White Tea
White Tea Is
Unique Because It Offers Benefits That Other Specialty Teas
Don't
Black, green, and
oolong teas have enjoyed a rising popularity in recent
years, while white teas have quietly functioned as a
lesser-known specialty herbal tea, much as Puerh
Tea has. Only recently has this more elite tea
begun to earn greater recognition and favor among mainstream
tea drinkers. So how does white tea differ from other teas, and do
the health benefits of
white tea compare to
other varieties?
Derived from
the Camellia sinensis plant, white tea leaves are harvested before they have fully
matured. Their name comes from the fine, white hairs that cover
their buds when they are picked from the plant. Not nearly as
common as black or green teas, plain white teas thus garner a higher price.
White teas
are produced primary in China
and Japan, but some of the more exclusive varieties come from
parts of India. There are four main varieties of
white
tea: Tribute Eyebrow,
Long Life Eyebrow, White Peony, and Silver
Needle.
Although
white tea
undergoes a similarly
small amount of processing, it does taste considerably
different than its contemporaries. Instead of the grassy
taste attributed to many green teas, white teas impart a sweeter, lighter flavor.
Many claim that the best taste is achieved when
white tea
is steeped in hot—but not
boiling—water.
Despite the
differences in processing and flavor, you’ll enjoy a long
list of benefits of
white tea:
-
While
white tea
does contain some
caffeine, which can aid in speeding metabolism and
sharpening mental faculties and concentration levels,
it does not contain as high of levels as black or green
teas. This lower level of caffeine (15 milligrams per
serving) makes white tea
an ideal choice
for those who can’t ingest large amounts of
chemical stimulants (such as women who are
pregnant or nursing).
-
Preliminary
studies have indicated that white tea
contains a higher
amount of natural
antioxidants. The many benefits of
antioxidants include the shielding of the
body’s cells from damage by free radicals, which
are notorious for damaging DNA and prematurely
aging cells. An antioxidant diet
has been proven to
help thwart the destructive actions of free
radicals.
-
Many experts
believe that the flavonoids found in
plain white
tea can
help prevent various types of cancers. Many
oncology patients have used white tea
as a supplemental
medicine to traditional prescription
drugs.
-
Due to the
minimal amount of processing and lack of
fermentation, white tea
contains more
vitamins and nutrients than other
varieties.
-
White
tea functions
as a natural blood thinner, and also works to widen the
arteries to increase blood flow to and from the heart
and to maintain a healthy level of blood pressure. In
this way, a white herbal tea blend
can help safeguard
against heart disease and
stroke.
-
Due to trace
amounts of fluoride, white tea
has been shown to
promote overall dental health and to prevent
tooth decay and halitosis. White
tea’s
suppression of free radicals also helps to
maintain healthy, radiant skin, reversing some of
the damage from aging and sun
exposure.
-
Many tea
drinkers claim that white tea
can aid weight
loss. Some studies show that weight loss herbal
teas can
help boost the body’s metabolic rate and
fat-burning capabilities. Of course, to
maximize white tea health
benefits,
it should be coupled with a regular exercise
program and sensible diet.
So, where
to buy white
tea?
White tea
can be found at any local
health food store or organic section of your grocery, or
check online for inexpensive wholesale tea.
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