White Tea

Our complex and ever-evolving Canadian society has made great progress discovering the divinity in the most simple, natural pleasures this world has to offer.  It is this back-to-basics progress that sets the context for this article on WHITE TEA, and tea in general.

From the popular specialty coffees now available (e.g. grande soy vanilla latte, with whip) to the regular double-double, nothing can compare to the refreshing, cleansing, heating inside-to-out experience of a lovely cup of tea, steeped to personal perfection.

Tea, Camellia sinensis, has been gaining popularity in North America – from the green teas to the herbal and black teas – they are a hit, and specialty tea shops are popping up in most cities and towns.  Green tea is not fermented; black tea has been fully fermented during processing; and oolong teas are somewhere in between.  But did you know that there is also such a delight as WHITE TEA?

WHITE TEA leaves are picked and harvested before the leaves fully open, when the buds are still covered by fine silver/white hairs – hence the name WHITE TEA.  White tea is more rare and thus more expensive than traditional teas.  This type of tea undergoes very little processing, the flavour is described as “light, delicate and sweet”, and it is recommended that WHITE TEA be steeped in water that is below the boiling point.1

The “White Tea Guide” describes and illustrates the four main varieties of WHITE TEA:

• White Peony – next highest in quality, consisting of buds and leaves;
• Long Life Eyebrow – lower rank of white tea made from leaves left over after the Silver Needle and White Peony harvest; and
• Tribute Eyebrow – another lesser white tea made from a special tea bush and processed slightly differently than the other white teas.2

The advent of increased tea consumption and enjoyment may be linked to our increasingly health conscious society.  The purported health benefits of white tea have been relatively unknown in North America; however, Chinese tea drinkers have been savvy to this knowledge for over a thousand years. 3 Market researchers predict consumers will soon share their enthusiasm, turning white tea into one of the hottest new food trends.4

WHITE TEA contains considerably less caffeine than traditional varieties.  Some studies have also shown that white tea contains more active cancer-fighting antioxidants than green tea.5 Another study concluded that white tea can help your body’s immune system fight off viruses and dangerous infection-causing bacteria; also, fluoride-rich white tea has been found to help prevent the growth of dental plaque.6 An extensive discussion of other health benefits can be found in the “White Tea Guide”.

Common to all types and varieties of tea are exciting new designs and delivery options.  The regular tea bag is certainly the staple when it comes to tea delivery; however, pyramid tea bags, crafty tea bag folding designs, and tea stick cylindrical infusers are proving to be a fun and new way to enjoy tea.7

May you beat the winter chills with a cup of silky white tea, exciting green tea stick infuser, or fun pyramid tea sample – drink and cheers to your health.

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