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I’ve been really enjoying revisiting the tea companies that I wrote about when I first started Tea for Me Please. Art of Tea was a fixture on this blog back in 2013. I reviewed 19 of their teas that year! They were mostly flavored iced teas, but my journey with tea has continued to evolve. I thought it would be fun to try something a little more in line with where I am now. In this post, I’ll be sharing a special in-depth review of Art of Tea’s Organic Silver Needle White Tea.
If you’ve spent any time exploring white tea, you’ve most likely heard of Silver Needle. It is so labor-intensive to produce that it is considered the pinnacle of Chinese white tea. It’s also one of the most delicate when it comes to taste. Dedicated time and attention are required to pick up all of the nuances. This tea gives us a moment to enjoy a quiet cup of something special.
Thank you to Art of Tea for sponsoring this blog post! Sponsored posts like this one help me to cover hosting fees and other expenses for keeping Tea for Me Please running.
About Art of Tea
Art of Tea is a tea importer and retailer that was founded in 2004 by Steve Schwartz. He started out studying at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico. That led him to travel extensively, developing relationships with tea producers around the world. What began as blending teas in a living room for local chefs has grown into Art of Tea being a leading purveyor of specialty tea, now operating from a dedicated facility in Los Angeles. Steve is also the author of Art of Tea: A Journey of Ritual, Discovery, and Impact.
What is Silver Needle?
Silver Needle is a white tea made using only the top-most apical bud of the tea plant. In most cases, this means that they need to be plucked by hand. The leaves are dried after harvesting with minimal intervention. Unopened buds of the tea plant are covered in small silvery hairs called trichomes.
Their job is to protect tender leaves from insect damage and excessive ultraviolet light. Trichomes remain visible on the ‘needles’ after processing, giving this special tea its name. You may have also noticed them floating in your cup after brewing. They contribute a smooth texture and natural sweetness to tea.
Tasting Art of Tea Organic Silver Needle White Tea
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to taste the tea! Art of Tea’s Silver Needle White Tea hails from the northern district of Fujian, China. It is certified organic with the USDA. That means it was grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or additives. The dry leaves were comprised of mostly whole needles covered in silvery hairs. They were very soft to the touch and had a pleasantly earthy aroma.
I prepared this tea in a glass teapot using the recommended parameters of 185℉ water and a steep time of 3 minutes. White tea is so fluffy that it can be hard to measure in tablespoons as listed in the directions. Instead, I weighed out 6g of leaf since my teapot had a capacity of 16oz. I really like using glass for whole leaf white tea because you can watch the leaves dance while they do their thing.
Art of Tea Organic Silver Needle White Tea brewed up a pale liquor. I was able to see tons of those trichomes floating in my teapot while it steeped. The taste was mellow and sweet. Notes of honeysuckle transitioned to a sweet fruitiness that reminded me of honeydew melon. There was also a sage-like herbaceousness in the background. The overall effect was very refreshing.
The second infusion was slightly more vegetal with an interesting pepperiness while the third infusion was distinctly sweeter than the first two. This is a tea where you’ll really want to take a moment to focus. Put down your phone and just enjoy a quiet cup, or two, of something special.
Final Thoughts
Art of Tea’s Organic Silver Needle White Tea is a genuinely lovely entry point to single origin white tea. I love their commitment to quality tea with direct grower relationships and organic sourcing. The tea itself delivers the quiet elegance that Silver Needle is known for without being fussy. If you’ve been curious about white tea or simply want to treat yourself to something unhurried and beautiful, this one earns a place in your rotation.
Have you ever tried Art of Tea Organic Silver Needle White Tea? Let me know your thoughts on it in the comments below!
