White Tea is the most delicate of all the teas from the tea plant, picked young as unopened silver buds and barely processed, and it wants the coolest water of any of them. Where Green Tea takes 80C, Silver Tips white tea is better at around 75C; even a little too hot and the delicate buds scald and the cup turns harsh.
Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for the How to Brew White Tea (Silver Needle) recipe. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/white-tea/how-to-brew-white-tea-silver-needle/
The easiest way to hit that temperature without a thermometer is to boil the kettle and let it stand for three minutes before pouring. Brew it for three or four minutes and drink it as it is, with nothing added; milk, lemon or sugar would all bury the soft, faintly honeyed flavour that is the whole point of it.
You'll need
- 1 Teapigs Silver Tips White Tea temple
- 200ml freshly drawn water (used at 75C, off-boil and stood 3 minutes)
Method
- Bring the kettle to a boil, then take it off the heat and leave it to stand, lid open, for three full minutes to drop to around 75C.
- Pre-warm a small cup with a little hot water, swirl, and tip it out. A small cup holds the low temperature better than a big mug.
- Drop the tea temple into the cup and pour the 75C water over it.
- Cover the cup with a saucer and steep for three to four minutes.
- Lift the temple out gently and discard, without pressing; the delicate buds give their best with light handling.
- Serve straight away, with nothing added.
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Want the background, not just the brew?
Brewed with: Teapigs Silver Tips White Tea, 15 Tea Bags 37.5g
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