Silver Needle 2026
Regular price
$40.00
Frequently Asked Questions
Control humidity: Avoid storing tea in conditions that are either too dry or too humid.
Keep it cool: Store tea in a cool place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Keep in mind that display cabinet lights can also produce heat.
Protect from light: Avoid using transparent containers whenever possible.
Limit exposure to air: Keep tea well sealed and avoid opening the container more often than necessary.
After we receive your order, we will process your package within 48 hours and hand it over to our international shipping partner. We will also send your tracking number by email. At this stage, tracking information may not be available yet.
Once the shipping partner receives the package, it usually takes 1–3 days (excluding Sundays) for them to process and dispatch it. Tracking information will begin to update after the package has been dispatched.
Delivery usually takes around 7–18 days from the date of dispatch.
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What are the “roots” of Rooteas?
Family-made
Wuyi Yancha is what our own family makes in Wuyishan, and it is the tea we work with most closely. We know the growing areas and tea plants firsthand, as well as the decisions that go into processing and roasting. For the small number of other teas we carry, we work with tea-making families we know personally and whose work we know well.
Single-origin
Wuyi Yancha carries the influence of where it is grown. Wuyishan has a particular growing environment shaped by its rocky terrain, soil, climate, sunlight, and moisture, and these conditions are an important part of what makes Wuyi Yancha what it is. Together with cultivar, processing, and roasting, they all play a part in the aroma, texture, and overall character of the finished tea.
Transparency
We try to keep the information about our teas simple and clear. We share where each tea comes from, what tea plant it is made from, and how it was processed and roasted, so you have a clear idea of what you're drinking.
- Name: Silver Needle (First-pick)
- Chinese Name & Pinyin: 白毫银针 bái háo yín zhēn
- Type: Fuding White Tea
- Origin: Panxi, Fuding, Fujian
- Harvest Date: March 17, 2026
- Producer: Lin Family
- Tasting note: Sweetgrass, Light floral, Soy milk, Honeysuckle, Lingering sweetness
This is a fresher, cleaner more delicate style of Silver Needle. The sweetness is fresh and clean, with light floral notes, a soy milk-like taste, and a lingering finish that stays sweet in the mouth. Drinkers who tend to enjoy fresher, subtler, more delicate white teas usually connect with this style more easily than those looking for something fuller or more layered.
This year’s spring conditions are also worth mentioning here. Fuding was rainier than last year, which meant a tighter picking window for silver needle. Buds picked on rainy days tend to hold more moisture, and that makes them harder to process well. So, the Lin Family did not rush to pick early this year. They waited for clearer weather, watched the condition of the buds closely, and started picking on March 17.
We also packed this tea in tins, which makes it a little easier to store for anyone who would like to age it. Just keep it sealed and put it somewhere cool, dry and away from sunlight and strong odors.
Fish Leaf and First-Pick Silver Needle
On Fuding Silver Needle, the small yellow-green “tail” beside the bud is often called yú yè (“fish leaf", “鱼叶"). It is the first unopened leaf sheath that forms as the new shoot begins to grow. It is firm, and closely wraps the bud, with a shape a bit like a tiny fish scale or bamboo shoot husk.
This fish leaf is one of the visual signs people look for in genuine first-pick Silver Needle. Its presence usually shows that the tea was made from the earliest spring buds.
In Fuding, the saying yī qí yī qiāng (“one flag, one spear”, “一旗一枪") refers to the bud and fish leaf together, which resemble a traditional Chinese red-tasseled spear in shape.
Tea: 5g
Gaiwan: 110–120ml
Water Temperature: 90°C / 194°F
For the first three infusions, steep for 30–35 seconds before pouring out. Increase the time gradually with each infusion after that.
(Adjust the tea amount and steeping time to suit your own taste.)
