2026 First-picked Silver Needle - White Tea - Master Mei - Charcoal Light Roast

Tea：2026 First-picked Silver Needle - White Tea -  Master Mei - Charcoal Light Roast

Origin: Bailiu Village, Diantou Town, Fuding, Fujian

Ingredient: Fuding Large White Tea Buds

Source: Master Mei Xiangjing White Tea, No.12 Yangzhong, Bailiu Village, Diantou Town, Fuding (Known as China’s No.1 White Tea Village)

Plucking Date: March 14, 2026

Flavor Profile: Pure and refreshing, with elegant bamboo leaf fragrance and delicate lily blossom aroma. The tea soup is sweet and full-bodied, finishing with a subtle salty sweetness — a uniquely flavored charcoal-roasted early spring silver needle.

Tasting Notes

The 2026 early spring white silver needle represents the first tender buds plucked at the opening of the annual white tea season. After accumulating nutrients throughout the entire winter dormancy, these first spring buds are highly nourished, reaching the peak of internal active substances for the whole year.

Early spring silver needle contains the highest annual levels of amino acids, tea polysaccharides, and vitamin C. Its tea polyphenol content remains stable at 18%-22%, with outstanding EGCG activity. As the most active and valuable core component of tea polyphenols, EGCG dominates the tea’s natural antioxidant properties and fresh, brisk taste.

Crafted with the traditional low-temperature charcoal roasting technique passed down by the Master Mei family, the tea is slowly dried over charcoal fire with mild and even temperature, differing greatly from mechanical drying. This ancient process enriches layered aroma and greatly improves brew resistance. It effectively eliminates the raw grassy flavor of fresh white tea for a remarkably smooth taste, maximally preserves precious EGCG substances, and lays an excellent foundation for long-term aging and transformation.

Traditional handmade charcoal roasting is extremely labor-intensive. Artisans must monitor the fire furnace in real time, precisely controlling temperature, roasting duration, and leaf flipping throughout the whole process. Few tea-making families still adhere to this ancient craft today, making this authentic handmade charcoal-roasted early spring silver needle a rare premium treasure in the white tea market.

This tea features a highly distinctive and long-lasting natural lily blossom aroma throughout brewing. As a brand-new 2026 fresh tea, it has almost no raw green notes — any slight grassy scent fades instantly with the first brew.

It delivers mild and restrained charcoal-roasted notes without heavy smoke flavor, presenting a natural aroma formed by the perfect fusion of tea leaves and slow charcoal roasting. The tea soup boasts rich downy fragrance, silky tender texture, and high sweetness, with floral aroma fully integrating into the liquor.

• Early brews: Elegant bamboo leaf scent blends with pure cane sweetness, delivering a mellow entrance and a unique subtle salty aftertaste.

• Mid brews: Rich lily blossom aroma unfolds layer by layer in the mouth with clear and long-lasting fragrance.

• Final brews (up to 10 infusions): Maintains a warm sweet water texture with faint fresh bamboo notes, retaining consistent sweetness even after multiple infusions with excellent endurance.

Brewing Times: 10+ infusions

Brewing Instructions

Hot Brewing: Ratio 5g tea / 100ml water, use boiling water at 95℃-100℃. Steep for 8 seconds for the first 3 infusions; extend steeping time appropriately for the 4th to 6th infusions for richer flavor.

Cold Brewing: Add 5g tea into 500ml mineral water, seal and refrigerate for 4-6 hours. The cold brew tastes extremely fresh, purely sweet, with a lingering mellow aftertaste.