White tea, like black, green and oolong tea is represented by the leaves of a plant by the name of Camellia Sinensis. While other types of tea go through a series of curing and oxidation processes, white tea has a much simpler processing, consisting only of steaming and drying. Also opposed to the other types of tea, white tea is not harvested from mature tea leaves, but instead, of young leaves and buds. This type of harvesting, as well as the minimal processing of white tea, ensures the existence of its particular properties, both in terms of health benefits and in terms of taste. The taste of white tea is delicate, sweet and refined, and some would say superior to that of green tea.
One of the most insisted upon traits of white tea is its reduced caffeine content, as opposed to black tea or even green tea. The limited processing of white tea ensures that the antioxidant and diuretic properties of green tea are also present in white tea, making white tea the perfect solution for those interested in the health benefits green tea offers without the added caffeine. The health benefits of white tea don't end here, though. While everyone is aware of its high antioxidant content, important because antioxidants are the substances that help the human body fight off cancer cells, studies have shown that white tea also contains substances that fight certain types of germs and fungi, not only making sure that you don't get sick as often, but helping you fight infections when you do get sick. Another amazing trait of white tea consists of its high fluoride content, which will help fight the formation of plaque in your mouth, and as such, keep you out of cavities' way.
The differences between white and black tea don't stop when it comes to the way white tea infusions should be prepared. While black tea infusions are prepared by adding boiling water on top of the tea leaves, white tea should only be prepared using water around 85 degrees Celsius, which is 15 degrees below the boiling point. Before preparing the infusion, make sure to rinse the cup with warm water so as to heat it up a bit, it's not recommended making your infusion in a cold cup. Afterwards, take a small amount of tea (usually 1-2 grams will suffice) and pour the water on top. The steeping time is usually up to your personal taste, but as a guideline, white tea has a longer steeping time than other teas, from a minimum of around 5 minutes to 10-15 minutes. The leaves should be completely immersed in water throughout the duration. If you want to reduce the caffeine quantity in your tea, you can use the following trick: after putting your tea into the cup, you can pour a small amount of water on top and let the tea steep for a few seconds, then throw out said water and continue preparing your infusion as you normally would.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
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White tea, like black, green and oolong tea is represented by the leaves of a plant by the name of Camellia Sinensis. While other types of tea go through a series of curing and oxidation processes, white tea has a much simpler processing, consisting only of steaming and drying. Also opposed to the other types of tea, white tea is not harvested from mature tea leaves, but instead, of young leaves and buds. This type of harvesting, as well as the minimal processing of white tea, ensures the existence of its particular properties, both in terms of health benefits and in terms of taste. The taste of white tea is delicate, sweet and refined, and some would say superior to that of green tea.
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