 9/13/12)

Just lovely

Review by Erika

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This tea is superb. Extremely delicate, and wonderful to taste. Perfect for a crisp morning. (Posted on 8/31/12)

Great Stuff!

Review by Steve

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This is brilliant energising tea. Just what I need to liven me up on a typically cold and rainy summers day.!
Best white tea I've tasted. (Posted on 7/14/12)

Really good example of white tea

Review by Luke

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Can't fault this one - great quality, amazing price point for a soft, gorgeous tea. (Posted on 1/11/12)

I wanted to pet them. Heavy pet, even.

Review by Geoff at Teaviews

Rating

"I’ve had more than my fair share of white tea. Silver Needle is my all-time favorite, and – I must say – this is by far the furriest I’ve ever seen. Fuzz, in other food groups, is usually an indicator of something spoiling. With white tea, it’s a sign of youth and vitality, and this offering from Canton Tea Co. had ‘em in spades. All of the needle-rolled leaf buds were bountifully furry. I wanted to pet them. Heavy pet, even."

For the full review:
http://www.teaviews.com/2010/07/25/review-canton-tea-co-fuding-bai-hao-yin-zhen-silver-needle-white-tea/ (Posted on 1/7/11)

I can see why this is an award-winning tea

Review by Vanessa at Teaviews

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"This is certainly one of the finer Silver Needles that I have had the pleasure of sampling. Canton Tea Company continues to impress me and I can see why this is an award-winning tea."

For the full review:
http://www.teaviews.com/2010/08/20/review-canton-tea-co-silver-needle-white-tea/ (Posted on 1/7/11)

Everything that I love about good quality white teas

Review by Nicole at Teaviews

Rating

"This tea was everything that I love about good quality white teas, delicate but with a wide range of experiences in single session."

For the full review:
http://www.teaviews.com/2010/09/21/review-canton-tea-co-silver-needle-white-tea-2/ (Posted on 1/7/11)

Sophisticated, engaging and flavourful

Review by Sophie at Teaviews

Rating

"Sophisticated, engaging and flavourful, this is indeed a high quality offering. The combination of a creamy body with constantly evolving sweet notes is a winning one. Any silver needle fan should be more than satisfied, if not completely smitten!"

For the full review:
http://www.teaviews.com/2010/11/01/review-canton-tea-co-silver-needle-white-tea-3/ (Posted on 1/6/11)

'very very very nice'

Review by hung well

Rating

At first taste i didnt think this tea had much flavour to it. it is a extreamly light tea but the more i drink the more i appreciate the subtle flavours, dont know whether the health claims asociated with white tea are true but i do feel more relaxed since drinking white tea, this is the best qualty white tea i have found :-) (Posted on 12/2/10)

Delicate, light and creamy

Review by Charlotte

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A lovely delicate, light and creamy tea. You can really taste the quality of the leaves. (Posted on 7/8/10)

This is an excellent, high quality, satisfying, white tea

Review by Mike D

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White teas are generally early spring pick, young growth leaf, that are picked early in the day. They are delicately handled, to ensure the leaf is not damaged, and sun dried for short periods, and are minimally oxidized. White teas have very delicate aromas and taste, and need some patience to prepare and appreciate.

This white tea has a classic big leaf with round tight shape. The leaf is covered with silvery fluffy down, and has a mild sweet aroma.This fluffy down is indicative of proper processing and high quality. (And proper storage and handling by the vendor.)

The down begs a choice: some classic tea masters advise a very quick rinse with at temperature water prior to brewing, others advise against it. I am going to forgo the rinse – it is purely about cosmetics in this case, to wash away any loose down, so it does not float in the cup.

There are also two schools of thought as to the brewing temperature. Classically, whites are brewed with “warm” water in the 155F-170F range. Some modern masters advise “very warm’ water in the 170F-180F range, but very short steeps. My view is that this is a high quality tea, and I will stick with the classic thought which is consistent with the vendors suggestion of 75C/about 165F.

Brewed 1 TBLS of tea (about 5g) in 6oz water @ 168F for 2 minutes in my for green Xing pot. Pale golden in the cup, like a Chablis wine – with a very very small amount of the down floating on the surface. There is a very delicate aroma of chestnut, with a hint of sweetness. Dry, refreshing taste, just a small amount of astringency, with a hint of mellon in the aftertaste.

Plump wet leaves unfurl to the classic two leaf shape expected. These are good looking leaves.

2nd Steep @ 168F for 2:30. Creamy, smooth on the tongue, more astringency. This is a most satisfying cup. The flavors are not prominent, more expressions of sweetness, dryness.

3rd Steep @ 170F for 3:00. Aroma almost gone, and the flavors an afterimage, but still nicely refreshing.

This is an excellent, high quality, satisfying, white tea. It is worth the attention to detail it demands.

See more reviews of Canton Tea products at: http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/ (Posted on 6/16/10)

Lovely, subtle, soft & fluffy

Review by Doug

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I love this stuff.
I've served it to neophytes and tea snobs alike and they pretty much all say, "Where did you get this?". (Posted on 5/7/10)