What is white tea?

This delicate member of the tea family rarely graces tea selections at coffee shops and homes. It has a teeny tiny annual production of just 0.01% of that of black tea [1]. But white tea has—in fact—a long history spanning back thousands of years.

With a light, springy taste, white tea is often infused with fun fruity flavors. And while white tea is often confused for being an herbal tea, it’s actually a caffeinated brew with health benefits similar to green or black tea.

You might have caught glimpses of white tea in candles and soaps, but what’s the deal behind this lesser known tea?

What is white tea made from and how?

Like with green, oolong, and black teas, the white tea “plant” is called camellia sinensis [2]. The biggest defining factors of white tea are what parts of the plant are harvested and how they’re processed. It undergoes the least amount of processing out of green, oolong, and black tea.

So, how is white tea made?

There’s a bit of healthy debate around what exactly qualifies as white tea, but for the most part the tea uses a mix of buds and young leaves, which determines the specific type [2]. The buds’ silvery colored fine hairs are what give white tea its name. Ideally, the harvesting of white tea happens on a sunny morning when the moisture on buds has dried off.

After harvesting, the not fully opened leaves and buds briefly wither and turn a grey-green or gray-brown through very slight oxidation [3]. They will then immediately go into the drying step. Sun drying used to be the earliest method but there are now additional mechanical drying techniques like basket drying.

What does white tea taste like?

White tea’s taste can be described as subtle, sweet, and fruity, although this all varies by the specific type [3]. American tea manufacturer, Harney & Sons, describes their various white teas as having a subtle sweetness, gentle vegetal flavors, or tasting like honied honeydew. If you’re looking for a delicate, refreshing drink, white tea is whispering your name.

Where is white tea from?

White tea goes way back, thought to originate in China’s Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 A.D.) [2]. It was the royal court’s tea of choice, with its production changing along with each dynasty. Tea enthusiast Emperor Huei Tsung, who reigned from 1102 to 1124, professed that white tea was the rarest and of the finest quality [4].

White tea’s persistent rarity today may have something to do with the fact that it was virtually unknown outside of China until the late 1800s. The modern method of producing white tea is fairly recent (from the late 1700s), yet there is still some disagreement about what criteria define white tea.

Nowadays, white tea production has spread to several other tea producing countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India. And while Chinese producers claim that white tea only comes from the buds of the Da Bai tea bush in Fujian province, other countries think it's the white tea’s unique production process that earns the name [3]. However, China still dominates the white tea market, claiming 90% of the world’s annual production [1].

Types of white tea

Despite the disagreements about what defines white tea, we can rely on the various types of white teas for more precise definitions on what to expect. As with Japanese green teas, the differing parts of the tea plant used and processing methods have given rise to varieties with distinct flavors, colors, and quality.

1. Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen)

Silver Needle is the most expensive and best quality type of white tea, produced in the Fujian province of China. It’s made exclusively of plump spring buds, with an estimated 10 thousand hand-picked buds necessary to make 2.2 pounds (1 kilo) of the tea [5]. Buds are dried under the sun, then completely dried over a low fire if the outside heat isn’t sufficient [6]. The finished tea’s silvery color and long needle shape gives Silver Needle its name [1].

2. White Peony (Bai Mu Dan)

White Peony was invented in 1922 in China’s Fujian province and is considered a lower quality version of Silver Needle because it uses older leaves [6]. As a result, White Peony can cost a fifth of Silver Needle. This white tea variety uses a silvery bud with one to two young leaves [1]. To process, withering happens via one of three methods: sunshine withering, airing, and low-temperature withering. The last step is drying, which happens at a higher temperature than that with Silver Needle [6].

3. Long Life Eyebrow (Shou Mei)

Long Life Eyebrow uses a mix of younger and older leaves left over after harvesting for Silver Needle and White Peony white teas [10]. No buds are used. This tea undergoes the same processing as White Peony [6].

4. Tribute Eyebrow (Gong Mei)

Like Shou Mei (Long Life Eyebrow), Gong Mei (Tribute Eyebrow) gets its eyebrow raising name from its leaf-only makeup and curved shape [5]. China considers Tribute Eyebrow a more premium version of Long Life Eyebrow white tea [6].

5. Darjeeling White

Rather unsurprisingly, Darjeeling white tea comes from the Darjeeling region of India, breaking away from the China dominated white tea production [2]. It’s produced similarly to Silver Needle white tea, but tastes earthier and contains more caffeine [7].

In stores, you might often see white teas infused with light, fruity flavors, bringing about varieties like pomegranate white tea, hibiscus white tea, or peach white tea.

White tea scented things

Perhaps most familiar to those who have heard of white tea is the white tea scent. You can find the aroma most commonly infused with undertones of citrus, wood, and blossoms. Because of white tea’s pleasantly neutral scent, you’ll often see it in home fragrances and beauty products.

How to drink your white tea

Because white tea’s flavors are so light, tea drinkers will often forgo any additions to their cup. A bit of milk or sugar may just drown out the taste entirely.

When brewing, white tea’s temperature for water should be much cooler than with other teas. Aim for 75 - 80 C (165 -175 F) degrees. If hotter, the tea may start to get an unpleasant flavor [6]. Because of the tea’s light flavor, it should be allowed to steep a little longer. Wait 10 minutes or until the tea turns a pale yellow.

When it comes to food pairings with which to best enjoy a cup of white tea, opt for equally subtle foods so the tea’s flavor doesn’t get lost [8]. Mild cheeses, fish, and white meat will finely compliment white tea’s delicate flavor and smell.

White tea health benefits

In ancient China, white tea was used as medicine to treat measles [9].

Beyond that, information on white tea’s health benefits for modern medicinal uses is limited. It’s only become an area of interest and research in recent years, despite the tea’s several hundred year history. But even through the bits of information we do have so far, it’s clear that white tea is well on its way to joining the ranks of superfoods with numerous health benefits.

Here are just a few of white tea’s possible health benefits as shown in studies.

Antioxidants. Because white tea is the least processed tea type, it keeps a high amount of catechins, which have been associated with antioxidant activity [11]. The higher levels of antioxidants in white tea vs green tea also contribute to its numerous health benefits.
Anti-cancer effects. While more studies are needed to prove white tea’s role in cancer prevention outright, studies have shown that white tea has chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects in lung cancer cells [12]. It can also help to protect human skin from the sun’s UV rays. White tea’s antioxidant content may help it fight cancer more than other tea types, as well [7].
Anti-inflammatory. On its own, white tea has natural anti-inflammatory properties. One study on mice showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of white tea and peppermint greatly increased together [9]. It may be worth looking out for this delightful blend!
Cardiovascular health. Drinking white tea can be good for your heart! Its most prevalent amino acid called l-theanine is a blood pressure–reducing agent [11].
Weight loss. White tea is a natural weight loss supplement together with regular exercise [12]. Findings indicate that tea catechins, which white tea has the most compared to green or black teas, can help reduce diet-induced obesity. This effect is thought to be due to the activation of whole-body energy metabolism.

Does white tea have caffeine?

Few studies exist on white tea’s caffeine content and it is often clumped together with green tea. However, it’s believed that because the buds and young leaves used in white tea have a higher level of caffeine than older leaves, white tea’s caffeine might in fact be higher than green tea [13].

Generally, when comparing white tea’s caffeine to green tea or black tea, the order of caffeine content from highest to lowest is typically fresh tea leaves > black tea > oolong tea > green tea [2].

[1] Lin, Jen-Kun, and Shahidi, Fereidoon. Tea and Tea Products: Chemistry and Health-Promoting Properties. United States, CRC Press, 2008.
[2] Preedy, Victor R. Tea in Health and Disease Prevention. London: Elsevier, 2013. Print.
[3] Richardson, Lisa Boalt, and Altman, Jenifer. Modern Tea: A Fresh Look at an Ancient Beverage. United States, Chronicle Books LLC, 2014.
[4] Saberi, Helen. Tea : A Global History, Reaktion Books, Limited, 2010.
[5] Heiss, Mary Lou, and Heiss, Robert J.. The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide. United States, Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed, 2011.
[6] Hinsch, Bret. The Ultimate Guide to Chinese Tea. Thailand, White Lotus Press, 2008.
[7] Dow, Caroline. The Healing Power of Tea: Simple Teas & Tisanes to Remedy and Rejuvenate Your Health. United States, Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited, 2014.
[8] “Food Pairing with... Tea!” Twinings UK & Ireland, www.twinings.co.uk/our-communi-tea/latest-news-and-articles/food-pairing-with-tea.
[9] Xia, Xiaoyan et al. “Combination of white tea and peppermint demonstrated synergistic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.” Journal of the science of food and agriculture vol. 101,6 (2021): 2500-2510.
[10] Dow, Caroline. The Healing Power of Tea: Simple Teas & Tisanes to Remedy and Rejuvenate Your Health. United States, Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited, 2014.
[11] “Chapter 3.42 - White Tea.” Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements, by Seyed Mohammad Nabavi and Ana Sanches Silva, Academic Press, 2019, pp. 437–445.
[12] Dias, Tânia & Tomás, Gonçalo & N.F, Teixeira & Alves, Marco & Oliveira, Pedro & Silva, Branca. White Tea (Camellia Sinensis (L.)): Antioxidant Properties And Beneficial Health Effects. International Journal of Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. 2. 1-15. (2013).
[13] “Tea.” Linus Pauling Institute, 1 Jan. 2021, lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/tea.

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about the author

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? Raquel is an Arizona-based tea drinker who writes about tea as a side hobby. Her current favorites are Earl Grey with a splash of milk and any Japanese green tea.

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