Tea: How Is White Tea Different From Other Teas?

Summary: In recent years, white tea has gained great popularity. Tea connoisseurs everywhere have come to appreciate white tea's delicate, slightly sweet flavor. Though white tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant, just like black tea, green tea and oolong tea, there are several significant differences between white tea and other teas. Processing - White tea is harvested before the leaves are fully open, when the buds have fine white hair covering them.

In recent years, white tea has gained great popularity. Tea connoisseurs everywhere have come to appreciate white tea's delicate, slightly sweet flavor. Though white tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant, just like black tea, green tea and oolong tea, there are several significant differences between white tea and other teas. Processing - White tea is harvested before the leaves are fully open, when the buds have fine white hair covering them. This is much earlier than other teas are harvested. In addition, white tea leaves are not fermented. Rather their leaves are simply steamed and then dried, often right in the fields. This protects white tea's delicate flavor. Availability - Less white tea is grown than other types of tea in the world. Most tea gardens designate just a few tea bushes for early harvest to create white tea. In addition, white tea is grown in far fewer areas of the world. Most of it is grown in China and Japan, and a little is grown in small areas of India and Sri Lanka. However, we may find more and more tea gardens concentrating on white tea as the demand for it grows. Cost - Because white tea is fairly rare, you'll find that it costs a bit more. However, white tea is gaining popularity, which means that it's likely that it will become more readily availability, which is likely to drive down the price. Flavor - White tea has a very delicate flavor that is slightly sweet. It has a paler color than other teas. In fact, it may appear that you didn't steep it long enough, if you judge just by the color. It also has far less aroma than green, oolong or black tea. Serving method - Do not pour boiling water on white tea leaves; the temperature should be a bit shy of the boiling point. And, experts recommend that you not use sweetener or milk in white tea; it should be served plain. Caffeine Content - White tea has the least caffeine of any tea. White tea contains about 15 mg of caffeine per serving, while black tea contains 40 and green tea contains 20. This makes white tea an excellent choice for the caffeine sensitive. Health Benefits - White tea contains all the benefits usually associated with drinking green tea, but with additional benefits, as well. Like green tea, white tea holds antioxidants in their natural state. These anti-oxidants have been shown to: