Coming from the most remote and hidden regions of China is a new and inspiring tea – White Tea!
The ancient Chinese took full advantage of the benefits of white tea thousands of years ago, and most of them still enjoy it to this day, but it was only recently that the rest of the world discovered this well hidden tea.
What makes it so special? Simply put, white tea is the least processed form of tea, made of beautiful silver buds and select leaves which have been steamed and dried.
Because of its minimal processing, white tea contains more nutrients than its black or green cousins, making it the mightiest of the teas, the ultimate Health Tea.
Like green tea and black tea, white tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant and is harvested almost exclusively in China, primarily in the Fujian province. These buds and leaves are allowed to wither in natural sunlight before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation or further tea processing. This preserves the characteristic flavour of the white tea.
In addition to having greater antioxidant activity than its green and black counterparts, white tea offers the least amount of caffeine. Since there's no heating or oxidizing involved in its preparation, white tea is also recognized as the least processed tea variety.
The name "white tea" derives from the fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives the plant a whitish appearance.
Rare, striking in appearance, and pleasant tasting, white tea gets its name from the fine silvery white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant. The highest quality white tea, Silver Needle, consists only of these buds and is beautiful to behold.
The brew has a light, delicate, slightly sweet flavor that sharpens the senses without overwhelming the tongue.
It has less caffeine than black or green tea, and far less than coffee, making it an excellent choice for those wishing to reduce caffeine.
White tea is technically the oldest form of tea because it is really the first tea ever consumed and, the least processed. Other processing techniques later led to the production of other teas.
Once the preferred tea of Chinese royalty, White tea was virtually unknown outside of China where it was first produced during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D). At that time, White tea was produced quite differently than it is today. Leaves were compressed into cakes and boiled in kettles. Like they are today, white teas came from leaves plucked in early spring. By 1200 A.D. the immature silver white leaves were immediately steamed, dried and ground into a powder, used to make the delicate tea. As ruling dynasties changed, so did the production of white teas.
The process by which today's White teas are made can be traced to the late 1700s when loose teas from a mixed-variety tea bush were steeped for tea production. By 1885, specific types of tea bushes were being used to create various types of White teas. In 1891, Chinese exportation of White teas began.
White tea requires great care and effort to produce. Special varieties of the tea bush are selected and tended for several years before yielding their first harvest.
Early spring provides the best white tea. When the time is right, the workers carefully hand-pick the silver buds and select leaves.
There is no picking on rainy days or when frost is on the ground. White tea can only be picked for a short time each year, making it rare and precious.
The buds and leaves are then steamed and slowly dried. Unlike black or green tea, white tea is not rolled, and only slightly oxidized, making it the least processed tea. This may account for its powerful health benefits.
Climate, altitude, and soil must be right. All this work, just so we can enjoy a cup of white tea!
There are four main varieties of white tea: Silver Needle, White Peony, Long Life Eyebrow, and Tribute Eyebrow.
The finest white tea, made only of silvery white buds. Beautiful to behold and delightful to drink. It is the most famous white tea, with a delicate, light, and slightly sweet flavor.
Next highest in quality, White Peony consists of buds and leaves. The best White Peony has both bud and leaf covered in silvery white hair. It tends to have a stronger taste and darker color than Silver Needle.
A lower rank white tea, Long Life Eyebrow is made from leaves left over after the Silver Needle and White Peony harvest.
Another lesser white tea, Tribute Eyebrow is made from a special tea bush and is processed in a slightly different way than other white teas.
There are a number of other white tea varieties, some named after the region of origin, others for special ingredients added to the leaves and buds. Fruits are a popular addition and add extra sweetness to the flavor. Every variety has something to offer, and we encourage you to experiment and find your own favorites.
Tea has been used as medicine for centuries. Now modern science is discovering what people in China and throughout the world have long known: tea is good for you. While green and black tea are very healthy, white tea is the least processed tea and has the highest antioxidant levels. It may be the supreme Health Drink.
Antioxidants are nutrients that protect the body from damage by free radicals. Free radicals are nasty things that go around wreaking havoc on your body, damaging DNA and accelerating aging. Antioxidants scoop them up and neutralize them. White tea is loaded with these protective nutrients.
White tea may have profound power against cancer-causing cells and against many different types of cancer, such as colon, prostate, and stomach cancers. Flavonoids, a class of antioxidants, inhibit the growth of cancer cells and prevent the development of new ones. In some cases, white tea has been found to work as well as prescription drugs, but without the side effects.
Studies show that white tea can thin the blood and improve artery function. It helps lower high blood pressure and maintain a healthy one. By promoting strong and healthy blood vessels, white tea guards against the ravages of stroke.
Topically applied white tea may improve the immune function of skin cells and protect against harmful ultraviolet rays, a 2003 study suggests.
Catechins, another group of antioxidants, have been found to reduce cholesterol, and white tea is teeming with them. Cholesterol is a special type of fat and is necessary for health. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, and white tea increases the good while decreasing the bad. This helps prevent hardening of the arteries and blockage of blood flow.
By thinning the blood, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cholesterol, white tea protects the heart and the entire circulatory system. Researchers have also discovered that people who drink 2 or more cups of tea a day are almost 50% less likely to die after suffering a heart attack. White tea is truly a remarkable heart tonic.
For a 2009 study, researchers tested white tea's anti-obesity effects in a series of experiments on human fat cells. Results showed that white-tea extract prompted fat to break down in existing fat cells. What's more, white tea seemed to reduce the expression of genes crucial to the growth of new fat cells. While the study's authors suggest that white tea may be "an ideal natural source of slimming substances," scientists have yet to explore whether the tea could fight obesity when sipped (rather than administered directly to cells in a lab).
Studies have found that people who drank tea regularly had greater bone density and strength than non-drinkers. White tea may also have beneficial effects for sufferers of arthritis and osteoporosis.
White tea is a natural killer of bacteria and viruses. The antioxidants so abundant in white tea tone the entire immune system, providing protection against a variety of invaders and a wide range of diseases. Its helps guard against the common cold and flu, and can ease the symptoms of HIV.
White tea contains small amounts of fluoride and other nutrients which keeps the teeth strong and healthy. It also kills the bacteria which causes plaque, tooth decay, and bad breath.
Free radicals from staying out in the sun too long, stress, and a poor diet can damage the skin and cause it to prematurely age. By scavenging these free radicals, white tea protects the skin and helps to reverse some of the damage. Drinking white tea promotes healthy and radiant skin.
White tea has many other benefits to offer. It may reduce blood sugar and help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of diabetes. It reduces stress and increases energy.
White tea may or may not aid in weight-loss. Studies suggest tea may increase metabolism and encourage the body to burn more fat, but a balanced diet and regular exercise are more likely to produce results. Still, adding white tea to your weight-loss plan can't hurt.
By now you can see that white tea has a great range of effects on the body and a tremendous number of benefits to your health. Its supreme power is in preventing disease and disorder.
White tea protects against cancer, heart disease, and stroke, the leading causes of death in the industrial world, as well as numerous other conditions. It eases the symptoms of illness and promotes recovery. White tea strengthens the circulatory and immune systems as well as bones and teeth, and builds healthy skin.
It is a superb tonic and one of God's great gifts. We encourage you to add it to your life. To your good health!
The best white teas come in loose-leaf form. They have far superior quality and flavor than bagged tea, which usually comes from dust at the bottom of the tea bin.
Like green tea, white tea is best brewed with pure water that is very hot, but not boiling. For stronger flavor, steep for a few minutes longer. Use 2 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea per cup.
Studies show that 2-4 cups of white tea a day yield greater health benefits than only one cup. To stretch your tea supply and your money, simply resteep the leaves once or twice to extract all the nutrients.
When reusing tea leaves, brew for several minutes longer than the first steeping.
Set aside a few minutes every day for your own well-being. Spend a few quiet moments just relaxing and enjoying your tea. Breathe deeply and easily, sit back in a comfortable chair, play some relaxing music, do whatever works for you. Not only are you getting health benefits from the tea, but also from the stress relief. It's one of the favorite parts of our day and a great way to enjoy white tea.
White tea makes a great gift for tea lovers. It has a light, refreshing taste, and the Silver Needle varieties are strikingly beautiful. It's also a great Gift of Health Benefits. You'll feel good knowing you're enriching someone else's life. Plus, a small bag of loose-leaf white tea can last for weeks.
It's good to try new things. The world of tea offers a vast range of choices. If possible, try the higher grade white teas, like the Silver Needle. Try a new tea or new variety every month, or every 2 or 3 months. Set aside a certain amount per month for "Tea Exploration".
Here are a few great tips to help you in your journey to find the highest quality white tea!
The best type of tea is, and always has been, loose leaf. This means that it is an actual bag or tub of the tea, and you actually steep it in the hot water and then strain it before drinking. While tea bags are more convenient, they aren't nearly as delicious or healthy as true loose-leaf tea, so you are genuinely missing out by using them. Loose-leaf tea is what has been used for thousands and thousands of years, so it's good to stick to tradition.
Be sure to take a look at reviews and customer ratings, as well as their selection of quality teas. You can also usually tell a reputable and quality seller of good tea by having a look at their website. A website that contains useful information is usually the first sign that someone knows the product that they sell.
Any quality and knowledgeable seller will be able to tell you where their tea products come from. As far as finding the best white tea, try to find one that is grown and harvested in the Fujian province of China, as this is considered the “homeland” of white tea.
If you aren't quite sure about spending money on a new tea, try to find a sample pack. These are usually fairly cheap, and they can really give you a great idea of what types of teas are out there. These will allow you try a variety of different white teas, and then you can find the one that is right for you, and stick to purchasing that particular type. Be sure to choose a quality sample pack that contains loose-leaf varieties of white tea.
4 heaping Tbsp. loose white tea (try White Peony or Silver Needle)
4 cups boiling water
1 bottle white wine, chilled
2 cups white grape juice, chilled
1 orange, washed and sliced
1 lime, washed and sliced
1 lemon, washed and sliced
2 kiwis, washed and sliced
1 peach, washed and sliced
1 apple, washed and sliced
6–12 berries, washed
6–12 grapes, washed
Ice
Tools: teapot, jar or other heat-safe container, strainer, pitcher
Glass: collins, or wine goblets
In a teapot or jar, cover tea leaves with boiling water and steep for 4 minutes. Strain out leaves and let tea cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Pour into ice-filled glasses. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Note: Substitute any of the fruits with whatever fresh, seasonal fruits you have on hand. Also, you can use oolong tea instead of white tea, if desired. Choose a lightly oxidized/fermented oolong to complement the sangria's fruity, floral flavors.
1 cup simmering water
1 tablespoon (or two teabags of) white tealeaves
The juice from 1/2 orange
Ice cubes (approximately one cup)
Pour just-simmering water over the tealeaves.
Steep for five minutes, and then remove the tealeaves from the tea.
Add the orange juice and stir.
Pour the mixture into a large glass full of ice.
Serve or drink immediately.
White tea is a delicate, considered tea aroma and flavor. It unlike other teas has no almost side effects or contraindications, except in special cases that you need to know, to enjoy its excellent properties and benefits.
Rarely, white tea may occur as a side effect, the presence of allergy to some of its components.
On the other hand, white tea has with the advantage of owning half of caffeine to black tea or green tea, therefore, does not affect equally hypertensive persons or cardiovascular problems.
Although white tea contains less caffeine than other teas on the market, some people might experience side effects. According to MedlinePlus, caffeine intake can lead to a fast heart rate, excessive urination, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, anxiety, depression, tremors and difficulty sleeping. If you are concerned about the side effects of caffeine, purchase decaffeinated tea.
It is important to emphasize the need to choose a good white tea, since it has no preservatives or additives that may interfere with your charity action for health.
Remember that it is necessary to consult a doctor with any questions you may have about this or other product.