|
White Tea
Delicate, smooth, sweet and fresh… these are the words typically used to describe White teas, the most rare and sought after teas on the market today.
While all teas come from the same source, the way the tea is processed determines the final product. In the case of White tea, very little processing occurs, resulting in the most delicate of all teas. White tea is potent, with three times the antioxidant properties of other types of teas.
White tea is technically the oldest form of tea because it is really the first tea ever consumed and, the least processed. Other processing techniques later led to the production of other teas.
Once the preferred tea of Chinese royalty, White teas were virtually unknown outside of China where it was first produced during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D). At that time, white tea was produced quite differently than it is today. Leaves were compressed into cakes and boiled in kettles. Like they are today, White teas came from leaves plucked in early spring. By 1200 A.D. the immature silver white leaves were immediately steamed, dried and ground into a powder, used to make the delicate tea. As ruling dynasties changed, so did the production of white teas.
The process by which today's White teas are made can be traced to the late 1700s when loose teas from a mixed-variety tea bush were steeped for tea production. By 1885, specific types of tea bushes were being used to create various types of White teas and in 1891 Chinese exportation of White teas began.
Because White tea is made of leaves and buds that are "less processed" than for other types of tea, the health benefits of white tea are greater than any other type. Rich in antioxidants, white tea has proven greater cancer-fighting ability than even green tea. White teas are known to boost the immunes system, helping to fight viruses and infection-causing bacteria. Studies have also shown that fluoride-rich White teas help prevent tooth decay.
Of course, White tea has the added benefit of relieving stress, if consumed properly. For the Chinese, drinking tea is often a ritual and so should it be for you. Be sure to set aside a few minutes each day for your own ritual and spend a few quiet moments enjoying your tea in a relaxed setting.
We are sure that once you experience the magic of White tea, you will savor the experience for life.
|
How is White Tea Different from Green Tea