White Tea Benefits: One of The Most Valuable Types of Tea 

In addition to black tea, the tea tree (Camellia sinensis) is also used to make many other traditional teas (green, oolong, etc.). One of the most valuable and useful is white tea. This tea is characterized not only by its exceptional taste but also by its abundance of white tea benefits. The highest-quality white tea is grown and prepared in certified tea gardens, similar to Darjeeling tea. Such products are more expensive but meet the highest standards.

What Makes White Tea Unique? 

The uniqueness of white tea is how it is harvested and processed. Only the young buds and leaves of the tea tree are harvested. They are picked when they are still covered in silvery-white fuzz. It is harvested once a year, in spring, from about mid-March to early April. The tea is hand-picked in dry weather only.   

The plucked raw material is dried immediately under natural conditions or in a carefully controlled environment. The tea is minimally processed and almost unaffected by the oxidation process. As a result, the delicate and smooth tea flavor and aroma are extracted. 

A Brief History 

White tea originates from Fujian Province (south-eastern China). It is thought that its name originates due to the silvery-tinged fuzz on the tea leaves. 

The tradition of drinking white tea originated in China around the 7th century and was popularized and particularly appreciated by the Song dynasty (960–1269). For a long time, only royalty could drink this beverage. There are legends, which may be partly true, that only young virgins wearing white gloves could serve white tea to a ruler as a symbol of honor and respect. This tea was equivalent to a tribute to the Emperor.  

It was not until the 18th century that the consumption of this tea became widespread in society. During this period, white tea became a commodity, but it usually did not go beyond the province of Fujian. The slow global spread of this tea was influenced by the subtleties of the preparation of the product, which made it difficult to transport and preserve the raw material, which was minimally processed, without spoiling it. 

As tea production techniques improved, white tea was made beyond Fujian Province. Today, it is available in many parts of the world. This is also because tea trees are not only grown in China, making the raw material more accessible to producers. 

Types of White Tea 

In the modern world, white tea is made only from the Chinese tea tree, or in Fujian Province, hybrids are also cultivated and used to produce white tea varieties. Despite this, focus on the product description or ask the seller for information when choosing a tea. The most popular and commonly found white teas are mentioned below. 

BaiHao YinZhen

Bai Hao Yin Zhen (White Hair Silver Needle). The authentic tea originates from the Fujian province of China and is made from the buds and leaves of the tea tree. This variety is the right one, with premium quality. The raw material for this type of tea is made only from the buds of the tea tree. They must be uniform, elongated, needle-shaped, without stems or leaves, and of a silvery hue. This tea has a light golden color and a sweet floral aroma with a hint of forest. 

Bai Mudan

Bai Mudan (White Peony). This is a newer variety, brewed in China and other parts of the world. White Peony is also a premium tea. Its raw material consists of two leaves and a silver bud. The color and flavor of the tea are more intense than discussed above. This tea also has a sweetish taste with a nutty aftertaste. 

Shou Mei

Shou Mei (Noble, Long Life Eyebrow). This variety is slightly less valuable than the previous ones. It is usually made from all the remaining raw materials that do not meet the standard of premium white tea. It is made from raw material harvested at the end of the harvest season and is, therefore, more oxidized. This tea has a darker color and a more intense flavor, comparable to oolong. 

DaBaiCha or DaHoaCha

DaBaiCha or DaHoaCha (Fujian New Craft). It is one of the newest members of the white tea family, only introduced in the 1970s. This variety was introduced to meet the growing demand for white tea in the Chinese market. This type of white tea originates from Fuding County in Fujian Province. It is a far cry from the original white tea. The leaves are dried, lightly rolled, and dried. This type of tea is more oxidized, similar in appearance to black tea, and has the most intense flavor of all white teas. 

Tips for Keeping Tea Leaves Fresh Longer 

White tea can stay fresh and valuable all year if stored properly. Here’s how to keep it that way: 

• Always keep tea leaves in a cool, dark place. 
• Keep tea away from heat, light, oxygen, and moisture. 
• Do not refrigerate tea. 
• Store tea in an opaque, airtight container. 
• Do not allow the tea to absorb odors from other products, so keep a distance from coffee, spices, and other products with strong odors. 

White Tea Benefits  

Due to the nature of white tea, it retains a much higher proportion of plant-based compounds that are beneficial to human health. White tea is particularly rich in polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties that affect inflammatory processes and fight free radicals. White tea is superior to black and green tea in terms of antioxidant content. Research confirmed many of the beneficial properties of white tea for health.

• Due to its high content of antioxidants, white tea strengthens immunity. It protects against fungi, bacteria, and viruses. 
• It protects the body from the harmful effects of UV rays. The chemical compounds in white tea can help slow down the aging process of the skin. 
• Polyphenols can prevent the accumulation of bad cholesterol in the walls of blood vessels. Controlling “bad” cholesterol in the blood helps reduce the risk of heart disease. 
• The catechins and caffeine in the tea help the body burn fat, improve metabolism, and may help with weight control. 
• Due to the fluoride, tannins, and catechins, this tea is useful to fight tooth plaque bacteria. 
• Compounds such as catechins in white tea may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. 
• Test-tube studies have shown that white tea extract inhibits cells of several types of cancer and stops them from spreading. However, it needs more studies including humans to draw broader conclusions. 

Caffeine in White Tea 

Original (i.e., premium) white tea contains less caffeine than other types of tea. However, as mentioned above, it can come with different nutritional properties. Some studies suggest that this tea may contain more caffeine than black or green tea. It all depends on where the tea was grown and how it was processed. 

The caffeine content of any beverage made from a caffeinated product can vary due to many factors. For example, consider the quality of the raw material, the quantity used, and the preparation method. It means that the longer the raw material is steeped, the more caffeine the beverage will have. 

If you are monitoring your caffeine intake, check the quality of your tea when buying it. Also, use less raw tea material and a shorter steeping time when preparing tea. Those with no contraindications to caffeine can consume 2 to 4 cups daily, depending on need. 

Preparing White Tea 

Use loose white tea raw material for the best drink rather than packing it in bags. It has a light, refreshing flavor with a full range of epithets: floral, herbal, honey, fruity, melon, peach, apricot, vanilla, chocolate, citrus, herbal, mild, delicate, sweet… 

White tea can be brewed several times, but fresh teas each time for an aromatic and expressive taste are preferable. 

Use these ingredients for a drink: 

• 1-2 teaspoons of white tea raw material, 
• 300 ml of water. 

Bring the water to a boil and let it stand for 2 minutes to cool to about 90 °C. Place the teaspoons in a tea-making bowl and pour the cooled, boiled water over them. Leave the tea infusion to steep for 3–5 minutes. 

If you prefer a stronger tea, you can add more tea leaves. It is best to experiment until you find the right balance of flavors. 

Iced White Tea 

You will need: 

• 4–8 teaspoons of white tea leaves, 
• 1 l of water, 
• 1 lemon, 
• 5 fresh mint sprigs, 
• honey to taste (optional). 

Place the leaves in a heat-proof container and cover with boiling water that has cooled to 90 °C. Cover and leave it to stand for about 5 minutes. Strain the tea, add honey if desired, and stir well. Place the prepared drink in the fridge. Before drinking, add a few lemon slices and mint sprigs to the pitcher. Leave for 1-2 minutes for the flavors to mingle, then pour into glasses. You can add lemon and mint to the glass as an extra. 

As An Ingredient in Cocktails 

Bartenders use white tea as a base in many cocktails, often for parties and with alcohol. However, it can also make refreshing cocktails for any occasion. They are especially suitable for hot summer days. 

A Refreshing Tea Mojito 

Ingredients: 

• 3-6 teaspoons of raw white tea material, 
• 700 ml of water, 
• 2 tbsp. lime juice,
• a fistful of mint leaves,   
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 
• ice cubes. 

In a heat-proof container, pour the leaves over the water at 80–90 °C, cover, and leave to steep for 10 minutes. Strain the tea and leave it to cool to room temperature. Place the ice cubes, mint, brown sugar, and lime juice in the glasses and pour over the cooled tea. 

If you have a cocktail shaker, you can prepare the cocktail in it. Just shake the ingredients for one serving (except the mint) and pour it into a glass with the ice cubes and mint. 

White Tea Benefits for Skin Beauty 

White tea benefits skin health and beauty due to its extremely high antioxidant content. Products with this tea in the daily skincare routine are beneficial because: 

• Combats free radical damage. 
• Stops skin aging processes. 
• Provides resistance to the harmful effects of UV rays. 
• Supports the production and balance of collagen and elastin in the skin.  

Side Effects of White Tea 

This beverage may cause side effects due to its caffeine content. An overdose of caffeine can lead to headaches, dizziness, tremors, heart palpitations, and insomnia. Nausea may also occur. 

Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and those with high blood pressure should be more responsible in their use of this tea because of its caffeine content. 

Do not drink white tea before going to bed, as the caffeine it contains can cause insomnia. 

Associative photos from © Canva.