Silver Tips

Quantity of tea leaves: 3 gram
Temperature of water: 80°
Infusion time: 3 minutes
Maximum number of infusions: 2 times

Begin by heating water to 80°C, the ideal temperature range to unlock the delicate and nuanced flavours of Silver Tips. For a Western-style brew, place about 3 grams of Silver Tips leaves into your teapot or infuser (about 250 ml), ensuring there is ample space for the leaves to expand and release their essence. Pour the heated water over the leaves, fully covering them, and let them steep for 3 minutes for the initial infusion.

Enjoy up to two infusions, maintaining the water temperature at 80°C and slightly extending the brewing time for the second infusion to fully appreciate the tea’s complex profile.

If you are brewing the Silver Tips using the Eastern gong fu cha method, use around 3-5 g of leaf for your gaiwan or small teapot (around 120 ml). This method will reveal the tea’s intricate layers and bring out its delicate, complex flavours.

No matter the brewing technique, Silver Tips will consistently deliver a beautiful infusion with a sweet and unique taste.

Read more about how to brew a delicious cup of tea.

Silver Tips White Tea presents a visually stunning cup with its silver-grey, downy buds that capture the essence of Sri Lanka’s wild tea gardens.

The dry leaves emit a delicate and inviting aroma, blending sweet, fruity notes with a hint of spice. Upon infusion, the tea reveals a light and delicate flavour profile, characterised by a smooth sweetness reminiscent of honeydew melon, peach, and floral undertones.

Silver Tip’s honey-like texture and subtle herbal nuances create a refreshing and ethereal experience, leaving a gentle, lingering finish that embodies the pure and elegant nature of white tea.

Silver Tips tea made by Buddhika Dissanayake of Forest Hill in Sri Lanka is a rare and exquisite white tea made exclusively from tender buds harvested from semi-wild tea plants in the lush forests at the foot of Adam’s Peak.

Traditionally known as Bai Hao Yin Zhen (白毫銀針), White Hair Silver Needle, originated in Fujian province in China, now this style of white is crafted in many tea producing countries, including Sri Lanka. This forest-friendly tea is handpicked in the early morning when the buds are covered in a delicate white fuzz known as trichomes, signalling peak quality.

The production process of Silver Tips is minimal yet meticulous: the buds are carefully withered and gently sun-dried, allowing the natural flavours to develop with minimal oxidation. The result is a tea with a light, sweet, and umami-rich profile, accompanied by a unique herbal fragrance. Despite its light character, Silver Needle is high in caffeine, L-theanine, and polyphenols since the younger buds have concentrated amounts of goodness as they have to bring new leaves to life after winter slumber. Each kilogram of Silver Tips requires tens of thousands of these precious buds, making it a true labour of love and a testament to the rich biodiversity of Sri Lanka’s highlands.

Forest Hill’s Silver Tips earned a prestigious Gold Medal in the White Tea Single Origin category at the AVPA Awards in France.

Properly storing the Silver Tips tea leaves is crucial to retain its freshness and flavor. The key is to protect them from the elements that can compromise their quality: air, heat, light, and moisture.

Read more about how to store loose-leaf tea.