Properties of White Tea: Elegance and Health Benefits – 2 in 1
Why do we drink tea? It’s a simple question, but not everyone can properly answer it. Some say to warm up in cold seasons, others say, “I love the slightly bitter taste and aroma of tea,” and some say it helps create a cozy atmosphere at home and is pleasant to enjoy with family and friends… But only a few will say: “Because it’s healthy!” Despite the huge number of articles online about “Why tea is beneficial,” few can name at least three real reasons immediately. In fact, tea is a treasure trove of beneficial substances that positively affect the human body. Drinking quality tea means properly receiving vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, and other organic compounds. This, in turn, is the key to health, beauty, longevity, and good mood!
But now, we are interested not just in “tea” but specifically in “white tea” – the most refined and delicate, grown in China, specifically in the tea province of Fujian. Indeed, white teas are rightly considered the most exquisite beverages whose taste and aroma not everyone can fully appreciate. This does not mean there is something wrong with you. Simply put, elite white tea is very subtle, gentle, almost weightless, yet wonderfully refreshing. It has absorbed the hot daytime sun and cool night air, becoming a source of magnificent aroma – floral-fruity, sometimes with honey notes. Many tea lovers believe: those who appreciate it are true gourmets.
Before moving on to the topic “benefits of white tea,” it’s worth answering the question: what is white tea? Most Ukrainians not only are unfamiliar with it but don’t even suspect it exists.
Chinese white tea is one of the rarest, most expensive, and unique varieties, made from young tea leaves covered with a dense white fuzz. In China, this beverage has been known since ancient times. Over 890 years ago, it was available only to members of the imperial family and their close associates. Although today the situation has changed dramatically – white Chinese tea has become widely accessible, the Chinese still reluctantly export raw material with minimal oxidation (up to 12%). For comparison: the oxidation level of black tea is 80%.
The main goal of making white tea is to preserve the appearance of the tea leaf as much as possible, which provides a natural, authentic taste and aroma. Human intervention in the production process is minimized.
As mentioned earlier, this type of tea mainly grows and is processed in the Fujian province. The picking period for tips (unopened buds) is early spring, from mid-March to mid-April. Harvesting is strictly timed: from 5 to 9 a.m. and only in clear, sunny weather. But that’s not all! Special rules apply to tea pickers: white tea instantly absorbs odors, so before work, people are forbidden to drink alcohol, eat onions, garlic, spices, smoke, or use perfume, etc.
Interesting fact: when the white tea harvest begins, fruit orchards bloom simultaneously in the provinces of the Celestial Empire. The fuzz on tea leaves instantly absorbs strong floral aromas, giving the beverage a scent of spring flowers and fruity tones.
After picking, young, undamaged leaves are steamed for no more than a minute and naturally dried under the sun. Thus, the tea leaves retain their beneficial properties, and the beverage has excellent healing qualities.
Why is white tea so expensive? To produce 1 kg of raw material, more than 100,000 tiny white leaves are processed.
Types of White Tea
White tea varieties have quite unusual, romantic names that attract attention with their eccentricity. Currently, there are about 10 types of white tea in China. But regarding popularity, four main types stand out:
- White tea Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needles with white fuzz) – one of the most sought-after and rare varieties, consisting exclusively of tea tree buds densely covered with silvery fuzz. Its appearance resembles needles – hence the name.
- White tea Bai Mu Dan (White Peony) – an elite variety created based on two young leaves of the same size and unopened flower buds. The aromatic drink has no “green” smell. Its honeyed flavor is filled with floral and fruity notes. The technology of this variety is considered one of the most complex and is passed from father to son.
- White tea Shou Mei (Eyebrows of Longevity) – the buds and upper leaves of this variety undergo stronger thermal processing. Hence, the taste is richer, with soft honey hues and a floral-fruity aroma accompanied by the scent of withering autumn leaves.
- White tea Yue Guang Bai (White Moonlight) – a rare and expensive variety, for the production of which barely opened shoots and the first young leaves are picked during early spring. Harvesting occurs at night by the light of a clear moon. As a result, the raw material acquires an unusual appearance: black leaves and silvery-white fuzzy buds. Paradoxically, despite the spring harvest, the aroma of the infusion contains summer fruity-floral notes.
Health Benefits of White Tea
Why is white tea beneficial? This topic interests not only researchers, scientists, and doctors but also ordinary people who prefer to drink not “imitation” but truly beneficial tea beverages with a rich healing potential.
Properties of White Tea:
- Due to minimal processing and mild fermentation, white tea contains a large amount of antioxidants and polyphenols, helping the body preserve youth at the cellular level.
- Essential oils and trace elements present in large quantities provide a tonic effect and simultaneously reduce stress and irritability. Any tea can tone you up, but these varieties do so softly and delicately.
- Fluorides strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities.
- Strengthens immunity.
- A cup of white tea helps not only to warm up in winter but also to quench thirst in summer.
- Speeds up metabolism. This does not mean that, without changing lifestyle and drinking a couple of cups of tea a day, you can expect active weight loss. Yes, it accelerates metabolism, acts as a diuretic, and removes toxins and slags from the body, but it works effectively only alongside balanced nutrition, physical activity, and sufficient daily fluid intake (at least 4.5 cups).
- Protects against cancer and ultraviolet radiation (only with regular consumption).
- One cup of white tea contains as many vitamins as one carrot.
- Rejuvenates and refreshes the skin’s appearance, slows down wrinkle formation (a huge plus, especially for women of all ages!).
What else is white tea good for?
- Strengthens blood vessel walls.
- Helps with varicose veins.
- Used as a preventive remedy for cardiovascular diseases.
- Improves blood clotting.
- Prevents thrombosis.
- Calms the nervous system.
- Used as an additional treatment for colds.
- Removes excess cholesterol from the blood.
Evaluating this impressive list of white tea properties, one begins to understand why the Chinese call it the “drink of immortality.”
White Tea for Weight Loss
Tea drinking is an important part of weight loss. Like most quality elite Chinese teas, white varieties positively influence the loss of excess weight. The tea not only breaks down fats and removes them from the body but also helps to get rid of the bad habit of overeating.
No laxatives or cleansing agents are needed.
White tea has a delicate flavor, so its consumption does not stimulate appetite increase (unlike black tea). If drunk hot (warm) five times a day, it perfectly replaces extra snacks.
Pleasant white tea is organic and self-sufficient. It does not need sweeteners, chocolate, or jam.
Ancient Chinese medicine postulates claim that white tea perfectly strengthens the immune system and improves metabolic processes. It helps to quickly recover after heavy physical exertion and excellently preserves strength during active work.
It enhances the effectiveness of any diet system. Regular tea consumption can completely replace vitamin intake.
Dietitians consider the “Silver Needles” and “White Peony” varieties the most valuable and beneficial for weight loss.
White Tea During Pregnancy
Elite white varieties contain a huge amount of vitamins, microelements, antioxidants, and useful organic compounds, including calcium, necessary for pregnant women and their babies. These varieties have a minimal amount of caffeine, so doctors recommend their use during pregnancy, but only after consulting with a healthcare professional.
White tea can smooth unstable blood pressure fluctuations in pregnant women. To do this, brew the tea for at least 15 minutes and drink it three times a day in small sips, warm.
Alongside the topic of “white tea benefits” there is also “white tea harm”.
You may be prevented from enjoying this unique drink by the following conditions:
- Gastritis,
- Stomach ulcer,
- Diabetes,
- Kidney disease,
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (in some cases),
- Insomnia.
Where to Buy White Tea in Ukraine?
To the question “Where to buy white tea?” we answer: in specialized tea shops that deal with direct supplies from provinces of the Celestial Empire. If you want to be sure of the quality of the raw material and its proper storage (this is very important for white tea because it quickly absorbs extra odors!) – contact the online shop “Miy Chai.” Our specialists will not only sell you good Chinese white tea but also provide all necessary information about white tea varieties and its benefits and harms (if needed). They will help you choose and quickly form and ship your order.
The beneficial properties of white tea are, of course, wonderful! But only quality raw material has these properties. White tea bags cannot guarantee this. You should understand – only loose-leaf or pressed white tea in the form of rolled leaves and buds with fuzz has the proper beneficial composition.
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