White Tea - Learn Where White Tea Comes From As Well As the Many Health Benefits!

By Andi Sachs

Ads by Google

Vegetable Oil Extraction No more Oil Spills in the Ocean Expellers, Filters, Dryers
www.scottech.com.br

WaterplusPure Air kotor bikin pusing? Solusi Air Bersih Anda
www.waterpluspure.com

Yi Wu Tea Factory Selection of over 20 puerh tea cakes from Yong Pin Hao Yi Wu
www.yunnansourcing.com

The Chinese have been enjoying white tea since the Ming dynasty, it was once a delicacy that was only grown in China's Fujian province more recently people have began cultivating it in other provinces in China as well as a few other tea growing regions of the world.

White tea as with all other teas comes from the Camellia Sinensis bush. Of all the tea families it is the least processed and therefore contains the most nutrients and highest level of antioxidants. Unlike black tea leaves which are manipulated to encourage oxidation and green tea leaves which are heated to prevent oxidation white tea is simply withered and then dried to remove any moisture from the leaves. There are four different varieties, Silver Needle White Tea (Bai Hao Yinzhen), White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), Tribute Eyebrow (Gong Mei) & Noble, Long Life Eyebrow (Shou Mei). Early spring harvest provides the best tea leaves. Silver buds and the first two leaves are hand-picked, the silver needle variety contains only buds while white peony contains one bud for every two leaves. Silver needle and white peony are amongst the most expensive tea varieties. Tribute eyebrow white tea is more processed than silver needle and white peony and is therefore considered a lower grade. Long life eyebrow is usually picked much later than the other varieties usually not until May or June and produces a much darker stronger tasting tea.

Many believe that white tea has the most health benefits of all the tea families. Studies have shown that people who consume 2 or more cups of tea per day are 50% less likely to die after suffering a heart attack. It also promotes healthy blood vessels and thins the blood lowering blood pressure and improving artery function.

Another identified health benefit is that it helps to maintain healthy teeth and gums by killing the bacteria that causes plaque, tooth decay and bad breathe, it also contains a small amount of fluoride which helps to keep teeth strong and healthy. Others believe that it lowers cholesterol levels by promoting the good cholesterol and decreasing the bad ones, this is achieved due to the catechins (polyphenol antioxidants) it contains.

Other benefits of the high levels of antioxidants found in white tea include improved artery function by lowering plaque levels & thinning the blood, improved skin appearance and cancer fighting abilities by way of decreasing free radicals in the body. Research on teas has shown that teas contain tannins which are naturally occurring flavonoids with contain significant antioxidant properties.

Drinking tea over coffee can lower your caffeine intake, tea on a per cup consumption contains much lower levels of caffeine than coffee. It is debated whether white tea contains the lowest or highest level of caffeine out of all the tea families. Some believe that caffeine levels come from processing and therefore white tea contains the least amount of caffeine while others believe that caffeine levels are produced by a variety of factors including where the leaves were located on the plant, fertilization of the plants, & where the plants were grown. These people believe that the younger the leaves the higher the caffeine content therefor white tea leaves contain the highest level of caffeine. Expensive chemical tests would need to be conducted on each harvest to determine exact caffeine levels either way tea contains much less caffeine than coffee. If you would like to try white tea but are looking to decrease your caffeine consumption a great option is flavoured teas where the leaves are blended white dried fruits to create a blend.

The name comes from the silver leaves that when dried turn white. The best way to consume tea is by allowing loose tea leaves the room they need to fully expand, this will ensure the best flavouring. You can purchase single cup infusers or tea steepers with a built in strainer for this. The best temperature to brew your white tea at is 175-185 degrees, plain white tea should steep for approximately 4 minutes while flavoured tea should only steep for 2 minutes.

To learn more about all the tea families please visit our Blog [http://blog.luxberrytea.com] or to purchase our teas please visit our websitehttp://www.luxberrytea.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andi_Sachs