White Tea is one of the rarest categories of Chinese Tea. It has been enjoyed for over 1,000 years, but only by the emperor and the extremely influential officials. It is still a rare tea because only the buds and select leaves are picked. Since there are few buds per tree each year, it is a rare commodity. Once picked, the leaves are quickly steamed to stop oxidation and then dried which ensures that the leaves maintain their original fresh from the tree taste. Also due to the processing technique, the tea maintains almost all of its antioxidants, making the tea one of the healthiest available. The tea’s name comes from the white hairs which cover the buds, giving them a white appearance. The tea leaves have to be gently processed to ensure that the white hairs are not rubbed off. Although difficult to find, White Tea is definitely worth the search. Below you will find links to pages which will offer you more information into this wonderful tea.
Processing
The picking and processing of White Tea is very labor intensive and meticulous. In the spring when the tea is picked, one bud and the first leaf are picked together and then separated. The tea is then dried naturally using only sunlight. This preserves the polyphenols in the tea. If there is no sun, the tea would be dried indoors at very low temperatures. It can take 40 hours to dry the tea indoors using only fans to remove humidity from the room. The tea will oxidize very slightly. The final stage of the processing technique is the roasting. The tea leaves are then roasted until completely dry. Deciding when to end each step is the work of a Tea master. It is meticulous work and the simplest mistake would ruin the entire batch of tea. Due to the recent interest due to the tea’s health benefits, many countries are producing what they call WhiteTea. It has the same appearance, but it lacks the health benefits. Only two distinct types of tea trees can be used in crafting true tea.
Purchasing White Tea
Due to the amount of fake Teas on the market, it is extremely important to purchase you tea from a reputable dealer because without years of experience it is very difficult to tell if the tea you are purchasing is authentic. Ask to try the tea before purchasing it. The tea should have a wonderful light flavor that swirls around the mouth. The tea should not have broken leaves or be inconsistent in shape and appearance. If the tea has many broken leaves, or the shape and sizes are not consistent, the tea is a poorer quality and could be fake. Every tea shop should gladly let you sample their teas. If they do not, there is some reason and that shop should be avoided. The most important aspect of tea is not if it is rare, or expensive. The most important aspect is that you truly like it. If a dealer tells you the tea you are drinking is the best made, but you do not like it, don’t purchase it. Buy what is pleasing to you. If you are purchasing from an online shop, make sure it is a reputable dealer with a solid guarantee. Also make sure that the dealer purchases his leaves directly from the producers. That way the teas origins are known and the quality and freshness will be much higher.
Storing White Tea
Since the tea has a short shelf life, it is very important that it is stored properly to maintain the flavor and aroma for as long as possible. When you receive your tea, it should be in a vacuum sealed bag. You should store the bag in the refrigerator until you open it. This will help maintain freshness. Before opening allow the tea to warm to room temperature to keep it from forming condensation. After you have opened the bag, it should be stored in an airtight container with as little excess air as possible. A bag is excellent for this purpose, although not terribly beautiful. Many people put the bag inside of a more attractive container for storage. Make sure that the tea is stored in a cool dark place with no strong odors. The tea will absorb the odors and ruin the tea.
Enjoying the Tea
Many people who try White Tea for the first time find it a little thin. It is because they are not used to it. In today’s society we rush through things and miss the subtler aspects of life. When drinking the tea, stop whatever you are doing and just drink the tea. Focus on its flavor and aroma. Let the world, even if for a moment, stop as you enjoy your tea. You’ll be amazed at how well this simple moment can relieve stress in your daily life. If you work at a desk, or in a shop, for that one moment, stop everything and focus on the quality of your tea. You’ll be glad you did.
Types of White Tea
Although there are not many varieties of White Tea, each one is unique with wonderful stories. Their legends, cultures, and histories add to the enjoyment of the tea. Click the link below to learn more about these wonderful teas and their stories.
Click here to learn about tea varieties of these fantastic teas
How to Brew White Tea
The Brewing techniques used with White Tea are very similar to Green Tea. It can be quite simple, and also very elegant. We will tell you the different ways to brew these wonderful teas.
Click here to learn How to Brew White Tea
White Tea Health Benefits
This type of Chinese Tea has recently received large amounts of exposure due to its health benefits. Although known to the Chinese for centuries, western scientists have only recently begun to discover how beneficial this tea is.
Click here to learn more about the health benefits of these wonderful teas
White Tea for Sale
We offer only authentic high quality White Teas. We have sourced them ourselves and deal directly with the producers. This ensures that the tea is authentic and that there is no middleman to ensure the teas freshness and price. This type of tea has a shelf life. When the tea ages, we simply throw it out because we refuse to sell any teas of lesser quality. Our philosophy is; we would rather lose money than lose your trust.
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