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KittyLovesTea

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Yin Zhen (Silver Needle) from Canton Tea Co

KittyLovesTea drank Yin Zhen (Silver Needle) by Canton Tea Co

This weeks Canton Tea Clubs tea is Silver Needle (Yin Zhen). It’s strange but I have been craving a lot of white tea the moment so it’s very fitting.

The leaves whilst raw smell slightly sweet and floral. They are silvery green in colour and form thin, sharp leaves that are so fresh they have a natural fuzz.

Brewed in a small teapot using 4g with three infusions starting with 1 minute and increasing each infusion by an extra minute.

Once wet the leaves smell sweet and somewhat fruity, almost like melon or sweet pea.

Infusion 1 – Very pale yellow in colour with a sweet and vegetal fragrance. The tea itself is crisp, fresh, light and floral. A wonderful example of fresh Silver Needle.

Infusion 2 – Same colour and smell. The flavour is a little stronger and crisper. The sweetness is now also more fruity but still subtle and fresh.

Infusion 3 – The same colour and smell. The flavour has weakened muchly and is now more floral than fruity but extremely subtly.

Three steeps were recommended and they turned out nicely. With the club giving me 25g this week and a teapot only uses 4g I have plenty left to enjoy :) Thank you Canton Tea Club.

2013-01-05 10:09:24 -0500

165 °F / 73 °C

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darky 2013-01-05 11:16:21 -0500

i’m usualy steeping my white for 3 – 4 and 5min with 3g :)

KittyLovesTea 2013-01-05 11:18:50 -0500

I think it’s mainly down to preference. This time I followed the instructions given to try and review it efficiently but teapot steeping is new to me, I usually just use my gaiwan which takes a lot more loose tea.

darky 2013-01-05 11:22:03 -0500

i still need to purchase a gaiwan, got some that i want to buy from butiki. but well costly months and bills… going to buy one soon :)

KittyLovesTea 2013-01-05 11:24:15 -0500

My only advice would be to get a basic one, something you can learn with. When I started using them I kept dropping it when pouring. You get used to it very quickly though. :)

darky 2013-01-05 11:36:16 -0500

u mean u destroyed a few gaiwans and spilled loads off tea? :) lol

KittyLovesTea 2013-01-05 11:39:48 -0500

Lol Not broken one yet but very lucky not to have, it’s just difficult for me as I have small feminine hands. Holding the bottom saucer with gaiwan full of boiling water and trying to hold the lid at a slant in place to pour the tea with one hand was difficult.

darky 2013-01-05 11:45:13 -0500

just remember the chinese all got even smaller hands ;)

Roughage 2013-01-05 13:50:47 -0500

I just got this one today and am looking forward to trying it.

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I am 25 years old from Leicester, England. I have been drinking tea for many years now and have been getting more and more appreciative about good tea’s. I like to try new and exciting tea’s and import regularly as a treat.

Tea wise my cravings change constantly from pu erh one month to jasmine green to the next and so on.

I adore cats and have four of my own called Honey, Cassie, Ebony and Ivory.

I also have three fish tanks which thankfully my cats have no interest in. They house an array of tropical fish.

I am a proud vegetarian and have been for the majority of my life. When I say vegetarian I mean just that as well, no fish or seafood, no chicken now and again, no animal products such as gelatine and cochineal.

I am always up for tea swaps so if you see anything in my virtual cupboard then please contact me.

I am also an avid reader and enjoy curling up with a book (mostly crime, horror, thriller, literature genres) in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.

I make gothic and alternative fashion jewellery and sell on eBay for a living. Jewellery making is an art that has been passed down from my mother. I have also just started to sell wire art and wire wrapped gemstone jewellery all handmade by yours truly.

I also work for a family based company that specialises in gemstone jewellery, essential oils, rare Andara pieces and lots more. http://angelleesadesigns.com/

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