I got 1/8 lbs of Silver Needles for Christmas (among other
things)...I've never had white tea before and I've been experimenting
trying to find the right steeping conditions. The package it came in
said to steep at 165 degrees for 3-4 minutes. I've read online that
some people steep much hotter and for much longer. I find that when I
double the steeping time, to about 7 minutes, the tea is smoother
(almost milky) and less complex. I prefer it with a rawer edge. Sorry
I'm not very good at explaining what I'm tasting, I'm relatively new to
tea.

Anyone have any advice on how best to steep Silver Needles?

wrote:
> I got 1/8 lbs of Silver Needles for Christmas (among other
> things)...I've never had white tea before and I've been experimenting
> trying to find the right steeping conditions. The package it came in
> said to steep at 165 degrees for 3-4 minutes. I've read online that
> some people steep much hotter and for much longer. I find that when I
> double the steeping time, to about 7 minutes, the tea is smoother
> (almost milky) and less complex. I prefer it with a rawer edge. Sorry
> I'm not very good at explaining what I'm tasting, I'm relatively new to
> tea.
>
> Anyone have any advice on how best to steep Silver Needles?
>

As a rule of thumb, shorter times go with higher temperatures. Other
than that you have free reign of experimentation. For something as
delicate as Silver Needle, I wouldn't go above 180F. Personally, I like
my Silver Needle at the 160F you mentioned. I'll do a 2-3 minute steep
and then increase the length for subsequent steeping a bit. Sometimes
I'll boost the temperature 5-10F as well for the later steepings.

Steve

writes:

> [...]
> Anyone have any advice on how best to steep Silver Needles?

What seems to work best for me is what Joe Kubera has called
"wrongfu": lots of leaf but not gongfu proportions, fairly hot water,
lots of short steeps. Specifically, about 1g of leaf per fluid ounce
of water, temperature off-boil (somewhere in the 190s F), and steeps
starting with maybe 20 seconds after an initial rinse. It's the same
method I find myself using virtually all the time for Pu'er.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

and would you use this method for any Loose white tea or is it only for
specific teas which can stand up to several steeps? Thanks, Kitty

"Kitty" > writes:

> and would you use this method for any Loose white tea or is it only for
> specific teas which can stand up to several steeps? Thanks, Kitty

I'd use this (wrongfu) for white teas that are all or mostly unopened
buds. And while I'm recommending things, may I recommend quoting
the context you're responding to? Not everyone reads news via the
Google Groups website.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

Kitty wrote:
> and would you use this method for any Loose white tea or is it only for
> specific teas which can stand up to several steeps? Thanks, Kitty
>

Many teas can do multiple steepings. I think the only exception I've
run into is Darjeeling. There are probably others as well.. But any
White/Green/Oolong is fair game.

Steve

Steve Hay > writes:

> Kitty wrote:
> > and would you use this method for any Loose white tea or is it only for
> > specific teas which can stand up to several steeps? Thanks, Kitty
> >
>
> Many teas can do multiple steepings. I think the only exception I've
> run into is Darjeeling. There are probably others as well.. But any
> White/Green/Oolong is fair game.

Because Kitty omitted the context, I think you assumed that this was
merely about multiple steeps. It was a bit more specific: multiple
short steeps with a lot of leaf at high temperatures. I wouldn't try
that with a delicate, fresh green.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Anyone have any advice on how best to steep Silver Needles?
>

From instructions for Republic of Tea 'Silver Rain' loose tea ("silver
needles"; Fujian province)
"Heat fresh water just short of boiling (175°-185°F). Infuse one rounded
teaspoon per cup for two to three minutes. This tea is good for multiple
infusions."

From instructions for Republic of Tea 'Emperor's White Tea' teabags (rare
white tea buds; Fujian province)
"The water should be just short of boiling (175º-185ºF) and the tea should
steep only 30-60 seconds."

Huh??? Now why should teabags and loose tea of the same variety and same
importer get different brewing instructions?

See also
http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/Yinzhe...le_p/wc051.htm
http://greentealovers.com/greenteapr...onwhitetea.htm

"Knack" > writes:

> [...]
>
> Huh??? Now why should teabags and loose tea of the same variety and same
> importer get different brewing instructions?

Usually the tea in bags has been chopped very fine. This means the
tea will steep much faster.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

> Huh??? Now why should teabags and loose
> tea of the same variety and same
> importer get different brewing instructions?


I'm with you on this one, man. I've read and heard from a ton of
people, all different times for the same teas. Some people are of the
5-7 minute camp, some of the 2-3 minute camp, some are of the
less-than-a-minute camp.

It's a matter of personal taste, I think. I rarely steep any tea longer
than a minute. Whites and Greens especially. I use gaiwan preparation,
and make sure everything is preheated, rinse the leaves with about a 15
second "1st infusion", discard that, and then add more water, brew for
about 30 seconds, pour off to a mug or retaining pot, brew again, for
about the same amount of time, etc.. I add about half of the previous
cycle's length to each successive brewing.. So.. 30sec, 45 sec, 1min
10sec, 1min 45sec, etc.. This changes depending on the variety and
grade of the tea, since certain teas have different needs for steeping.
I find shorter brewing times for the white/yellow/green teas during the
first 2-3 infusions is good, but then increasing the later brewing
times by a lot to get a consistent brew. Longer brew times (more than a
minute or two) for those teas will make them taste very bitter and
astringent and destroy thier flavour, IMO.

If I'm unsure about how long should brew it, I just sample it regularly
to check it's progress. A little sip.. too weak? wait longer.. too
strong? pour into the retaining pot, and make the next brew cycle
shorter until I figure it out.

Don't ever follow a blanket method, as you're guaranteed to get
medicore results most of the time, bed results some of the time, and
maybe, just maybe, a good cup of tea some of the time.

Much better to think about it and follow your own tongue's desires.

Hope that helps,
Troy Howard (aka Da Tong)