Silver Needle

“Exquisite” is the best word to describe this Silver Needle Tea, harvested spring 2010. The tiny, “silvery” buds are hand picked just before opening, then only steamed and withered. This process has remained almost unchanged since the Tang Dynasty (600-649). The buds have a silky texture from the fine white “down” that covers them. When the tender buds are infused the liquor is a light, clear green colour and the fragrance has a mild “grassy” note. It has the freshest of flavours, slightly savoury, with a sweet under note that lingers at the sides of the tongue. The buds can be infused multiply times, releasing slightly different notes each time.