White tea is a mild, sweet and fresh tea, that comes from a very healthy and rarer variety of the same plant as green tea ( Camellia sinensis ). It is produced mainly in the Fujian province of China and only consists of the most tender leaf buds that are covered in silvery, down-covered hairs. [1] X Research source t leaf, <i>White Tea</i>, Information sheet These leaves can only be picked during 3 days of every year in early spring.
Containing up to three times as many antioxidants as green tea, this least-processed tea is the healthiest tea of all teas. [2] X Research source It has a mild and sweet flavor that is velvet-like in smoothness, and has none of the grass-like flavors some green teas can produce. Follow the steps below to make sure your white tea retains all its fine qualities while brewing.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I reuse the tea leaves after a single brewing?Community AnswerYes, but your tea will be weaker with used leaves.
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QuestionWhat does "only boil the water to 'first boil'. This is when the water begins to boil but has not yet begin to simmer" mean?Community AnswerWhen you can see bubbles rising from the bottom of the water up and breaking the surface, but you don't see the surface of the water moving much from the heat yet.
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QuestionCan I add sugar to white tea?Community AnswerAs with any tea, you can add whatever you would like it to taste like. Sugar would be fine.
Video
Tips
- Traditional budset white tea is so expensive because it is made exclusively from a select picking of plump spring buds, of which 10,000 handpicked ones result in 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) of the tea. [10] X Research sourceThanks
- White tea has been shown to block DNA mutations which trigger tumor formation. [11] X Research sourceThanks
- Only use fresh water for tea, not water that has been sitting in the kettle for days. Fresh water makes the tea taste better.Thanks
Warnings
- Do not pour boiling water onto white loose leaf tea. Doing so will scald and damage the leaves. White tea leaves are among the most delicate types of tea.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Loose leaf white tea (two teaspoons per cup)
- Water - filtered if possible
- A kettle
- Cups
- A strainer
- A clock to determine steeping time
References
- ↑ t leaf, White Tea , Information sheet
- ↑ Selene Yeager, The Doctors Book of Food Remedies , p. 620, (2007), ISBN 1-59486-753-4
- ↑ Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, The Story of Tea , p. 73, (2007), ISBN 978-1-58008-745-2
- ↑ t leaf, White Tea , Information sheet
- ↑ t leaf, White Tea , Information sheet
- ↑ Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, The Story of Tea , p. 285, (2007), ISBN 978-1-58008-745-2
- ↑ t leaf, White Tea , Information sheet
- ↑ t leaf, White Tea , Information sheet
- ↑ Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, The Story of Tea , p. 288, (2007), ISBN 978-1-58008-745-2
About This Article
To brew white tea, heat 1 cup of water to a boil, then let it cool for 5-8 minutes. Place 2 tsp of white tea leaves into an infuser basket, tea ball, or teapot, then pour the hot water over the tea. Steep the tea for about 7-10 minutes, then strain it and pour it into a teacup. Since white tea has such a subtle flavor, it’s typically served plain, but you can add milk or sugar if you prefer. Read on to learn when to use filtered water for your tea!
Reader Success Stories
- "I absolutely love my tea and after hearing of the benefits of drinking white tea I am keen to try some. After reading this, I know my kettle already has the function to heat water to the correct temperature and what else I needed to know before placing my first online order (tea variety, region, and how much to use). I also chose to buy a handy teacup with an infuser which is insulated to keep my tea warm for the steep." ..." more