Rishi Tea - Silver Needle Organic Loose Leaf White Tea - 1.41 oz.

Rishi Tea - Silver Needle Organic Loose Leaf White Tea - 1.41 oz.

Rishi Tea Silver Needle Organic Loose Leaf White Tea is made with a reserve white tea with a sublime, sweet flavor and rich, savory finish. An exclusive blend of 1st Flush, single bud grades of Fuding Da Hao from Fujian, combined with Mengku Da Yeh and Menghai Da Yeh buds from Yunnan. Rishi Tea Silver Needle Organic Loose Leaf White Tea is very unique due to the blend of smooth, umami teas from Fujian and fruity, rich teas from Yunnan. Silver Needle has a smooth nectar like body with a subtle sweet flavor and fruity aroma, and is our most popular white tea. It is best brewed using a generous amount of tealeaves, and by steeping one serving multiple times.

• USDA Organic
• Loose Leaf
• Brews 20 Cups
• Certified Kosher

Silver Needle
Pure tea buds harvested only under the perfect conditions in early spring.

Taste
Subtle yet savory flavor with a sweet fruity aroma.

Origin
Yunnan and Fujian, China.

Caffeine Level
Medium.

White Tea
Rishi White tea is semi-oxidized and carefully made with a gentle process of withering, curing, and drying. Of all the types of tea, white teas are the least processed. They are characterized by delicate flavors, a smooth mouthfeel, and a subtly fruity, sweet finish...

White teas tend to have less bitterness than other teas, and can be more forgiving of water temperature and infusion times than green teas. Rishi Tea offers several pure white teas as well as signature white teas blended with fragrant herbs and botanicals.

Most white teas are made from medium-leaf tea bush varieties that yield silvery-white sprouts and leaves. They are delicately hand-harvested only once a year, for a few weeks in early spring when the weather is consistently cool and dry. The withering process of white tea raises an abundance of silvery-white hairs on the dried tealeaves and buds. Authentic white teas such as White Peony are multi-colored like autumn leaves, and are covered with a silver-white "down" that resembles the skin of a ripened peach. Silver Needle, the premier style of white tea, consists of only silvery-white sprouts shaped like needles without attached leaves. White teas take their name both from their appearance and from the original Fujian tea bush varieties selected for the production of white tea. These medium-leaf tea bushes include "Fuding Da Hao" (Fuding County's Big Silvery-Hair) and "Fuding Da Bai" (Fuding County's Big White).

Geographically, white tea originated north of the Min River in China's Fujian Province in the town of Zhenghe. While many white teas are still produced in Zhenghe today, others are produced in nearby Fuding. In fact, over the last decade, new types of white tea have emerged in many areas outside of Fujian. One of Rishi Tea's favorite new origins for white tea is Yunnan Province, where leaves destined to be made into white tea are harvested from ancient heirloom assamica variety trees. Depending on prevailing weather and seasonal character, Rishi Tea produces white teas in Zhenghe, Fuding, and Yunnan. Rishi Tea offers single farm micro-lots as well as exclusive varietal and multiple-farm blends of organic white teas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much tea do I use, for how long and at what temperature?
Each tea label and website listing has our suggestions for amount of tea, water temperature and steeping time. Rishi Tea encourages that you experiment with brewing methods. By changing steeping time, water temperature and amount of tea you can determine your own personal preferences. 1 serving of loose tea can be steeped multiple times. Simply increase the steeping time by 1 minute with each subsequent infusion.

How much caffeine is in tea?
Caffeine levels in tea are dependant on various factors. Generally, a serving of tea has about a third of the caffeine as compared to a serving of coffee. It is difficult to give the exact amount of caffeine in each tea as they would each have to be tested and that level could change during the course of time.

The varietal of tea bush, altitude, soil type, amount of sunlight and rainfall all contribute to the caffeine levels found in tea. Most importantly, the amount of tea used and the water temperature will affect caffeine levels. If you use more tea, hotter water, or steep the tea longer, you will extract more caffeine into your cup.

If you are looking to lower the caffeine level in your tea, Rishi Tea recommends using a smaller amount of tea and water at a lower temperature to decrease the final amount of caffeine in your tea.

How do I properly store tea?
Please keep teas in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and strong odors. The black bags in which Rishi packages their tea is perfect for storage as they keep light out and can be resealed.

What kind of water should I use to brew my tea?
Even the best tea will only be as good as the water used to prepare it. Avoid distilled water, mineral water and tap water when making tea. Spring water or filtered water is best. Rishi recommends that you test several different filters and brands of bottled water to find the best water in your area.

They highly recommend using a thermometer to accurately measure water temperature.

To best enhance the flavor and fragrance of your tea, pour hot water into your teapot and cups, let sit for a few moments and then discard. Warming the teaware helps maintain the temperature needed to infuse aromatic tea and will result in a more pronounced flavor profile.

What is a natural flavor?
As a Certified Organic company, Rishi Tea must follow strict regulations in order to call something a “natural flavor.” According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a flavor is defined as the following: “The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.

The flavors Rishi Tea uses in Certified Organic products must meet some additional requirements put forth by the National Organic Program (NOP). They must obtain documentation from our flavor suppliers that verify their flavors are non-synthetic, have not been produced using synthetic solvents and carrier systems or any artificial preservatives, that they are not derived nor is any ingredient derived from GMOs, and they have not been irradiated. This documentation is presented to our organic certifier at the time of certification of all products and is verified during our annual organic inspection.

What is a natural flavor?
As a Certified Organic company, Rishi Tea must follow strict regulations in order to call something a "natural flavor." According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a flavor is defined as the following: "The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.

The flavors Rishi Tea uses in Certified Organic products must meet some additional requirements put forth by the National Organic Program (NOP). They must obtain documentation from their flavor suppliers that verify their flavors are non-synthetic, have not been produced using synthetic solvents and carrier systems or any artificial preservatives, that they are not derived nor is any ingredient derived from GMOs, and they have not been irradiated. This documentation is presented to their organic certifier at the time of certification of all products and is verified during their annual organic inspection.

The Origin of Rishi Tea
Rishi Tea was founded on the commitment to set the standard for quality and expand the awareness of tea and its rich, inspirational tradition. They offer superb loose-leaf tea imported directly from tea gardens across Asia, made according to ancient artisanal practices using organic cultivation techniques and Fair Trade standards. From their modest beginnings over ten years ago to becoming an established leader in the specialty tea market, their mission has never wavered.

Rishi Tea began in 1997 when Joshua Kaiser, founder and tea buyer, recognized that the traditional handcrafted teas he grew so fond of during his travels in Asia were rarely available elsewhere. Joshua felt that North American consumers would embrace artisan tea as they did single origin coffee and fine varietal wine if they were given access to it at reasonable prices. He believed the same gourmet consumer who was willing to learn the difference between a Costa Rican coffee and an Indonesian coffee, as well as develop a refined palate for wine, was also ready to appreciate the natural complexity and flavors of premium tea.

Joshua enlisted a well-traveled and longtime friend Benjamin Harrison as partner. The two, along with help from friends, worked in a 400 square foot windowless space in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward district, hand-blending original botanicals blends and individually packaging premium teas imported from origins that Joshua frequented. The space was soon outgrown and Rishi Tea moved into the burgeoning Bay View neighborhood. While the production facilities expanded, Rishi Tea preserved its founding principles including unique hand-blending techniques, meticulous hand-packaging and strict quality control. Today, the Rishi team has grown into a passionate group of tea lovers who serve as guides for their customers into the world of premium tea.

They travel thousands of miles each year to the diverse points of origin where their teas are harvested, maintaining the personal relationships they have developed over the years with farmers and artisans whose families have been making traditional teas for generations. Rishi Tea's efforts to integrate the wisdom of ancient tea production with sanitary, efficient manufacturing practices have offered many artisan families a new means to keep their traditions alive as well as a chance to benefit from the growing market for premium teas. Their uniquely strong network in China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, India and many other tea origins allow them to provide exceptional loose-leaf teas with an unrivaled level of freshness, quality and connection to origin.

Rishi aspires to link the leaf at origin to its end result: a revitalizing cup of tea. Every tea has a unique flavor and style that reflects its origin, varietal, vintage and artisanal method of manufacture. Rishi's connections to the origins of tea are integral to the sustainability of their quality.

Rishi Tea's commitment to sustainability is a core company philosophy that stems from the organic tea gardens where their teas are harvested. Their firsthand experience in many tea-growing regions led to their heightened awareness of the dire need for social responsibility. Rishi Tea was among the first to earn organic certification under the USDA's Natural Organic Program in November of 2002 and at the forefront in the advancement of Fair Trade Certified tea, becoming one of the highest payers of social premiums from the sale of Fair Trade tea. The TransFair USA Fair Trade Certified projects with which Rishi partners directly support a better life for the tea-farming families and their communities through fair prices, fair wages, safe working conditions, environmental sustainability, education and community development.

For more than 1,000 years, tea has been the most consumed beverage next to water. Rishi Tea's travels, trade and study are devoted to sustaining the quality and extraordinary benefits of tea so that future generations may also benefit from it. They urge their customers to appreciate loose-leaf tea as though it were a fine wine; to brew it properly, use the proper teaware, and enjoy the experience that each cup brings. As a winner of four First Place Awards for Best Tea at the 2011 North American Tea Championship, they are proud to share their exceptional teas, fresh each season and direct from origin.

Green Initiatives
The Rishi Tea Green Team formed to better represent their core values of Organic and Fair Trade practices at origin into their daily business practices. Comprised of members from various departments within Rishi, the Green Team combines passion and knowledge with a commitment to sustainable actions within the US. Having members from different departments allows them to execute their green projects with a holistic view.

Rishi's Green Team promotes waste reduction, energy conservation and offsetting energy usage with the ultimate goal of reducing their ecological footprint. They aspire to build a deeper level of consciousness regarding their everyday choices and the power that each of us holds. The choices we make today can help protect and preserve our beautiful planet tomorrow.

A few of their current green initiatives include:

• Printing all marketing materials on 100% post-consumer waste paper processed chlorine free and printed with soy ink.
• Packaging their Organic Iced Tea line using paper manufactured with 100% renewable wind energy and 80% post-consumer waste that is elemental chlorine free (ECF), acid free, 100% recyclable and printed with soy ink.
• Their increased demand for environmentally responsible paper encouraged their local printer to become Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified. FSC Certification ensures that products manufactured with wood have been harvested from sustainably-managed forests under strict environmental and social standards set by the FSC.
• They teamed up with Clean Water Fund, a grass roots organization working to protect and restore America's waters to promote cleaner water in the United States. By donating 25% of the profits of their limited winter blend, Organic Cinnamon Plum, they raised over $4,200 for Clean Water Fund and their wonderful efforts!
• Rishi Tea was one of the first companies to use completely biodegradable packaging cushions made from 100% recyclable material. The eco-friendly "Cell-O" air cushions by FP International are 99% air by volume; when deflated, less than 1% of the original volume remains. The cushions require less energy to produce and create fewer air and water pollutants and green house gas emissions than conventional paper products.
• Composting their used tealeaves with Growing Power - a self-sustaining urban farm in Milwaukee (learn how to start your own compost).
• Using fully compostable sample cups when serving tea at festivals, demonstrations and trade shows. Regular hot disposable cups contain petroleum based coating that does not degrade in landfills. They use cups made by Eco Products, Inc. which are lined with Ingeo plant-based plastic and decompose in as little as 45 days when in a commercial composting facility.
• Using 100% biodegradable and compostable garbage bags from Eco Safe Plastics, Inc.
• Offering 100% Organic Certified cotton tote bags and organic cotton beanies.

At Origin:
Risi's commitment to sustainability stems from the organic tea gardens where their teas are harvested. Their numerous travels to origin allow them to witness firsthand the positive impacts that organic farming has on the environment, the lives of the tea farmers, and ultimately, the quality of the tea.

Rishi Tea has imported premium organic tea under strict European Union Organic standards since 1999. They were among the first to earn organic certification under the USDA's Natural Organic Program in 2002 and at the forefront in the advancement of Fair Trade Certified tea, becoming one of the highest payers of social premiums from the sale of fair trade tea. The fair trade projects they have established, as well as those we partner with, directly support a better life for the tea-farming families and their communities through fair prices, fair wages, safe working conditions, environmental sustainability, education and community development.

Looking Ahead:
Rishi Tea is diligently working to expand their eco-friendly packaging, available with their Organic Iced Tea products, onto their entire retail line. The new packaging will use a paper manufactured with 100% renewable wind energy and 80% post consumer waste that is elemental chlorine free (ECF), acid free, 100% recyclable and printed with soy ink.

While their green initiatives continue to expand both at home and at origin, by no means have they reached their environmental ideal. They are still on the search for biodegradable bulk tea bags. Despite the advancements in biodegradable plastics, they have yet to find a material with a barrier strong enough to protect the quality of their tea. However, they will not give up!

Rishi Tea is proactively looking for fun, creative and effective ways to lessen their environmental footprint.

Not-So-Fun Facts:

Did you know: Conventional farming...

• Pollutes our fresh water supply with chemicals that soak into the soil and run off into our groundwater.
• Uses chemical and synthetic pesticides/fertilizers to kill weeds and pests, which leave harmful residues on food and disrupt ecological harmony by killing natural predators along with targeted pests.
• Uses genetic-engineering and modification to make crops grow faster and larger.
• Degrades the balance of the soil by leaching nutrients out of it.

Did you know: Plastic bottles...

• Take 700 years to begin composting.
• 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled.
• 24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles.

Did you know: Paper cups...

• Conventional hot disposable cups contain a plastic lining made from a non-renewable petrochemical.
• Cups that use petro-based plastic linings end up in landfills where they do not fully decompose.

Did you know: Petroleum-based inks...

• Contain higher levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), hazardous fumes emitted into the air during the ink's drying process.
• Are not sustainable and further our dependence on foreign oil.
• Paper printed with petroleum based ink is more difficult to recycle than paper printed with soy ink.

About Rishi Tea
Rishi Tea offers the highest quality organic and directly sourced loose leaf teas, fresh each season and direct from tea gardens around the world. They travel thousands of miles each year to work hands-on with skilled artisans whose families have been making traditional teas and herbs for generations. Their direct relationships allow them to produce rare and exclusive teas that offer an unmatched level of freshness. Being at origin to maintain these relationships is their way of ensuring the quality and authenticity of their teas and herbs.

Rishi's trade, travels, and study are devoted to expanding the understanding of loose leaf tea and setting the standard for quality. They are proud to offer over 200 loose leaf teas and herbs. They welcome you to try their teas and to consider Rishi Tea as your direct link to the tea growers, landscapes, and cultures that they've created lasting partnerships with.