Among the tea varieties, white tea is one of the most delicate tea because of its processing requires
very controlled conditions. It is obtained from the very young leaves of the
tea tree (Camelia sinensis) and its
production is very low, so its cost is higher. In this article, we will tell you
more about the characteristics of white tea and its difference from other teas.
Because white tea
leaves do not undergo oxidation (or this is minimal), white tea is the one that
contains the least amount of caffeine, about 15 mg per cup. On the other hand,
it is the tea that has more catechins and polyphenols, which are responsible for
great health benefits.
White tea is a tea
renowned for its antioxidant power and therefore, for its anti-aging
properties. In fact, some call it the elixir of youth. That is why we are going
to tell you about its characteristics and virtues in this post. Although it is
important to tell you that its advantages will be very valid in your body if
you accompany its consumption with good lifestyle habits (diet, exercise, etc).
Characteristics of White Tea
White tea is a very
powerful natural antioxidant due to its high level of polyphenols. Numerous
studies have revealed that a glass of white tea has the antioxidant power of 14
glasses of fresh orange juice. Surprising, right?
The key lies in your
collection process. You already know that white tea, like green, red or black,
comes from the leaves of the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. The difference
between white and other teas is that their leaves are not fermented. Immediately
after harvesting, the heat fermentation is cut off.
Another characteristic
of white tea is that the most tender bud is collected, the leaves closest to
the end of the branch. In other types of tea, both buds and mature leaves are
collected.
By not going through so
many steps when processing it, white tea sprouts preserve their antioxidant
virtues to a greater extent, hence the property that has made them so famous.
The Origin of White Tea
The origin of this tea
is attributed to China back in the years 618-907 after Christ; however, the
history of this is complicated and controversial since there is no bibliography
on the matter since the knowledge was passed from parents to children.
The first time anything
about this tea is published is in 1876.
The Taste of White Tea
A characteristic of
white tea is its mild and light taste. And the higher the quality of the
blades, the softer, lighter, and more subtle it is.
Some people accustomed
to the intense flavor of black or red teas, come to consider it tasteless.
For this reason, when
someone in the store asks us about white tea, we analyze what type of tea they
usually drink, if they have consumed it before and what type of quality. For a
person who is starting in the world of white teas, we usually recommend
flavored and/or blends of white teas with green tea. With the idea that
little by little your palate adapts to this soft and subtle flavor.
The Price of White Tea
Something that is
striking is the price since this is higher than other types of tea.
As we said at the
beginning, the key to this tea is the harvesting process, very careful and
select.
If you look at a
handful of Silver Needle white tea, you will see that there are no green
leaves, but the so-called "eyebrows" (so-called because of the
resemblance to an eyebrow if you put it with the curve up), these
"eyebrows" are the buds of the leaves not yet opened of the tea plant
and in a whole working day barely 40-80 grams are collected.
It also influences that
the volume of white tea is greater than other teas, being in some cases double
or even triple. We always recommend not buying a tea for its price, but for its
quality.
Types of White Tea
To talk about the types
of white tea, we are going to focus on those who work in our store.
Throughout these years
we have made a selection of the most demanded and valued in terms of taste and
quality.
Flavored
White Teas
These are white teas or
sometimes mixed with green tea to which an ingredient or aroma has been added.
We recommend these flavors to new consumers of white tea or to those who need a
more intense flavor.
It is the most common
and economical, the most basic in the range of white teas. It is a collection
of shoots with some more mature leaves and even a stem.
Snows
Buds
The quality goes up
compared to the previous one. It is the tip of the bud and the leaves they
present are tender and not deployed. It is grown at an altitude of 1000 meters
and is harvested with careful manual “plucking” in which only a few leaves and
shoots are collected.
This tea offers a light
green color mixed with the characteristic silver, the infusion made has a soft
green tone and is delicate and fruity in taste.
Silver
Needle or Silver Needles
The best quality white
tea. In this tea, you will only see the eyebrow of the tea. It grows at an
altitude of between 850-1000 meters. The climate, soil conditions, morning fog,
and a large amount of sun the plants receive in the afternoon make this tea
unique.
In the cup it gives a
bright infusion with a pinkish touch, developing a soft aroma and a taste on
the tongue reminiscent of apricot.
The flavor of this tea
is extremely light and is only recommended for habitual palates with high-quality white tea. The leaves can be reinfused several times (two or three).
The Benefits of White Tea
As white tea comes, it
has the same origin as all the varieties of pure tea (black, green, red, etc.)
it shares the same properties due to the characteristics of the leaves of the
Camelia sinensis tree. It is also digestive, antibacterial,
moisturizing, and has all the properties of tea.
However, due to its
chemical composition, it is much more similar to green tea than white, its main
characteristic being the greater amount of polyphenols and other oxidants, and
the lower concentration of caffeine.
2.
It is a Powerful Antioxidant
One of the great
benefits of tea is the high concentration of antioxidants they have. White tea
is precisely the one with the highest level of catechins and polyphenols.
Studies on this variety
of tea are not so frequent because its consumption is not very widespread, due
to its scarce and expensive production. However, we know that this quality of
white tea gives it a wide range of benefits.
Antioxidants protect
the body from free radicals that are freely produced by our metabolism and that
cause many harmful processes such as DNA damage and cell aging. Antioxidants
protect us from several of these effects, such as type II diabetes or cancer.
3.
Great Hope in the Fight against Cancer
Antioxidants have
always been recommended as cancer preventives. In white tea, an antioxidant, in
particular, known as ECGC, is a component that could be used for the treatment
of cancer. This molecule is also a polyphenol and is the "star" of
cancer researchers. One of the studies is considering getting the patient to
take pills with ECGC and some other component that transports it directly to
the young cancer cells.
Meanwhile, you have to
settle for enjoying a rich white tea so that your digestive system absorbs these
beneficial molecules.
4.
White Tea is Antibacterial
As we have already
mentioned, the different varieties of tea have a disinfecting effect against
various bacteria, especially some pathogens that are found in the intestine and
on the skin or mucous membranes.
Again, it is the
polyphenols that are responsible for this effect, and white tea is the one with
the highest concentration. This is very useful to combat bad breath, due to
dental plaque.
5.
Regulates the Immune System and Associated Inflammation
Fatal sepsis (or shock)
is an abnormal response of the body to infection. The disorder is very serious
because symptoms - which include a drop in blood pressure leading to septic
shock and failure of major organs, such as the kidneys, liver, lungs, and
central nervous system - develop rapidly. Half of the affected patients die.
In a new laboratory
study, Haichao Wang, Ph.D., of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and
his colleagues have been studying the therapeutic powers of dozens of Chinese
herbal compounds to reverse this fatal immune response. They discovered that
white tea, thanks to the ECGC it contains, was able to stop the process in
mice, causing them to recover. It appears that white tea inhibits the cells of
the immune system from becoming "hyper-excited" and that this
discovery could be the solution for many other conditions such as allergies and
inflammations.
6. Help to Lose Weight
White tea benefits for weight loss: We already know that
all teas are very good companions when following a diet to lose weight. Teas
are hydrating and diuretic, and as such, they eliminate toxins from our body by
stimulating metabolism. But white tea has a very interesting effect: it
produces satiety. This is also due to the ECGC, which increases the production
of Cholecystokinin (CCK) in the intestine and which is responsible for making
us feel satisfied after eating.
Although it seems like
a tongue twister, it is not! It is enough to know that a cup of white tea
between meals will make you feel satisfied and overcome the crises of any diet.
7.
Protects Heart Function
Like many heart-healthy
fruits and vegetables, white tea is high in flavonoids that help lower high
blood pressure. By lowering blood pressure, white tea is helpful for a wide
range of cardiovascular health benefits.
8. White Tea Benefits for Skin: Improve Your Skin and Prevent Wrinkles
If there is one effect
that all human beings want, it is to stop aging. Until science or technology
allows us to live forever young (or a few more years), we can use resources
that will give our skin a much more youthful appearance and delay the
appearance of wrinkles and their depth.
White tea is one of
those resources, due to its well-studied oxidizing characteristics, which
protect skin cells (and also the brain and liver) from the effects of aging.
But also polyphenols protect from the harmful action of the sun's rays,
ultraviolet A and B when ingested for at least 1 year.
9.
It Has a Very Subtle Flavor
If all its health
benefits are not enough for you, you should at least try white tea for its
properties faithful to the brewing process. Its aroma and flavor are very
subtle, and slightly sweet, even more so with the second and third sip than at the
beginning.
It is ideal to try it
with additions such as rose petals, vanilla, or cinnamon because it enhances
those flavors without confusing them. It is not advisable to add milk because
that subtlety is lost. Slightly sweetened with Stevia it makes it a very
versatile drink.
As we mentioned at the
beginning, the greatest virtue of white tea is its antioxidant property. But
this drink gives us other benefits very similar to those of green tea.
White Tea vs Green Tea
All studies and recommendations always
point towards the consumption of green tea. Why is this reference to green tea and
not white tea? Let's see the main differences between green tea and white tea.
Both green and white tea comes from the
same plant, Camellia sinensis. On the other hand, the harvest of white tea is
carried out before that of green tea. The collection of white tea only takes
place for a few days at the beginning of spring, it is done carefully by hand
and selecting the highest quality buds. Regarding processing, green tea is
partially oxidized and in the case of white tea, oxidation is minimal. Black
tea, on the other hand, is a tea that is highly oxidized during its processing
and therefore does not preserve all its antioxidants well. Both green tea and
white tea are considered rich in antioxidants, but white tea has more.
How much difference is there between green tea and white tea?
Depending on the variety of tea and although
this figure is not exact but indicative, we can say that green tea contains 75%
antioxidants compared to white tea. For this reason, white tea is sometimes
said to be more beneficial than green tea. Most studies refer that the causal
agent of the beneficial health effects of green tea is antioxidants.
Therefore, if white tea contains more antioxidants, it is probably also more
beneficial to health.
On the other hand, green tea contains more
caffeine. A cup of green tea contains approximately 25-30 mg of caffeine and
white tea about 15-20 mg. Many of the benefits of tea are associated with
caffeine. We can say that green tea is more balanced because although it
contains fewer antioxidants than white tea, it is still a drink rich in
antioxidants. Besides, green tea contains more caffeine, which would be more
useful for weight loss and increasing alertness or concentration levels.
Is green tea or white tea better?
We think the reason green tea is always
recommended is that it is better known, cheaper, and easier to buy. In
addition, studies on white tea would be difficult to carry out since very few
people consume it.
Both are two beneficial drinks and if you
are hesitating between choosing one or the other, pay attention to the benefits
you expect: If you are more interested in losing weight and staying awake while
enjoying all the benefits of antioxidants, we recommend tea green. If you don't
like the effect of caffeine and you drink tea mainly looking for a beneficial
effect on your health, we recommend white tea.
Although keep in mind that both are
perfectly compatible, the difference between the antioxidant content is very modest
and that of caffeine is also very modest if we compare it with black tea which
contains few antioxidants and a lot of caffeine.
At a Glance of White Tea Value
* It is a powerful diuretic
* Consumed between meals
helps weight loss diets
* It reduces the risk of
contracting cardiovascular diseases
* Improve defenses
* Take care of our skin,
preventing skin inflammations and dandruff
* Its catechin content
helps prevent hair loss and cares for the scalp
* Due to its phenol
content, it stimulates the production of elastin and collagen, which
contributes to the maintenance of the skin in good condition
* Catechins also
strengthen the body against liver diseases
If you are fond of tea, do not hesitate to try white tea.
White Tea - The
Rarest of all Teas
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