At a glance
Xiaobai Yinzhen is the bud-white-tea name used in this inherited Jianyang entry. Xiaobai and Silver Needle wording do not alone certify a packet’s cultivar, origin or grade. Keep this regional account distinct from the broader Baihao Yinzhen guide.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 小白银针 |
| Tea family | White tea |
| Associated origin | Jianyang, Nanping, Fujian, in the inherited regional entry |
| Leaf form | Slender needle-shaped white-tea buds |
Taste and appearance
The specific old sensory table describes slender, even grey-green buds, a tender downy aroma and pale apricot-yellow liquor, with a clean, mellow, sweet and brisk cup. That specific description is more useful here than the old slogan’s conflicting plump-bud claim. It is an inherited comparison, not a TeaPlain tasting record or a mandatory bud size.
The original liquor photograph is withheld because identical pixels were assigned to another tea name. Its named identity could not be confirmed; the original file is preserved.
The cover is the original dry-leaf illustration. These images are not TeaPlain tasting samples or proof of origin, grade, age, authenticity or image rights clearance.
Grade characteristics
This preserves the earlier Chinese edition’s sensory comparison. It is not a complete verified current standard table and does not grade your packet. Plant material, growing area, processing and grade are separate details. Decorative star rankings are omitted.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the grades.
| Feature | Extra grade | Grade 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Dry-leaf shape | Slender, even needle-shaped buds | Slender, reasonably even needle-shaped buds |
| Dry-leaf colour | Grey-green | Grey-green |
| Liquor | Pale apricot-yellow and bright | Pale apricot-yellow |
| Aroma | Tender downy-bud aroma | Tender, delicate downy-bud aroma |
| Taste | Clean, mellow, sweet and brisk | Clean, mellow, reasonably brisk |
| Infused leaves | Tender, bright and lively | Tender and bright |
The table preserves the original slender-bud description rather than silently changing it to match a plump-bud slogan. Neither size alone nor the translated name verifies cultivar or origin.
Names and origin
The source associates this entry with Jianyang. Local Xiaobai history involves Caicha population material, but that does not verify the material of every Silver Needle packet. Its earlier introduction also discussed Shuixian white tea; that is a separate plant-material topic, so the Shuixian-specific chemistry is not used to explain these buds. Old regional history is not a universal single-inventor history of all white tea.
Everyday benefits
Brewed without added sugar, this is an ordinary tea drink that can be an alternative to sweetened drinks and contribute to fluid intake. It contains caffeine. These everyday properties do not establish that this named tea treats disease, lowers blood sugar or improves sleep. No TeaPlain clinical or brewing test is claimed here.
Who may enjoy this tea
Consider it if you want to explore regional bud white tea and compare slender-bud descriptions with other Silver Needle guides. Choose by traceable product and taste, not a promise of better sleep or lower blood sugar.
When to take care
- Caffeine sensitivity or sleep problems: consider your total intake and timing if tea affects your sleep. A pale infusion is not a caffeine-free claim.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or medicines: ask a clinician or pharmacist about your actual product, caffeine intake and relevant medicine instructions.
- Iron supplements: follow the medicine’s instructions about separating tea from the dose. Do not use tea as treatment for anaemia.
These are product and individual considerations, not a blanket ban based on traditional “hot” or “cold” labels, age, sex or a constitution category.
How to brew
Original prose: porcelain gaiwan
The original method uses a porcelain gaiwan, 1:20 tea-to-water ratio, 100°C / 212°F, preliminary wetting/rinse and a 5-second drinking infusion before decanting. Its dose was not measured in the prose. This explicit example is editorial arithmetic, not water inferred from the illustration.
| Detail | Original prose with an explicit ratio example |
|---|---|
| Tea | 5 g weighed Xiaobai Yinzhen as an editorial example; use the actual loose or pressed form |
| Actual water | 100 mL / about 3.4 US fl oz, measured for the drinking infusion; 5 g at 1:20 |
| Vessel | Heat-safe porcelain gaiwan with room for leaves and actual water |
| Water temperature | 100°C / 212°F |
| First drinking infusion | 5 seconds, then decant completely; account for filling/pouring time |
| Preliminary wetting/rinse | Separate from the drinking infusion, not a validated disinfection step |
Use the packet’s complete directions first. These inherited methods and editorial examples are awaiting hands-on testing. Ten-or-more infusions is the old expectation, not a guarantee. Nominal capacity is not actual water after leaves displace space. Let the drink cool enough to sip.
Read the original illustration separately
The drawing gives 5 g, a nominal 110 mL gaiwan, 100°C water poured along the wall and 3–5 seconds after filling before decanting. Actual water is not measured and no separate preliminary rinse is shown. The water-source ranking is a preference graphic, not evidence that untreated spring or well water is potable.
For ordinary teaware options, see brew without a gaiwan. Keep each complete method together instead of selecting temperature, dose and time from different preparations.
Adjust your cup
| What you notice | One change to try |
|---|---|
| Too strong, bitter or drying | Separate the liquid from the leaves; shorten contact time or use less tea next time |
| Weak or watery | Keep the measured water fixed and try a longer infusion before changing the leaf dose |
| Later infusions become stronger | Check whether liquid was left sitting with the leaves |
| Different from a flavour description | Compare the actual product and method; a description is not a promise for every cup |
Change one variable at a time. For a fuller sequence, see fix a disappointing first cup.
How to buy
Ask for the exact Chinese name, maker, locality, plant material, harvest and loose or pressed form. Silver Needle is a naming clue, not proof of one cultivar or place. The original two sensory tiers and three price rows are retained without inventing a third sensory column.
See buy your first Chinese tea for packet comparisons.
China price reference
Undated figures retained from the Chinese edition, in Chinese yuan (CNY). No original brand, batch, harvest or quotation date was recorded. These are not verified current retail quotes, a market average or manufacturer-suggested retail prices.
| Chinese-edition tier | CNY per 500 g (one jin) | Equivalent CNY per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Extra grade | 1,200 | 240 |
| Grade 1 | 750 | 150 |
| Grade 2 | 500 | 100 |
Per 100 g is an arithmetic conversion, not a quoted packet. Do not infer a missing sensory or price tier. Compare actual growing area, style, harvest, roast, weight and channel. A currency conversion does not make a UK or US retail offer comparable to a China historical figure.
How to store
Original storage method
For a small working amount, the original entry uses a closed foil or kraft pouch inside a small box or tin, kept dry and free of strong smells. Check that the inner packaging is food-suitable and moisture resistant; plain unlined paper is not equivalent to a sealed foil pouch. For a cake, gently remove the amount needed without leaving the main packet open.
Its larger-supply example uses three layers: arrange the tea in a foil pouch, remove excess air gently and seal; add and close an outer plastic bag; then put it in a cardboard box and tape the seams. Keep it cool and dry at ordinary room temperature. This preserves the original handling method, not a guarantee of improvement with age.
The earlier targets were below 25°C / 77°F and below 50% relative humidity. These are legacy environmental figures, not a verified expiry prediction. The source mentions GB/T 30375 as a tea-storage standard, but a citation alone does not establish that your packet or home setup complies with it. No universal shelf life or remaining duration is assigned; follow the actual product label and packaging conditions.
In a UK or US kitchen
Choose a dry cupboard away from the hob or stove, dishwasher steam, sun and strong food smells. Reseal after use and keep a daily portion separate if it helps avoid opening the main supply repeatedly. Do not add moisture to imitate a tea warehouse or assume an old packet is automatically better or safe. See storing an opened packet for everyday handling.
Origin, processing and history
The image shows picking, withering, drying and sorting. It is a simplified white-tea map, not evidence of a specific plant identity or garden. Do not transfer another cultivar’s chemical explanation into this regional bud-tea entry.
Common questions
Is every tea called Xiaobai Silver Needle from Jianyang?
The name alone does not establish a growing area. This entry preserves a Jianyang regional account; other producers use Xiaobai wording for their own material and places. Read the actual origin and plant-material description, and do not assume it is identical to a Fuding or Zhenghe Silver Needle.
Can I move one number from this recipe into a different vessel?
Keep leaf form, measured dose and actual water, temperature, timing and separation together. Nominal capacity or a fill fraction is not a measured ratio.
Compare Xiaobai Gongmei, or browse the white tea overview.
Editorial notes and updates
Updated 16 October 2026. Valid original descriptions, sensory comparisons, prose and image methods, storage handling, China price figures and usable pictures are retained with their scope. Doubtful medical, ranking and exact historical claims are revised or omitted. Current full grade clauses and historical prices are not certified. Original Chinese-labelled graphics have English reading notes; no TeaPlain tasting or brewing test is claimed. Internal research and image audits record the decisions.