If you purchase this product you will earn Lao Bai Cha – Aged Silver Needle Fuding White Tea
Silver Needle, known as Bai Hao Yin Zhen (白毫银针)in Chinese, is one of the most renowned white teas from Fuding, Fujian. This selection features Silver Needle teas that have been carefully stored since 2019 under optimal conditions, intentionally aged to allow their character to develop over years. Each batch is crafted exclusively from the single buds of the Fuding Da Bai Cha cultivar, renowned as the highest grade of Fuding white tea.
These aged Silver Needle teas are considered as the finest examples of aged white tea, with their internal qualities transformed gracefully through the years. It is a unique opportunity to experience how time transforms the aroma and flavor of the Silver Needle.
The Tradition and Value of Aged White Tea
In China, there is a well-known saying about white tea:
“One year tea, three years medicine, seven years treasure”
（一年茶，三年药，七年宝）
Aged white tea, or Lao Bai Cha (老白茶), has become increasingly appreciated, drawing comparisons with the popularity of aged Pu’erh. This proverb reflects the belief that white tea’s value and qualities improve with age, both in taste and in potential health benefits.
The phrase highlights the evolving nature of aged white tea: after one year, it is enjoyed as tea; after three years, it is considered to have medicinal qualities; and after seven years, it is regarded as a true treasure.
Tasting Profile: How Silver Needle Evolves with Age
As Silver Needle ages, its aroma compounds and flavor profile undergo remarkable transformation. Typically, these changes become noticeable after three years of storage, and each stage reveals distinct characteristics:
1 Year Aged:
The tea retains its freshness, but the grassy notes of new white tea mellow, giving way to a soft, refreshing taste with elegant sweetness and delicate umami. This stage is ideal for those who enjoy a clean, gentle white tea without grassy overtones.
3 Years Aged:
At this stage, the Silver Needle develops a smoother, sweeter mouthfeel. Notes of pekoe and honey become more pronounced, accompanied by hints of herbs and the subtle aroma of bamboo leaves.
5–7 Years Aged:
The aged character becomes fully apparent and stable. The tea acquires a more apparent, complex profile reminiscent of Chinese herbal and medicinal notes, with lingering honey sweetness and a mellow, soothing finish.
Each year of tea offers a different tasting experience, you can compare how time shapes the aroma, texture, and flavors of aged Silver Needle.
Health benefits of Aged White Tea
White tea is minimally processed: after plucking, the leaves undergo only withering and gentle drying. This preserves many natural phytochemicals, including enzymes, amino acids, and polyphenols. These active compounds enable ongoing transformation during storage and aging.
Over the years, polyphenols in white tea gradually convert into various beneficial substances, such as catechins and flavonoids. These compounds are recognized for their potent antioxidant properties and are associated with a range of health benefits—such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, supporting healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and contributing to overall metabolic health.
As a result, aged white tea is valued not only for its unique taste but also for its potential positive effects on well-being.
Harvest year : Spring of 2022, 2021, 2019
Weight per pack: 25g
Tea Farm Location: Organic Tea Farm at Dian Tou Town, Fuding, Fujian Province, China
Tasting Notes:
– refreshing, floral, umami and sweet (1-year aged)
– pekoe, sweet, honey and bamboo leaves (3-years aged)
– honey, aged flavor, Chinese herbal/ medicine notes, lingering sweetness (5-7 years aged)
Dry Leaves Appearance: straight and fat buds, full of white pekoe, colour become darker with years of transformation
Tea Liquor Colour: bright and clear light yellow to apricot colour
