White Teas

Silver Needle White Tea, or Bai Hao Yinzhen or simply Yinzhen tea is originally and primarily from the Fujian province of China. This white tea is the most expensive since it is made only from unopened top buds from the tea plant. It is also picked only in a short period in March-April, and when it is not raining. This makes it a rare tea, and rather expensive!

This white tea, like all white teas, is made from the same plant, camellia sinensis, that is used for black, green and oolong teas. The name of this white tea comes from the silvery white "needles" or hairs on the buds. It is the inclusion of only unopened buds and different processing that makes it a white tea.

Silver Needle white tea is very delicate, but if it is of good quality it can be steeped for a longer time without harm to the flavor. The flavor should be delicate and slightly sweet.

For those who want to try the real thing, the best Silver Needle White tea, get it in loose leaf form.

White Peony or Bai Mu Dan is another white tea from China. It has often been considered a lower grade of White Needle tea, but this is not correct. White Peony tea always includes new leaves as well as buds; the best quality White Peony being made with the proportion "two leaves and a bud." Like Silver Needle tea, White Peony tea is picked only on a few days in the year, when it is not raining. Again, it is a rare tea, and expensive!

You can buy delicious White Peony tea in loose leaf form.

And there's also a selection of White Peony tea in tea bags, for convenience.

Darjeeling White Tea comes from India. This white tea has fluffy light leaves and when brewed it has a delicate aroma and a pale golden color with a hint of sweetness in its taste.The tea is hand picked, hand rolled and then withered in the sun.

Assam White Tea is produced in the Assam region of India. It is much lighter than Assam black teas, and produces a naturally sweet drink.

Ceylon White tea has delicate notes of pine and honey appears as a golden coppery color. This white tea is grown in Sri Lanka, rolled by hand with the leaves dried and withered in the sun.

From Kenya and Malawi in Africa come African Silver Needle Tea. This white tea is usually higher in caffeine and richer in flavor than Chinese white teas.

The Chinese have used teas for medicinal purposes for centuries, and in recent years the West has become aware of this aspect of teas. White teas in particular are considered beneficial to one's health because they are made by a process that retains the greatest concentration of antioxidant flavonoids, catechins, which are organic compounds believed by many researchers to have beneficial effects.

A wide variety of health problems, including cancer, stroke, heart failure, cancer, bone density, dental caries and even infections have all received reports of reduced prevalence among those drinking tea high in catechins.

White tea - Article on New World Encyclopedia.

White Tea Guide - A website dedicated to the wonder of white teas.