Silver needle is the rarest and most spectacular of the white teas. Early in the spring, the individual leaf buds are picked before opening and carefully handcrafted into Yinzhen tea. Each bud is covered with white downy hair and the tea is known for its buttery, nutty flavor. We've added lavender to sooth the senses and take away the stresses of the day. Packed with antioxidants and low in caffeine - a very healthy tea.

Tea Growing Country: ChinaShipping Port: FuzhouAltitude At Which This Tea Was Grown: 2000 feet to 4000 feet above sea levelTea Manufacture Type: Naturally witheredFor millenia, white teas were so rare, they were reserved exclusively for the imperial courts of China. Gradually, however, production levels increased to the point where other Chinese could purchase white tea for special occasions only. Emperors still demanded, however, that not one tea leaf be permitted to leave the country, so great was its value. Subsequently, white teas were completely unknown outside of China until the mid 1890's, when for the first time in over a thousand years, the Chinese loosened their controls and got into the export business. The reason for this act of tea benevolence came after 1885 when varietals of the tea bushes were isolated that allowed the growing and production of more specialty white tea, like this Pai Mu Tan. This allowed production to increase beyond that which could be could be consumed by the Chinese domestic market.Since the early days of export, white tea's processing style has largely remained unchanged - fresh tea leaves are delivered to the factory on foot, withered and dried naturally - no further action required. Pai Mu Tan is an excellent example of this simple production. The full tea leaf ranges from pale green to silvery with lots of nice tips. Stark contrast between the tea leaves gives the tea very natural look that, in turn, gives way to a pure and natural cup of tea. Round and full-bodied, this Pai Mu Tan white Tea dazzles with subtle layers of peach and assertive floral notes.

Information: Our peach white tea is a Peony white tea base with the natural flavoring oil of peach. It brews a cup of crisp and smooth white tea with hints of peach and natural sweetness. The amount of peach flavoring is subtle and never over powers. If you like a cup of fruity and subtle white tea, you should definitely try our peach white tea. It also makes excellent iced tea.

For this delicate White Tea only the youngest, most tender leaves with velvety fuzz are picked and dried in the sun. Enjoy the sweet notes and the delicious lingering taste as your mind quiets to the shimmering moonlight on Silver Lake.------ The Salt Spring Tea Co. was founded 11 years ago on Salt Spring Island, in the wild and scenic beauty of Western Canada. It was the dream of three women, an artist, a student and a local artisan, to capture the unspoiled nature of British Columbia in their products. While no longer located on Salt Spring Island, the Salt Spring Tea Co. remains committed to their vision: we use only the freshest ingredients and insist on all natural products. Our fruit blend teas contain real fruit and we use no flavoring oils to ensure you get a rich, full-flavored cup of tea without compromise! Most of our teas come to you in individually hand-painted bags and wooden keepsake boxes that make great gifts.

For this delicate White Tea only the youngest, most tender leaves with velvety fuzz are picked and dried in the sun. Enjoy the sweet notes and the delicious lingering taste as your mind quiets to the shimmering moonlight on Silver Lake.------ The Salt Spring Tea Co. was founded 11 years ago on Salt Spring Island, in the wild and scenic beauty of Western Canada. It was the dream of three women, an artist, a student and a local artisan, to capture the unspoiled nature of British Columbia in their products. While no longer located on Salt Spring Island, the Salt Spring Tea Co. remains committed to their vision: we use only the freshest ingredients and insist on all natural products. Our fruit blend teas contain real fruit and we use no flavoring oils to ensure you get a rich, full-flavored cup of tea without compromise! Most of our teas come to you in individually hand-painted bags and wooden keepsake boxes that make great gifts.

White tea is very different from other types of tea, namely green and black. White tea leaves are plucked from a special varietal tea bush called the Narcissus or chaicha. The leaves are not steamed or pan-fired (the process used in green teas) or fermented and fired (the process used in black tea). Instead, the leaves are naturally withered and dried in the sun. Only two distinct leaves and the bud are selected from the bush. These leaves must show a very light green almost gray white color and ideally be covered with velvet peach fuzz. The leaves for Shou Mei, also called Sowmee, are plucked during April, May and June in the Fujian Province of China. The lack of processing and hand selection is evident in the leaf appearance of this tea. As far as its flavor, Shou Mei has a pronounced taste profile - along the lines of oolong tea. Many white tea drinkers prefer Shou Mei, favoring its 'substance' compared to the delicate nuances of other white teas.

The tea is packaged in 15 individually wrapped teabags, perfect for the times when a teapot is out of reach. Or you are out-of-doors.

Here only 6 suitable pluckers do the job of taking the longest, fattest buds only. They are very costly to harvest and are biodynamically and organically farmed. We do not roll, ferment or fire the buds. In the Middle East they are considered an aphrodisiac.