What is White Tea?
White tea comes from the same plant species as green tea, black tea, and oolong tea: Camellia Sinensis. Usually, white tea is plucked before the leaves fully bloom. Upon plucking the buds, a white "pekoe" hair is revealed.
That's why it's referred to as white tea. White tea does not impart a reddish-brown when they are infused in water like other teas. Handling buds gently is essential to prevent damaging the pekoe hair.
They are not dried in a machine; instead, they are hand-processed. There is no rolling or pressing involved. Due to its delicate nature, white tea requires the least processing.
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White tea is neither oxidized nor fermented like other teas. However, green tea is not oxidized; it is derived from young, mature, and fresh leaves. White tea is available in many varieties, including Monkey Picked white tea, Darjeeling white tea, White Peony, and Silver Needle.
How to Perfectly Brew White tea?
White tea takes longer to brew than other types of tea. For white tea to release its full flavors, it usually needs to steep for up to seven minutes. However, different types of white tea require different steeping times.
Read our tea brewing guide to understand the process and technicalities comprehensively.
Some Benefits of White Tea
White tea is more than we give it credit for. It is as wholesome as other teas- Maybe even healthier. If you are sensitive to caffeine, this is the perfect tea for you. Today, almost every country produces white tea, which may not be as low in caffeine as authentic white tea.
Also Read: Health Benefits of Black Tea
Power-packed with antioxidants
Antioxidants are abundant in white tea due to its minimal processing. Therefore, this tea contains more antioxidants than other teas (even more than the strong green tea!)
The substantial amount of antioxidants allows white tea to prevent chronic diseases. For example, you can avoid various forms of cancer, AIDS, heart disease, and bronchitis by drinking white tea.
Additionally, the antioxidants in this tea help replenish the cells faster, boosting our immune system.
Improves skin health
White tea has anti-aging properties. With time, our skin tends to lose its elasticity. This is why the skin hangs loose in old age. White tea can prevent the aging of the skin. It tightens and brightens the skin.
White tea drinkers do not develop wrinkles prematurely. White tea is known to lower the production of two enzymes known as elastase and collagenase. These enzymes are detrimental to skin health.
When white tea is topically applied to the skin, it protects the skin from harmful UV rays. Much like its own delicate nature, it will leave your skin fresh and supple.
Can treat cramps
You might be wondering- are there any benefits of white tea that exclusively help women? The answer is yes. During menstruation, women experience muscle cramps that cause extreme discomfort.
White tea provides relief in pain. For abdominal cramps, especially, white tea is the best remedy. Instead of popping painkillers, try including white tea in your diet, given that it has no side effects. It can also help treat other symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea.
Enhances heart health
These days, a heart attack is the most common cause of death. Due to our sedentary lifestyle, the calories we eat accumulate inside the body, leading to toxins. These toxins then block the pathways in our bodies.
Also Read: Potential Health Benefits of Peppermint Tea
White tea detoxifies the body. It prevents blockages by cleansing the arteries and veins. As a result, it improves heart health. Regularly drinking white tea can reduce heart problems.
Fixes Constipation
Are you tired of taking pills to cure constipation but to no avail? Then, white tea might be the solution for you. Constipation is a common digestive problem that a lot of people face. One of the leading benefits of white tea is that it cleanses the intestines, allowing the stool to pass quickly. It also treats other gut issues but is most effective in treating constipation.
Improves hair health
Due to pollution, dust, and dirt, hair follicles become weak. As a consequence, hair falls out, and thinning occurs. Given the benefits of white tea, you should consume it daily to restore your hair health.
Your frizzy hair would become shiny after drinking white tea. Hairfall will reduce considerably. White tea contains an antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate, which improves hair health.
You can also directly apply white tea to your hair as well as drink it. This way, your hair will be healthier on both the inside and the outside.
Can avert osteoporosis
Condition of osteoporosis is characterized by breaking of the bones too readily. As a result, it causes the bones to become hollow from within. Osteoporosis happens when the body stops producing more bone and starts breaking down the existing bones.
One of the factors that trigger this disease is the production of free radicals. The catechins in white tea check the production of free radicals. Therefore, white tea is the best anti-inflammatory beverage since free radicals also cause inflammation.
White tea is underrated. If you don't have it in your house, consider purchasing it the next time. Its pale-golden color will refresh your mood. Moreover, it has fewer calories, and all its benefits are hard to ignore.
The merits mentioned above only form a small fraction of its overall value. White tea is not only the healthiest of all but also the best-tasting tea. It has a flowery scent that is enough to enchant a person.