Picking Out the Best White Tea ? Leaf by Leaf

Posted by williamriddle on May 20th, 2011

Not everyone is familiar with white tea, but this delicious alternative to green tea is pretty awesome. Of course, you are only going to get that “wow” factor when you purchase premium white tea. If you consider yourself to have an open mind when it comes to exploring new and possibly better tea options, then white tea should be at the top of your list. Here are some tips that you can follow so you will be able to spot the best kind of leaves for brewing. White tea is slowly but steadily attracting the attention of tea enthusiasts who have established a preference for green, black and other types of tea. This is because premium white tea is power-packed with antioxidants that really make a difference in your body. Many medical journals have published studies on the health benefits white tea offers the human body, so now the clamour is all about determining which particular kinds and brands of white tea on the market are considered to be the best of the best. After all, there are many brands out there to choose from. First of all, as with all teas, loose leaf white tea is always better than teabags. (This principle actually applies to almost all tea types, as only the leftovers from the full leaf tea sorting process are used in teabags.) Like all other products, there is, however, a price tag attached to quality - loose leaf tea is also more expensive. Some of the bagged teas might be tempting especially if they claim to be infused with fruity or flowery flavours. If you want the best of the best, premium white tea is always loose and one hundred percent white tea; as the additions are often used simply to cover the sub-optimal original quality and taste. The second reason is that the level of white tea concentration is compromised, especially when white teas are mixed with large proportions of cheaper ingredients. The taste might be unique once brewed, but the effectiveness of the antioxidants will be lessened. White tea production is very limited in the world, with the best teas being those from estates in China. The top quality white tea from China is called Bai Hao Yinzhen (which translates as ‘silver needle’) and is made from pure buds that are picked only from the days of mid-March up to mid-April each year. The second best white tea is white peony, where the ratio is one premium bud to every one or two second grade leaves. There are other teas with more mature leaves, but these two are the highest ranking in the quality hierarchy. So the next time you are considering trying out some new teas, make sure you give white tea a go. It not only tastes wonderful but also does your body a whole world of good. One alternative to green tea is white tea, but not all white teas are created equal. Here is what you need to know to always get the best premium white tea

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