White Teas

White teas can only be gathered for a limited period of time, this being the start of spring and merely in favourable weather conditions. Combine this with the time-consuming method of production required, and it is no surprise that this delicate tea ranks amongst the rarest of all.

White tea is named after the tiny white or silver hairs that cover the bud as it develops at the tip of each tea shoot. The teas are usually made from just the unopened bud, gathered before it can start to unfurl. Once the brand new buds have been carefully gathered, the enzymes are removed via steaming, then sometimes shaped by hand and finally dried.

When brewed they give a very pale, champagne-coloured liquor that has a very light, soft, sweet and velvety flavour. The caffeine content of such teas is minimal - the lowest of all tea types. Nevertheless, the amount of antioxidants is fairly high. Regularly drinking white tea has a positive effect on health as it can stave off cancer, reduces blood pressure and, last but not least, cuts stress levels.