If you know a little about tea, you may have heard of White Hair Silver Needle. This tea stands out from the rest with its unique look and flavor. Today, let's take an in-depth look at Bai Hao Yinzhen and find out what kind of tea it is and why it is so popular.
What is White Hair Silver Needle?
White Hair Silver Needle, as the name suggests, is a tea with the appearance of silver needles. This tea belongs to white tea, which is one of the six traditional Chinese tea categories. The production process of white tea is relatively simple, consisting mainly of withering and drying, with little or no kneading or fermentation, which maximizes the preservation of the natural state of the tea leaves.
White Hair Silver Needle is the best white tea, its tea buds are fat, full of white hair, silver and white color. Because it is shaped like a needle, it is called "Silver Needle". White Hair Silver Needle's picking requirements are extremely high, usually only picking the first single buds in spring, only a few days of picking each year, making it more precious.
The origin and history of Baihao Silver Needle
White Hair Silver Needle, the name comes from its appearance: the tea leaves are straight like needles, covered with silver-white fuzz, like a delicate silver needle. It was created in Fujian in 1796, and was originally made by local tea makers using strong buds as raw material. White Hair Silver Needle has a long history and was first exported as early as 1891, and reached its peak between 1912 and 1916.
The origin and environment of Baihao Silver Needle
White Hair Silver Needle is mainly produced in Fuding, Zhenghe, Songxi, Jianyang and other places in Fujian, which have favorable climate and fertile soil, providing unique conditions for the growth of White Hair Silver Needle. Especially Fuding City, which not only has a subtropical monsoon climate, but also has abundant rainfall and suitable altitude, making the quality of Baihao Silver Needle here especially outstanding.
White Hair Silver Needle
The production process of White Hair Silver Needle can be described as the ultimate pursuit of craftsmanship and details. First of all, the tea buds picked need to be withered naturally in a cool place, this step is very crucial and determines the quality of the tea leaves. During the withering process, the tea buds will lose some of their moisture and become soft, but still maintain their original form and color.
The next step is drying. The traditional drying of Bai Hao Silver Needle is usually a combination of natural drying and low temperature drying. This low-temperature, slow drying method can maximize the retention of the tea's aroma and nutrients, making the finished tea silver-white in color, with a clear and quiet aroma.
White Hair Silver Needle Brewing and Tasting
Tasting tea is an art, and tasting Bai Hao Silver Needle is even more so. Brewing White Hair Silver Needle requires attention to water temperature and time. Generally speaking, the brewing temperature of Bai Hao Silver Needle should be around 85℃, the water temperature is too high, which will destroy the delicate aroma in the tea leaves. Brewing time should not be too long, the first bubble is usually about 1 minute, and each subsequent bubble can be extended appropriately.
When drinking White Hair Silver Needle, you can savor its fresh and elegant aroma, soft tea in the mouth and sweet aftertaste. Since White Hair Silver Needle is not twisted during the production process, there is almost no astringency in the tea broth and the taste is very smooth.
Effects of White Hair Silver Needle
White Hair Silver Needle not only has a unique taste, but its health benefits are also very significant.
White Hair Silver Needle is rich in a variety of amino acids, tea polyphenols and vitamins, which have a good antioxidant effect and can help slow down the aging process.
White Hair Silver Needle is cool in nature and has the effect of clearing heat and removing toxins, which is a good relief for some symptoms of fire.
White Hair Silver Needle also has some hypolipidemic and hypotensive effects, long-term consumption helps cardiovascular health. Due to its high polyphenol content, Baihao Yinzhen also helps to improve immunity and prevent colds.
How to preserve white-hair silver needle
The preservation of White Hair Silver Needle is also very delicate, the tea tends to absorb moisture and flavor, so it needs to be sealed and preserved, avoiding being put together with items that have an odor. It is best to store in a dry and cool environment, avoiding direct sunlight. Generally speaking, vacuum-packed Baihao Yinzhen can better preserve its aroma and flavor.
concluding remarks
As a treasure among white teas, White Hair Silver Needle has won the hearts of many tea lovers for its unique appearance, delicate taste and rich health benefits. While savoring this natural creation, you can also feel a sense of tranquility and freshness from nature. If you haven't tried White Hair Silver Needle yet, why not brew a cup on a leisurely afternoon and savor the beauty of it?