Junshan Silver Needle君山银针

Junshan Silver Needle is a bud-only yellow tea from Junshan Island, Dongting Lake, Hunan, China. Brew it at 85°C with 5g of leaf per 100ml of water; expect up to 7 short infusions in a small gaiwan or teapot. No rinse needed.

Tasting notes

Two things about Junshan Yin Zhen. First, most of what gets sold under the name is not the real tea — authentic material comes from a small island, the processing takes days of smothering, and the annual harvest is tiny. Second, when you do get the real thing, it drinks like nothing else: a sugarcane-and-corn-silk sweetness, a brightness that isn't quite green-tea bright because the men-huang has rounded the edges, and an aftertaste that builds rather than fades. Brew it in a tall glass if you want the tradition — the buds stand upright in the water and slowly sink, and yes, it's worth watching. 85°C maximum. Push higher and you flatten the sugary register into something generic. The body is medium, which surprises people expecting something delicate. Don't rinse, don't crowd the vessel, and don't blame the tea if a cheap version tastes like average green — it isn't the real one.

Flavor profile

The rarest of China's yellow teas. The men-huang smothering gives it a distinctive sugary-sweet, corn silk character that no green tea can match. The body is brisk yet mellow, with fresh sugarcane, wildflower, and a deep aftertaste that builds across steeps. The tiny island origin and labor-intensive processing make authentic versions exceptionally scarce.

Terroir

Small island in Dongting Lake, subtropical, misty, fertile lakeside soil

Cultivar: Junshan Quntizhong (local big-leaf varieties including Yin Zhen #1, Bi Xiang Zao)

Brewing

1. Steep 1: 15 seconds
2. Steep 2: 15 seconds
3. Steep 3: 20 seconds
4. Steep 4: 25 seconds
5. Steep 5: 30 seconds
6. Steep 6: 40 seconds
7. Steep 7: 50 seconds

Keep water at 80-85°C to protect the delicate buds. A glass vessel is traditional — the buds stand upright and dance in the water. Sweetness and body deepen with each round.

Aroma & taste

Processing

• pan-fired
• men-huang (smothered yellowing, 4-5 days)
• dried

Sources

• https://sevencups.com/shop/junshan-yinzhen-yellow-tea/
• https://sevencups.com/learn-about-tea/famous-chinese-tea/about-jun-shan-yin-zhen/
• https://www.nannuoshan.org/blogs/blog/jun-shan-yin-zhen
• https://hojotea.com/item_e/y01e.htm
• https://www.teadrunk.com/pages/yellow-tea-fundamentals
• https://www.mastersteas.com/teas/jun-shan-yin-zhen.html