Tuesday TeaDay 6/23/09 Yin Zhen, Silver Needles, shooting?

[Chip]

Greetings tea fans. Please stop in and share what is in your cup today.

Yesterday cup sizes, shapes, and individual flexibility was discussed. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Certainly not a fringe tea, but not so many years ago, Chinese Silver Needles white tea was only called Yin Zhen and was a pretty rare commodity outside of China. Today there are offerings of Silver Needles from many countries and regions within those countries. So, has Silver Needles found its way into your TeaMenu? How much, how little? How did you first find this unique and sublime white tea?

I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[Trey Winston]

Staple tea, along with pretty much every other white. Having some right now, in honor of the poll.

[Salsero]

It's always fun to throw some Yin Zhen in a glass and watch it migrate from the top ...

• • • As for most people, yin zhen is still a change of pace rather than a staple
      for me. I'm always sort of amazed at how flexible it is about steeping time
      and even about the quantity of tea leaf you need.
      
      Good news, Sebastien thinks they may be able to find some more of the
      little tulip cups I like so much and of which I posted a pic yesterday.

... to the bottom.

[entropyembrace]

I only occasionally drink silver needles...usually when I want white tea I go for my Zheng He Bai Mu Dan.

I'm drinking Phoenix #1 Iron Goddess tonight before bed

[olivierco]

Occasionally.
About two 50g packages a year.

Kirameki shincha this morning.

[sriracha]

I've had Silver Needles a couple of times so far..I bought it quite recently, out of curiosity and while it's an interesting and subtly flavourful tea I usually crave something with a bit more oomph.

The first time I made a cup I had an instant memory flashback though, it reminded me of a type of summer flower growing around here which I associate with summer camps I went to as a child.

This morning saw my workplace Yunnan in my cup...right now I'm contemplating which of the three rather underwhelming greens in my locker I should brew up next. Ahh work.

[Drax]

I have it about once a month or so. I enjoy it as a nice change.

This morning, I'm continuing with some oolongs from the box pass...., but one that I started yesterday. Apparently I need to go higher on the leaf amount, but it already tastes pretty good. Hmmm.

[brad4419]

Occasionally. I just have a 25g sample of this tea. Im not a big fan of silver needles, I love white teas like shou mei and bai mu dans but for the price I just don't like it any better, in fact I like the others better.

pouchong(bai zhong) from rishi today

[chad]

I said occassionally since I have to go to Tampa or mail order to get Silver Needles. I have Pai Mu Tan readily available so that's my "go to" white tea.

I do enjoy the Silver Needle though.

Pai Mu Tan in the mug this morning. If I'd known what the question of the day was I would have done some Silver Needles.

[tea-guy]

Rarely, but for no particular reason. I just have so much tea I need to try as it is.

In my cup this morning: Chocolate Mint Mate from David's Tea

[Proinsias]

Maybe one pack a year.

I'm off to the Glastonbury festival today, the sun is scorching and I hope it stays that way, so I'll see you all in week or so. Be on good behavior whilst I'm away

[Intuit]

Don't have it very often - I've been underwhelmed by what I suspect is lower quality silver needles tea - very little flavor, mostly 'hay' with none of the promised spice notes to follow. I need to explore the white tea genre in general to compare and contrast tea type flavor/aroma range and quality.

Having some of my 'Boot the Bug' iced tea-cherry juice (with mascerated cherries) blend, even though it's *unseasonably* cool right now. Mother nature will remedy that with a blast of 90 degree weather tomorrow! But then we are back to cool weather again.

[geeber1]

I have a sample but have yet to try it, I keep forgetting it's there. Maybe I'll give it a go tonight.

Golden Spring in my cup this morning.

[JP]

I have a white tea with silver needles that I use once in a while.

[depravitea]

I've yet to try Silver Needles. It sounds like one of the villains in a Hell Raiser movie lol
I'll try any tea at least once though, even Kombucha


This morning: Ti Kuan Yin. It's awesome. Thanks for the swap thirtysixbelow!