White Tea Guideline

What is White Tea?

Just like all other tea, White tea stems from the Camellia sinensis plant. White tea is made of young fresh buds harvested at an early stage. Since the young buds are still cloaked in fine white hairs, it gains the name "white" tea. 

Known for its rareness and delicacy, White tea required extra details to produce. Additionally, due to its minimal processing, white tea reserves the original flavor of tea leaves and is considered to be the first type of tea to ever emerge in history. In fact, white tea was originally valued more as a medicinal substance than merely a beverage. 

In China, there is a saying about white tea: "One year tea, three years medicine, seven years treasure." This means that the longer white tea is stored, the higher its value becomes. Typically, white tea stored for five or six years is considered aged, while white tea aged for ten to twenty years is regarded as a rare and precious treasure. 

White tea leaves possess a faint apricot blossom aroma. Over the years, this aroma gradually fades, the liquor color slowly turns red, the taste becomes more mellow, and the tea's nature shifts from cool to warm.

The Origin of White Tea

The origin of white tea can be traced back to the Tang dynasty (618-907). Invented by tea farmers in China, white tea first came up in "The Classic of Tea" written by Lu Yu.

During the Tang and the following dynasty, Song, tea drinking had become a nationwide custom. Citizens had to honor the Emperor annually by contributing rare teas, just like a tax in the form of tea. White tea was made of the finest tea plants and the most precious tea buds, thus naturally became the Emperor’s favorite. For many years, white tea had been a premium delight exclusive to the Imperial Garden.

Nowadays, white tea is mainly produced in Fujian, China. You can also find special kinds of white tea in other regions like Taiwan, Sri Lanka or Nepal.

How White Tea is Made?

The process of making white tea is the most organic, but it needs certain skills and experience.

In the beginning, we observe the tea plants to find the appropriate young buds/leaves. Gently pluck these buds and collect them in a dark place. Then, tea buds will be wilted under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, either in sunlight or indoors.

If you choose to let tea buds wilt outdoors, notice that direct exposure to strong sunlight can lead to over-fermenting. Therefore, pay attention to the exposure time and length. Early morning sunlight is exactly right, when it begins to grow stronger and hotter, the tea buds should be moved indoors.

Freshly harvested tea buds are carefully spread out in a single layer to dry naturally over 7-10 days. After this gentle drying process, the buds are steamed or roasted to halt oxidation, ensuring they can be properly stored.

The tradition of handpicking and hand-processing makes white tea a testament to the craftsmanship behind their production.

Tasting Notes for White Tea

With a subtle tea fragrance and a pleasantly sweet aftertaste, white tea is celebrated for its exquisite aromas and flavors. The common words used to describe white tea flavor include:

Compared to green tea, black tea, and oolong tea, the flavor of white tea is gentler and more subtle.

Different Types of White Tea

According to its plucking standard, white tea can be categorized into Silver Needle, White Peony, Gong Mei, and Shou Mei.

Silver Needle

Silver Needle is the most expensive and precious type of white tea. It consists of only full young buds covered with thin white hair. The picking standard for Silver Needle is extremely stringent, a single bud can only be paired with one leaf. The genuine Silver Needle comes from Fujian province. 

It delights with a sweet floral fragrance, a brisk taste of woodsy notes, and a radiant pale golden hue. As Silver Needle ages, the aroma changes from floral to honey, the tea liquor will also change to an orange-yellow color.

White Peony

White Peony consists mostly of buds and some unfurled young tea leaves, the standard ratio of buds to leaves should be 1:2. It features a vibrant mix of green, grey, and brown leaves due to varying degrees of oxidation, highlighted by its signature silvery bud. 

This tea is characterized by its silvery rich, sweet, and mellow flavor. Known for its robust infusion, White Peony is often favored over Silver Needle for creating flavorful white tea blends. 

Gong Mei

Gong Mei is made in the mid-late spring season with a loose picking standard. The shape of Gong Mei’s tea leaves is like an eyebrow, and it has the strongest taste among white tea.

This tea has a refreshing, mellow, and rich liquor with a hint of floral and fruity aromas. Gong Mei's and Shou Mei's making processes are similar, but some subtle differences exist. The taste for the former is richer, and the latter relatively gentler.

Shou Mei

Shou Mei is normally made in the later spring season and consists of fewer buds, which makes its color relatively darker. Shou Mei has a strong taste, often reminding people of oolong's taste. 

It has a clear and bright liquor, with a fresh and long-lasting taste. Shou Mei features a complex flavor profile with floral and fruity aromas.

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What are The Health Benefits of White Tea?

With minimal processing and no added substances, white tea maximizes the preservation of the tea leaves' natural nutrients. White tea is both primitive and natural, boasting a higher antioxidant content than other types of tea.

How Much White Tea Is Good for You?

For healthy adults, the FDA suggested a 400mg caffeine consumption limit per day. 

Generally, a cup (250ml) of white tea contains around 5-55g of caffeine. The range varies according to the type and steeping time of white tea. The longer you steep, the more caffeine it releases.

In other words, somewhere under 7 cups of white tea daily would be fine for you.

How to Brew White Tea Perfectly?

White tea leaves have a variety of aromas and can be brewed multiple times. To fully release its potential while ensuring every sip of your tea tastes perfect, you can follow these simple tips.

Things You Need

1. Teacup
2. Teapot
3. Kettle / Pot
4. White tea leaves
5. Filtered water

Steeping Steps

Step 1: Heat the water

Step 2: Measure tea leaves
Golden ratio: 100ml of water for 1g of tea leaves; 250ml of water for a 3g tea bag

Step 3: Put the measured tea leaves into your teapot gently

Step 4: Pour hot water into the teapot

Step 5: Steep the tea

Step 6: Pour the tea into your teacup slowly

Step 7: Enjoy while you taste

Enhancing the Flavor

You can customize the flavor by adding different ingredients, so every cup of white tea is unique but equally enjoyable!

• Sweeteners: honey, sugar, syrup
  Adding a small amount of sweeteners can enhance the silky taste of white tea.
   
• Fresh herbs: lemongrass, mint, basil
  Adding fresh herbs can make white tea even more refreshing.
   
• Citrus fruits: lemon, grapefruit, orange
  Adding citrus fruits can make white tea taste more lively and fruity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To ensure you enjoy the best cup of tea, try to avoid these common mistakes.

• Wrong Steeping Time
  
  The accurate steeping time for the first, second and third brews differs. Be aware of the chart above to avoid oversteeping.
   
• Wrong Water Temperature
  
  Different kinds of white tea have their ideal steeping condition. Make sure you are aware of the water temperature, otherwise, it can ruin the flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store White Tea?

The key to white tea storage is airtight. Make sure white tea leaves are kept in an airtight opaque container, and it’s put in a cool, dark place without direct sunlight.

Is White Tea Fermented?

White tea is typically viewed as non-fermented. Nevertheless, a slight natural fermentation may occur in the withering process.

Why Is White Tea Expensive?

The plucking standard for white tea is very high, only the young buds and unfurled leaves would be picked. Some premium white teas are even hand-picked or hand-processed, therefore limiting the production.

Does White Tea Have Caffeine?

White tea contains a small amount of caffeine, much lower than black tea. A cup (250ml) of white tea contains around 5-55g of caffeine.