White tea leaves are one of the most delicate forms of tea, and they come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Like green tea and black tea, white tea is minimally processed from white tea leaves, which helps to retain the high amount of antioxidants found in these teas.
There are many different kinds of white tea, and each of these is unique in its flavor profile, aroma and taste. Some are more fragrant than others and some have more caffeine than others, but all white teas have health benefits you can enjoy!
WHITE TEA TYPES
White Tea originated in Fujian Province, China in the late 1700s. It was created as an alternative to pan-fired green tea and heavily oxidized black tea. Instead of being pan-fired or roasted, white tea is plucked and then air dried. This process allows for less oxidation, making the tea more delicate and more flavorful than other types of teas.
Traditionally, white tea has only been made from a specific cultivar of the tea plant - the Da Bai or Da Hao variety - from the Fuding district of the Fujian Province. This cultivar has a higher yield and produces a smoother tea that is softer and more flavorful than other types of white tea.
A few years ago, a new style of white tea called Young Leaf was created in response to the surging demand for this type of tea. This style of tea is a blend of young leaves from different cultivars that have been minimally processed to create a tea with a slightly sweeter flavor than traditional loose-leaf white tea.
The name “white” comes from the fact that this type of tea is made from leaves that are naturally covered in white hairs and bud tips. These are the most tender and delicate of the tea plant’s leaves, and they have a light, clean, sweet and fresh flavor.
Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen)
The most prized form of white tea is Silver Needle, which has small buds covered in silver downy hairs and is known for its subtle fragrance and taste. It is a popular choice for the most prestigious tea lovers and often sold as a limited edition product.
Other varieties of white tea include Pai Mu Tan, which consists of one or more buds and a single or multiple leaves; Gong Mei, which consists of one or two buds and several or more leaves; and Shou Mei, which is also known as Longevity Eyebrow. These varieties all have a milder flavor than Silver Needle and are often blended together to make white tea blends that offer a wide range of flavors and scents.
Test tube studies have shown that certain compounds in white tea may help to lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases by preventing proteins from clumping together, which can lead to memory loss and muscle stiffness. It may also have antimutagenic properties, which can prevent cancer cells from growing or spreading in the body.
Check out this post that has expounded more on the topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_tea.
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