The Magic of White Tea

In case you weren't already confused with all your tea options (green, black, herbal and then the amazing amount of teas that you almost never hear categorized, such as chai, rooibos, and yerba mate), a new tea has been available to the US market for a little over a year now: white tea. And it is quickly growing in popularity and is becoming the preference for many tea drinkers.

White tea, until very recently, was only available to the upper echelon of China. White tea is the least processed form of tea- it is steamed, dried, and only lightly oxidized. The leaves are very young, and in many cases, still buds. The buds from the plant that produces the highest quality of white tea are silver, hence the name of the tea.



Because the white tea leaves are the least processed, white tea retains the most health benefits. White tea is very high in antioxidants and catechins. It is great for helping with cancer prevention, heart protections, strengthening bones and improving teeth, gums and skin. It can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol and has strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. White tea is also the least caffeinated of the teas (herbals are not true teas, because they do not come from the tea leaf), so it is a great low-caffeine beverage option. In addition to all of this, it has a light, sweet flavor that is sure to be refreshing in this heat!

Happily, Food For Thought carries white tea! And, we now have a delicious tangerine flavored white tea available in bulk, so you can see if you like the new flavor before you dedicate yourself to a container.