White tea is a type of tea that is less processed than green tea.
In contrast to the manner in which green tea is produced, the tea leaves leaves are allowed to wither after picking, thus giving them a lighter (and sometimes more brownish) appearance than the dark green color of green tea leaves.
Most varieties of white tea originated in Fujian province, China, which still produces a large portion of these types of tea.
It is an often-stated myth that white tea is lower in caffeine than other types of tea: the caffeine content of tea varies widely among individual teas, and no generalizations can be made about whether white, green, or black teas contain the most caffeine.
Shou Mei: Shou mei, meaning longevity eyebrows, is the darkest commonly available variety of white tea.
It is often considered a "low grade", but this does not mean that it is inferior in flavor and aroma, but rather, that it is less expensive and tends to be made out of larger leaves.
Because it is made of more mature leaves and contains fewer leaf buds, it tends to be low in caffeine.
Shou mei leaves produce a full-bodied cup of tea that is dark brown in color, although some shou mei teas have a slightly greener character.
Shou mei is often described as being similar to oolong tea, a type of tea that is intermediate between black and green tea.
Bai Mu Dan / White Peony: Bai mu dan, meaning white peony, is a type of white tea that tends to be lighter in color than shou mei, but darker than silver needle.
Contrary to what the name "white peony" might suggest, bai mu dan does not contain any peony flowers, and is made exclusively from the tea plant.
Bai mu dan tends to be intermediate in price and in overall character between shou mei and silver needle.
It is preferred by people who enjoy lighter teas but want something richer and more full-bodied than silver needle.
Silver Needle: Silver needle, or bai hao yinzhen, is a white tea made exclusively of buds (leaf tips).
Because tips are higher in caffeine, silver needle tends to be high in caffeine--it is even more heavily caffeinated than a number of green or black teas.
Silver needle is usually described as having a delicate flavor and aroma.
It tends to be among the most expensive of teas, although it is not necessarily a favorite among tea drinkers who prefer a stronger-flavored cup.
Opinions on silver needle differ sharply--some consider it among the most prized and exquisite of teas, whereas others consider it to be bland and overpriced.
Other White Teas: Snow buds, or xue ya, is a recently-developed variety of tea which has a character intermediate between white and green tea.
The Darjeeling district of India has recently started producing Darjeeling white tea, which have their own peculiar character.
White teas are rarely, but increasingly being produced in other regions of the world as well, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Assam (in India), Malawi, and even in Washington State in the United States.
In contrast to the manner in which green tea is produced, the tea leaves leaves are allowed to wither after picking, thus giving them a lighter (and sometimes more brownish) appearance than the dark green color of green tea leaves.
Most varieties of white tea originated in Fujian province, China, which still produces a large portion of these types of tea.
It is an often-stated myth that white tea is lower in caffeine than other types of tea: the caffeine content of tea varies widely among individual teas, and no generalizations can be made about whether white, green, or black teas contain the most caffeine.
Shou Mei: Shou mei, meaning longevity eyebrows, is the darkest commonly available variety of white tea.
It is often considered a "low grade", but this does not mean that it is inferior in flavor and aroma, but rather, that it is less expensive and tends to be made out of larger leaves.
Because it is made of more mature leaves and contains fewer leaf buds, it tends to be low in caffeine.
Shou mei leaves produce a full-bodied cup of tea that is dark brown in color, although some shou mei teas have a slightly greener character.
Shou mei is often described as being similar to oolong tea, a type of tea that is intermediate between black and green tea.
Bai Mu Dan / White Peony: Bai mu dan, meaning white peony, is a type of white tea that tends to be lighter in color than shou mei, but darker than silver needle.
Contrary to what the name "white peony" might suggest, bai mu dan does not contain any peony flowers, and is made exclusively from the tea plant.
Bai mu dan tends to be intermediate in price and in overall character between shou mei and silver needle.
It is preferred by people who enjoy lighter teas but want something richer and more full-bodied than silver needle.
Silver Needle: Silver needle, or bai hao yinzhen, is a white tea made exclusively of buds (leaf tips).
Because tips are higher in caffeine, silver needle tends to be high in caffeine--it is even more heavily caffeinated than a number of green or black teas.
Silver needle is usually described as having a delicate flavor and aroma.
It tends to be among the most expensive of teas, although it is not necessarily a favorite among tea drinkers who prefer a stronger-flavored cup.
Opinions on silver needle differ sharply--some consider it among the most prized and exquisite of teas, whereas others consider it to be bland and overpriced.
Other White Teas: Snow buds, or xue ya, is a recently-developed variety of tea which has a character intermediate between white and green tea.
The Darjeeling district of India has recently started producing Darjeeling white tea, which have their own peculiar character.
White teas are rarely, but increasingly being produced in other regions of the world as well, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Assam (in India), Malawi, and even in Washington State in the United States.
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