White Tea

About White Tea

White Tea is made from the same plant as Green tea, Oolong and Black teas, Camellia Sinensis, known more commonly as the tea plant.

White tea leaves and buds are harvested before they are fully open, when the young buds are still covered with fine white hairs. And that is where the name “white” tea has come from.

As mentioned above, green and black teas are also made from the Camellia sinensis plant. Anyway, they are produced using different processing methods which give them their unique tastes and aromas. White tea is the least processed of these three teas. The result of such a process is a delicate tea that is considered one of the freshest in the world. Besides, it keeps a high amount of antioxidants.

White tea also tends to be slightly sweeter in flavour than green tea. It is one of the five types of tea known as true teas.

Origin of White Tea

White tea was first produced during the emperor rule in China.

True white tea as we know it today was enjoyed exclusively by the emperors and their close confidants. The emperors had their own tea gardens to grow tea plants and use their delicate leaves for young tea. White tea undergoes minimal processing to preserve its natural taste and delicate aroma.

There are several types of white tea and two main of them are Silver Needle and White Peony.

White tea requires similar storage methods as green tea. These lower oxidized teas can remain fresh up to a year if stored properly. Some important storage tips to remember:

• Always store tea in a cool, dark place.
• Keep it away from heat, light, oxygen and moisture and, besides, never store tea in the refrigerator.

Some people consider white tea as decaffeinated or caffeine-free, but this is not correct. White tea naturally contains caffeine.

White tea is generally very low in caffeine. This is true for white tea from Fujian, China, because the tea plant of that region is naturally low in caffeine. Anyway, white tea from other places is not necessarily low in caffeine. Thus, it can vary based on the plant and the region where the plant was grown.

What are the Health Benefits of White Tea

Just like green tea, white tea also has many qualities that improve overall health.

• May help you keep Fit & Healthy: Thanks to minimal processing, white tea is very rich in antioxidants. These help protect the body from free radicals, reduce chronic inflammation and keep your immune system strong.
• May help improve skin and hair health: White teas have been shown to help protect the skin from damage caused by stress, diet and sun’s UV rays, and can even help it to rebuild resistance to stress. It can also enhance hair growth and restore hair's natural shine.
• May Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease: white tea may help relax blood vessels and also prevent bad cholesterol from becoming oxidized. These factors may help lower the risk of heart disease.
• May Help You Lose Weight: When you think of teas for weight loss, the first tea that comes to mind is Green tea. However, white tea may be just as effective when it comes to helping the body burn fat and boost metabolism.
• May prevent and Fight Cancer: white tea extract may help suppress several types of cancer cells and stop them from spreading.

Having a few cups of white tea every day can have a positive effect on your overall health. Along with its health benefits on your immune system, white tea can also keep your hair, skin and teeth healthy.

To get the best flavor of the tea, we recommend you steeping white tea for only 1-3 minutes.

Enjoy several cups of white tea a day to attain its many health benefits!