2014 Silver Needle White Tea

Chinese tradition says that 5 years-aged White Tea is a treasure, while 7 years-aged White Tea is medicine. To this day, the unique health effects of aged White Tea remains an active area of research. So far, we know that one important factor in White Tea's change over time comes from its craftsmanship, a process that excludes high-heat enzymatic fixing. With a small amount of enzymatic activity preserved, White Tea sees the slow accumulation of unique and beneficial tea leaf phytonutrients over time.

In 2015, with the hopes of offering our own aged White Tea someday, we set aside a limited quantity of 1-year-old Silver Needle White Tea for storage in a cool, dark and dry environment. From there, we let nature take its course. In 2023, the same Silver Needle White Tea has achieved its traditional ‘medicine’ status.

Aside from health benefits including cardioprotective, anti-diabetic and neuroprotective, much of the treasured value of aged White Tea derives from its unique flavor profile. Aging creates not only healthful compounds, but uniquely flavorful ones too. At the time of storage in 2015, our Silver Needle White Tea brewed an infusion that was bright, brisk, and slightly tannic, a taste profile which over the years has matured into a richer, smoother and more mellow composition. Newly formed aroma notes of molasses and Maplewood have begun to replace the heady honeysuckle tang of the tea’s formative years.

Overall, this Wu Mountain Exclusive offering is a unique treat to share with fellow tea lovers over the months and years to come. For more detailed information on White Tea, including production techniques and health benefits, check out our three-part blog series on the topic OR our video on tea processing.

(Note: this product is packaged in half pound (227 gram) bags. Due to limited quantity, we allow only one order per customer).