Yin Zhen, Yunnan

Bai Hao Yin Zhen Yunnan

White Tea Bai Hao Yin Zhen Silver Needle

Origin: China, Yunnan, Pu'er

Spring harvest 2023

Altitude 1300 meters

Category: White Tea

Bai Hao Yin Zhen: the Precious Chinese White Tea

The Yunnan Yin Zhen (Da Bai) from the village of Tang Te, Jinggu County, Pu'er Prefecture (Simao), Yunnan Province, China, is one of the most precious and sought-after varieties of white tea on the market. This Chinese tea is produced from an unusual shrub variety, the "Camelia Taliensis". The Bai Hao Yin Zhen, or Silver Needle, is the most famous white tea, composed of only buds with fuzz. The most renowned belongs to the Fujian region, while ours is from Yunnan. After a comparative tasting of the two tea varieties, we couldn't help but notice a more aromatic scent of the Yin Zhen Yunnan compared to the more famous Fujian variety. This difference in flavors and aromas, combined with the greater value for money, led us to prefer the Bai Hao Yin Zhen Yunnan, which you can find for sale on the Terza Luna online shop. The Yin Zhen Bai Hao is known by many other names that refer to the white fuzzy buds, similar to silver needles, hence the names Silver Needles and White Silver Needles.

Origin

The origin of the precious Yin Zhen is attributed to the Fujian region in China in the second half of the 19th century. Today, the best-known white silver needle is still produced in Fujian, but the variety available on Terza Luna, originating from Yunnan, shares common traits in processing and characteristics, with a lower selling price and a better flavor and scent.

Harvest and Varieties

The Bai Hao Yin Zhen Silver Needle is one of the most precious teas because only the still closed buds are selected for its production. Buds damaged by weather conditions and insects are discarded and not used for production. Therefore, the harvest generally takes place in the spring, on sunny days. There are different varieties of Yin Zhen Bai Hao that differ by region of origin. The most well-known and economically valuable is the Yin Zhen Fujian, while the white tea available for sale in the Terza Luna online store comes from Yunnan. Having tried both, we decided to offer you the Yunnan Yin Zhen (Da Bai) from the village of Tang Te as it has a better taste.

Processing of Yin Zhen Bai Hao

This white tea is withered for a short period and processed in a way that only a very slight oxidation occurs. Once harvested, the tips are allowed to wither, meaning they are dried in the air, sun, or with a controlled air source for 24-48 hours, during which a very light oxidation develops. They are then dried.

Beneficial Effects of Bai Hao Yin Zhen Silver Needle

The consumption of bai hao yin zhen provides several beneficial effects as it contains various functional components, including caffeine, tea polyphenols, polysaccharides, teaflavin, theanine, which are excellent for human health in multiple aspects. For example, polyphenols can act as anti-aging, antioxidant, and block free radicals. Furthermore, the amount of caffeine present in white silver needle is lower compared to green and black teas.

Preparation of White Silver Needle

White Silver Needle is a tea known for its delicacy, however, its preparation does not require special skills. Below we will see how it is possible to prepare silver needle in two different ways: following the most common method or using the oriental ritual for preparation.

Western Method

Following the preparation instructions for white Yin Zhen Yunnan tea according to Western traditions, we recommend bringing the water to a temperature of 70°C. Once the indicated temperature is reached, steep the tea leaves, maximum 3g, per 100ml of water and let it infuse for no more than 4 minutes. After the necessary time has passed, you can filter the infusion and enjoy a Bai Hao Yin Zhen prepared perfectly.

Oriental Method

For the preparation of such a precious variety of tea, we can only recommend using the oriental methodology. We are sure that preparing the yin zhen bai hao following the oriental ritual will enhance the flavor and sensory experience. In this case, we recommend bringing the water to a temperature of 80°C and infusing 5g of white silver needle per 150ml of water and letting it steep for 60 seconds. After that, you can filter the tea and enjoy the precious Yin Zhen prepared according to the oriental tradition.

Taste and Aroma

Yin Zhen Yunnan is a precious tea, suitable for special occasions and belonging to the category of white teas. However, this does not mean it has a flat taste. On the contrary, bai hao yin zhen silver needle has a delicate yet aromatic taste and aroma, suitable for true connoisseurs who want to savor it in a moment dedicated to rest and contemplation. Compared to the more well-known Fujian version, the taste of Bai Hao Yin Zhen Yunnan is slightly different, with Yunnan silver needle being more aromatic, while Yin Zhen is more delicate, but more affordable. Having tasted both, we at Terza Luna prefer the variety from the Yunnan region for its better aroma and accessible price.

Contraindications of Silver Needle

The consumption of bai hao yin zhen does not have particular contraindications or side effects. However, even though it contains smaller amounts of caffeine compared to other tea varieties, the precious yin zhen bai hao has small amounts of caffeine, so its consumption is not recommended for children. Furthermore, belonging to the category of white teas, we recommend moderate consumption and under the advice of your doctor for those suffering from urinary and kidney problems, hypertension, sleep disorders, gastric ulcers, and duodenal diseases.

Where to Buy Bai Hao Yin Zhen Silver Needle

If you are looking for one of the most precious teas on the market, you can rely on the online shop of Terza Luna, where you can purchase the bai hao yin zhen of the highest quality, carefully selected to offer you the best sensory experience possible. The variety available for sale is the bai hao yin zhen from the Yunnan region, which we have preferred for its more aromatic flavor and more affordable price compared to the more well-known variety from Fujian.

Prices and Formats

In the online store of Terza Luna you can buy the white silver needle available in recyclable paper bag and tin jar formats.

Recyclable paper bag format

• 50g pack for the price of: 9.50€
• 100g pack for the price of: 19.00€
• 250g pack for the price of: 44.40€

Tin jar format

• 50g pack for the price of: 15.00€
• 100g pack for the price of: 24.50€
• 250g pack for the price of: 49.90€