White Tea–A Taste Like No Other

 

Although unknown outside of China and the rest of Asia for many thousands of years, where he has taken off over the rest of the world in a big way. North America has proven to be a particularly fertile market for white tea, with many of its health benefits now almost common knowledge among Western tea drinkers. Today, tea is enjoyed by everyone from connoisseurs to medical professionals, with white tea particularly being favored for its delicate taste and slew of health benefits.

 

In spite of its increasing popularity, most people remain unaware of what white tea really is and what makes it different from other types of teas available on the market. All teas actually come from the same plant: the Camilla Sinensis. The resulting type of tea–whether white, green, black, or oolong–depends entirely on the process that leaves undergo after they are plucked from the plant. The process of making Black tea involves thorough fermentation in which the tea leaves are exposed to the air for several minutes. When making green tea, the leaves do not undergo any fermentation process at all, and are simply exposed to hot air, after which they are steamed or fried. They are then heated and rolled gently, which preserves their natural flavors. Oolong teas on the other hand undergo a partial fermentation process, which gives the tea its distinctive reddish hue and aromatic flavor.

 

White tea is different from all the other types of teas since the leaves are plucked while the buds have still yet to open fully. These leaves are still covered with a light silvery fuzz from which the tea derives its name. There are actually several different types of white teas available, with the differences being determined by the ratio of buds to leaves. White Peony for example uses one bud for every two leaves, while Silver Needles, which is the undisputed king of all white teas, is made entirely from buds, which are picked during early spring.

 

As impressive as the appearance of white tea is, this is not the only reason for its vast popularity. The lack of processing involved in the production of white tea also ensures that much of the nutrients present in the tea leaves are retained. This also ensures white tea's delicate flavor, which is a definite deciding factor when choosing which tea to purchase.