This exquisite white tea is one of the rarest and most desired teas in the world. It is only the young buds that are hand-picked, before dawn to limit exposure to the sun and on only a couple of days in Spring. White tea is unoxidized and has very little intervention so is the most natural of all the teas. However as the buds are the most precious of the tea plant and as they are only picked on specific days of the year, they can command a high price.The name Silver Needle comes from the tea's fuzzy white down that sparkles silver in the sunlight and it has a fabulous texture. Stroke the spindle-like bud before you brew it – it's like stroking a pet bunny rabbit! It is often thought that white tea has less caffeine than black tea but the opposite is true. Silver Needle is bursting with goodness, including caffeine (not always a bad component) and L-Thianine, both of which can help with mental function and focus. The taste of this delightful tea would certainly be described as mild but also has complexity. This variety has a soft, fruity and grassy taste profile with very little astringency and produces a light honey-coloured cup.
