White tea doesn’t get as much attention as it should, but it is simply delicious. Nope, we’re not talking about a particularly milky cup of builder’s tea here, but rather a loose leaf offering made from the same plant as green and black tea, but extracted differently to give an entirely unique flavour.
It is the least processed form of the plant and as a result, it has the highest amount of antioxidants. Considering its alluring taste and the effect it has on your health, it seems to be a no-brainer as a coffee replacement. Or should that be big-brainer, considering its reputed positive effects on mind and body?
White tea, just like green and black teas, comes from the same source, which is the Camellia Sinensis plant. The main difference is that white tea is minimally processed and farmers harvest the leaves before the young buds lose their fine white hairs – this makes white tea one of the most delicate tea varieties around.
Before drinking white tea, it’s essential to be familiar with the best tea preparation practices, to lock in all those health benefits and keep the flavour as complex and sophisticated as this delicious tea deserves to be. With that in mind, here’s how to steep the perfect pot of white tea.
Use A Good White Tea Brand
White tea comprises young springtime tea leaves traditionally grown in China’s Fujian province. It comes in various types and flavours, incorporating everything from woody to fruity notes. There are several white tea products on the market today, meaning you don’t have to board the next plane to Fujian to get your fix; you can even buy white tea online, delivered straight to your door.
However, before making your final choice, it’s essential to perform a background check on these brands, checking for the caffeine level, shelf life, and tasting notes. Ideally, white tea production favours low-temperature brewing in a short amount of time. Therefore, your cup of white tea is likely to contain as little as six milligrams of caffeine, far less than 80-200 milligrams in a cup of coffee.
What’s more, white tea’s short brew time, low caffeine, and oxidation levels reduce acidity. These are things to look for when patronising the best white tea.
Add Warm Water
Water quality and temperature are crucial factors when brewing delicate white tea leaves.
Always keep the brewing temperature at an optimum level, and remember to preheat your teapot by pouring boiling water in and out. It helps bring out the scent of the white tea leaves.
Avoid boiling water when brewing white tea, as it can ruin its delicate flavour. You can stick to the ideal tea brewing temperature, in this case, around 75
Avoid boiling water when brewing white tea, as it can ruin its delicate flavour. You can stick to the ideal tea brewing temperature, in this case, around 75°C.
Add Your Tea Leaves
Use enough tea leaves to enjoy the best white tea experience with every cup you make.
This is because white tea leaves are much less dense and compact than other types, so using the same amount of white tea leaves as the other tea types might not be the best way to go.
Pay critical attention to the number of leaves you add to your tea when measuring with a teaspoon. Generally speaking, you’ll want around a teaspoon of leaves for every 180ml of water.
The More Steeping, The Better
What is the best steeping duration to use for your white tea? How long is a piece of string? The duration can vary depending on the white tea brand you’re using. Some speciality brands may have their specific duration tips on the packaging, which you should observe carefully.
Generally, experts recommend any number between five and eight minutes for the first steeping. You can steep the tea for another two to three minutes with every additional cup.
Ensure to drink your white tea while it’s hot. Your tea will change flavour if left to cool for a long time.
All in all, many individuals increasingly realise the health benefits of white tea; one being that it might help protect the body against various illnesses such as heart disease. However, steeping your white tea right can be a great way to enjoy your white tea savouring every cup.