White tea – not as
mysterious as you might think
There is a huge
misunderstanding out there about white tea. Too many people seem to think that
is some mysterious beverage, rare or hard to find, and to many it just doesn’t
seem like it would ever become their beverage of choice.
But once you give it a chance…
get ready for a shocker! Although it might not be as well known as other teas,
white tea is a fabulous option for a beverage that will not only taste great,
but also offers a range of health benefits. White tea is sometimes considered rare and is usually more expensive than green, as it can only be hand picked during a few days of early spring and has to be handled with such care. White tea also tastes different than green tea, having a smoother, gentler and almost sweet taste.
The processing method of white tea is different than that of green and black teas as well. Whereas black tea is fully fermented and green tea is partially fermented, white tea is instead steamed rapidly and then dried. Because white and green teas are treated gently and not overly processed, they retain most of their beneficial antioxidants. In fact, since white tea is the least processed, it retains the highest amount of antioxidants compared to green and black teas. White tea actually contains the same types of antioxidants as green tea, but in greater quantity. These antioxidants are found to have many health promoting properties including boosting cardiovascular health, helping to lower cholesterol, reducing the risk of cancer and enhancing weight loss. While any type of tea is a great healthy choice for a beverage, white tea contains even more antioxidants and less caffeine, making it an even healthier choice.
White tea may also have profound power fighting against cancer-causing cells and against many different types of cancer, such as colon, prostate, and stomach cancers. Flavonoids, a class of antioxidants found in white tea, inhibit the growth of cancer cells and prevent the development of new ones. In some cases, white tea has been found to work as well as prescription drugs, but without the side effects.
Other studies have shown that white tea can thin the blood and improve
artery function. Because of this, it helps lower high blood pressure and
maintain a healthy one. By promoting strong and healthy blood vessels, white
tea guards against the ravages of stroke.
Catechins, another group of antioxidants, have been found to reduce
cholesterol… and white tea is teeming with them! Cholesterol is a special type
of fat and is necessary for health, but there is good cholesterol and bad
cholesterol... white tea increases the good while decreasing the bad. This
helps prevent hardening of the arteries and blockage of blood flow. Lowering
your cholesterol is a very beneficial “side effect” of drinking white tea, as
these days this is a problem that affects so many people.
By thinning the blood, lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol,
white tea also protects the heart and the entire circulatory system.
Researchers have also discovered that people who drink two or more cups of tea
a day are almost 50% less likely to die after suffering a heart attack.
There are even more health benefits, from giving you stronger bones,
healthier teeth and gums, healthy skin and more… too many to list here, in
fact! White tea has proven to be a truly remarkable tonic for just about any
ailment.
These days,
many people are consuming too much caffeine, and because of this, some people
have been advised by their doctor to lower the amount of caffeine in their
diets. These people are especially well-suited to using tea as a sort of
medicine! If caffeine is a consideration for you, then white tea is perfect – green
tea contains around 20g of caffeine, compared to white tea that only has around
15g. In comparison, black tea contains around 45g.
A tip when
buying white or green tea: choose organic as the tea plant readily absorbs
fluoride from pesticides. 
For best brewing:
White tea has a gentler
flavour than most other teas, very subtle and relaxing. Both white and green teas come from the same
Camellia Sinensis plant, but white tea leaves are harvested at a younger age
than green tea leaves. This type of tea owes its name to the pearly white hairs
on the buds of the tea plant which emerge after drying or withering in the sun.
These gentle tea leaves need to be treated with care when brewing, as otherwise
you may risk scalding the leaves, which may result in a burnt flavour. For simple everyday brewing of white tea leaves, all you’ll need is a tea pot that is big enough to allow for full expansion of the leaves, decent temperature control and the possibility of re-infusion (just like green tea; white tea leaves can be brewed more than once).
White teas like a temperature of 180 to 185° F, so be careful not to scald the tea with water that is too hot. Some electric kettles can be set to turn off before the water reaches a boil. If you're using a stovetop teakettle, measure the water with a thermometer to get comfortable with how long it takes to heat to 180° F, or how long it takes to cool off to the correct temperature after reaching a boil.
Be generous with the tea – use up to 2 tablespoons per 8-oz. of water. For leafy white teas, steep 4 to 5 minutes. For bud-only teas, add another minute or two for the flavors to truly develop.
What you'll experience:
White
tea offers a greater dimension of body than most other teas and lacks some of
the bitterness that you may be familiar with in other teas. Its soft, delicate
flavors range from buttery to sweet, fruity and floral, and of course each tea is different.
Since
white tea has lower levels of caffeine than other teas (and higher levels of catechins!) go ahead and enjoy a few more cups!
Enjoy this tea any time of the day. Best served with friends and family.
http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/02/tea-technique-white-tea-how-to-brew-how-to-steep.html
Cathy Skidmore began her tea journey with Steeped Tea after seeing the founders get a deal on Dragons Den in 2012. Proud to represent this Canadian company who sell quality loose leaf teas and fun and trendy accessories. With over 100 different teas, she as something for everyone. Cathy enjoys sharing her love of teas with everyone by offering free tea tasting in your home or hers, as well as an opportunity to have your own tea business.
She loves to help people create that perfect cup of tea.
www.mysteepedtea.com/cathyskidmore
@cathyskidmore1
https://www.facebook.com/CathySkidmoreSteepedTeaConsultant?fref=tsChanging people’s lives one cup at a time.
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