White tea is usually derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves are not often processed or are young when used to make the tea.
White tea has many health benefits and a light, slightly sweet taste that makes it unique compared to thicker, heavier teas such as black and green tea. In this article we will be sharing some of the best white tea on the market today, so you can ensure you're getting the highest quality product which is easy to brew and enjoy.
Best Pick
The best buy is the Jocko White Tea. The product comes in various sizes, is also mixed with hibiscus and pomegranate for a unique flavour, and has many health benefits including a large number of antioxidants. This tea is also suitable for those on KETO or Paleo diets.
Best Pick
The best budget is the Harney and Sons White Tea in Dragon Pearl Jasmine. This product comes in a beautiful and chic tin which will look great in any kitchen. It has a hint of Jasmine in it which is unique and different from other regular white teas. Also, it is kosher, 0 calories and has a floral and sweet flavour.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best White Tea
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1. Jocko White Tea
Available in different sizes, the Jocko white tea is KETO-friendly, low-carb and is suitable for a paleo diet. If you have certain dietary requirements, this tea may be suitable for you.
This tea is packed with antioxidants which help to keep your cells strong against harsh chemicals and free radicals. Thanks to the added pomegranate, hibiscus and lemongrass, this tea is packed with natural antioxidants and vitamins.
If we love tea, we should always be wary of how much caffeine is in our drinks. The white tea by Jocko doesn’t have any added caffeine which is great if you like to be mindful of how much caffeine you consume regularly. It does have 37g of natural caffeine, however, which may be something to consider.
When it comes to brewing this tea, all you’ll have to do is put the teabag in hot water and let it sit for a few minutes. There is no need to spend ages brewing individual and loose tea leaves which may be an inconvenience, especially if you have a busy lifestyle.
This tea is also certified organic and non-GMO which means there are no added preservatives or chemicals to the product. You can drink this tea without the worry of consuming more than you've asked for.Pros
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2. Harney and Sons White Tea - Dragon Pearl Jasmine
This white tea by Harney and Sons comes in several flavours such as Dragon Pearl Jasmine, Cintron Green, Chamomile, Earl Grey Supreme, English Breakfast, Japanese Sencha, Peppermint Herbal and Hot Cinnamon Spice.
The white tea in particular (which is the Dragon Pearl Jasmine) has a sweet and floral aroma and has small pearls which are infused with the essence of the jasmine flower.
This tea is also kosher which is fantastic if you have certain dietary requirements which are influenced by religion. There is roughly 30-50mg of caffeine in each box of tea. To make, simply add a tea bag to boiled/hot water and let it sit for a few minutes.
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3. Uncle Lee's Organic White Tea
This premium white tea is organic and is sourced from the mountains in the Fujian province in China. It undergoes very little processing while being sourced and packaged in its tea bags for you to enjoy.
Minimal processing ensures that the health properties of the tea are not removed. Also, no pesticides are used when the tea leaves are growing and natural fertilizer is used as well.
Simply place a tea bag in a mug and pour hot water over it. Let the tea bag sit for a few minutes and enjoy. You could add sugar and milk if you wish, but this tea has a mildly sweet flavour so you won't need to add more ingredients to the tea to make it enjoyable.
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4. Teavana Youthberry, White Tea
What makes this white tea more unique compared to the others mentioned so far is its distinct tropical flavour. If you find yourself always adding sugar or other flavourings the Teavana Youthberry could be a great option for you.
This tea has a tropical flavour and is made from white tea, hibiscus, orange, rose petals and mangos.
Teavana is also passionate and dedicated to use and source ethical tea and plan to be 100% ethical by 2020. They have partnered up with UNICEF and Barefoot College alongside others to make this a possibility. To brew, place a teabag in a mug and pour hot water over it. Ideally, you would want your water to be at 175°F and steep it for 2 minutes. You will find that each tea bag contains around 16-25mg of caffeine.
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5. VAHDAM Imperial White Tea
If you care about your health and always try to consume the healthiest products, you won’t be disappointed in the VAHDAM Imperial White Tea. This tea has many antioxidants and can be used as both a detox tea and slimming tea. This means that this tea will aid in your digestion and cleanse your system.
Himalayan white tea contains flavonoids as well, and both this and the antioxidants present is found mostly in white tea than any other tea (including black and green tea). The VAHDAM Imperial White Tea only has the smallest concentration of caffeine in it as well.
This is the first white tea in this article that has loose tea leaves rather than coming in a teabag. This means you can use the leaves to make your own kombucha or iced tea. It has a floral flavour and is made from 100% natural tea leaves.
To brew and enjoy this tea, add 1 teaspoon to 220ml of hot water for around 5 minutes. Lastly, this product is ethical and complies with Fair Trade. 1% of all earnings are given to employees to spend on ensuring a good life for their children. Farmers also get a better price for their hard work compared to other products.
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6. The Republic of Tea Emperor's 100% White Tea
The Emperor's White Tea by The Republic of Tea is available in a medium package (with 50 tea bags in it) and a larger package with 250 tea bags).
To steep this tea, use hot water that has almost come to a boil. This is important because white tea leaves are very delicate and can be burned if the water you use is too hot.
Steep the tea for 30 seconds - 2 minutes depending on your taste. This product has around 20mg of caffeine in a six-ounce cup, which is considerably less than an average cup of coffee. The leaves are plucked only twice a year in China's Fujian province. Because they must be plucked before the leaves open and fully bloom, white tea (especially from The Republic of Tea) is rare and a delicacy.
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7. Choice Organic Teas - White Peony
This tea is derived from mountain top gardens which are tended to by specific and traditional methods to ensure the tea leaves are in the best condition. There is also great emphasis during the packaging process to ensure the leaves of the tea are not bruised or damaged.
The tea is USDA organic and certified by Fair Trade. It is kosher and suitable for those who have a gluten-free diet.
If you are conscious about the environment and our planet, you’ll be happy to know that Choice Organic uses recycled goods for its packaging and its tea bags are 100% biodegradable. This tea has a subtle, light and sweet aroma. If you enjoy light floral flavours, you will not be disappointed with this tea. To make, steep one of the tea bags in 8oz of hot water for a couple of minutes and enjoy.
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8. Twinings of London - Fujian Chinese Pure White Tea
Another brand of white tea that sources its leaves from Fujian in China is Twinings of London. This product is available in a pack of 20 teabags that are easy to use and enjoy. Simply place the tea bag in a cup or mug and pour hot water over it. You can enjoy after letting the tea bag sit in the water for a minute or two.
The flavour you could expect with this tea is the same as the other white teas we have mentioned already: it is light, slightly sweet and flowery.
You also won't find a lot of tannins in this product. Tannins are usually found on the stem of a tea leaf that provides a bitter and dry flavour to the tea. Stems are not usually used for white tea so there is a smaller amount of the chemical in white tea.
Though tannins can potentially have many health benefits, too much of it can cause digestive issues and reduce how much iron your body can absorb. Luckily, white tea is not oversaturated with tannins. The amount of tannins you will get in your cup of tea also depends on how long you steep it for. The longer you keep the tea bag in your cup, the more tannins you will get.
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9. The Tao of Tea - Imperial White Tea
Another loose leaf option when it comes to white tea is the Tao of Tea Imperial White Tea. Though this tea is also grown and derived from China's Fujian province, it is carefully selected. This is because the taste of the tea will heavily depend on how close the tea grows to the coast or inland mountains.
The Tao of Tea brand ensures that its tea leaves grow on a highly elevated mountain which will provide a clear and pure taste.
Because of this, the flavour of this tea may vary to other brands of white tea. Instead of being distinctly sweet and floral, this particular product can be more on the nutty and mellow end of the flavour spectrum. This tea is especially unique as the brand uses the Fu Yun leaf which has been withered indoors for several hours and then being dried in specific tea ovens.
The Imperial White Tea does not have any rolling or bruising done to it through this process. To enjoy, brew 2 teaspoons of the loose leaves in 175F for four minutes and then enjoy. This is enough tea for 2 infusions.
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10. Triple Leaf Tea - White Peony
The last product in our list is the Triple Leaf Tea in White Peony. This tea comes in a box of 20 tea bags which are easy to steep and prepare. This brand is created and owned by a Chinese-American family who combines traditional Chinese herbal formulas with modern herbalists who specialise in herbal healing.
Because of this, Triple Leaf Tea focuses more on its health benefits. If you are particularly health-conscious and enjoy drinking tea for its nutrition, this product may be a good option for you.
Each bag has been bleached with oxygen which means it can cause some irritation to your mouth/digestive system. Be wary with tea bags such as these. Even if the tea itself is healthy, you may find that you consume toxins through the bags themselves instead.
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Things to Consider Before Buying White Tea
The world of tea is a fantastic one which is vast and delicious. Tea is a great way to warm yourself up on a cold day or to keep you cool during summer (with iced tea!). It is also free from calories and often has nutritional benefits that we can't complain about.
White tea comes from the same plant that black and green tea come from. The difference is, however, that white tea leaves are essentially the unopened buds and young leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves are then minimally processed instead of being heavily rolled.
White tea typically has a light flavour which can be sweet, floral and slightly nutty. Some of its health benefits include reducing the risk of heart disease, helps protect your teeth from bacteria, includes compounds that may prevent and reduce cancer, has a large number of antioxidants in it and many more.
In order to get the most out of white tea, we've got a few things that you should consider before setting out to purchase your own. Consider the following factors so you will get a product that will leave you feeling satisfied and refreshed.
Tea Bags or Loose Leaves?
The first thing you should consider when it comes to buying white tea is understanding if the tea comes in tea bags or is available in the form of loose leaves. This will dictate how long it'll take you to prepare your drink and if it will take much effort or not, which is especially important if you live a busy lifestyle.
Preparing white tea entirely depends on whether it is in a bag or not. Tea bags can be placed in a mug with hot water for a minute or two and then enjoyed.
When it comes to loose leaves, be mindful of the amount of tea and water you should use. Each brand may have varying suggestions when it comes to this. Then, pour the leaves into an infused before pouring boiling water over them for a specific amount of time. Once again, make sure you read the instructions for any brand of tea before preparing a cup to enjoy.
It's also important to consider the fact that some tea bags have been bleached and can contain some toxins and chemicals that you may not want to consume. Furthermore, if you are especially conscious of the environment, it is important to note that some tea bags are not biodegradable.
Though most brands of white teas seem the same to one another, thorough research needs to be done to ensure you're getting the best product available for you.
How to Brew/Steep
Though we’ve touched upon this in the previous section, there are still a few things to consider. Of course, you will need to read the instructions on the tea packet thoroughly to know exactly how to prepare the tea.
How long you keep the tea leaves or tea bag in hot water will dictate how flavoursome your tea will be. As a general rule of thumb, the longer you leave the tea in water, the more bitter it will be.
You can also use the same batch of tea for several cups of tea. This is great if you have guests that you would like to serve tea for. Check to see how much water to boil with the amount of tea you should use and go from there.
Knowing how hot the water should be and whether to boil the water beforehand or leave it slighter cooler is also important to know. White tea can be fragile and delicate so it is crucial to know how to treat it with care.
Lastly, white tea is especially great when you enjoy it iced too. To make iced white tea, use double the recommended serving size to get the perfect flavour. Steep as usual then add ice.
Flavour
People have many misconceptions about the flavour and colour of white tea. Though it’s not white in colour, and instead has a golden tone, the flavour tends to be lighter and slightly more on the sweeter side compared to black and green tea.
It can also have a nutty and more mellow flavour as well. Be considerate of how the white tea is processed and handled after the leaves have been picked.
White tea is known to be less processed than other teas such as black and green tea, and this helps retain the flavour of the tea. Research which brand of white tea is less processed and go for that one for the more authentic taste.
Is it Ethical?
Most white tea comes from the Fujian province in China. Unfortunately, however, the local communities oftentimes do not benefit largely from their labour. Even the families and individuals who work in the mountains and fields to get the tea leaves may not make enough profit to live comfortable lives.
Because of this, some brands of white tea work in partnership with Fair Trade and other such causes to ensure that workers are not exploited for their efforts.
If you consider yourself to be an environmentally-conscious and humanitarian person, checking to see if your brand of white tea is mindful of such matters is crucial to do.
Conclusion
White tea has many health benefits and tastes wonderful with its unique flavour. It is versatile and can be consumed both hot and cold which makes it a great option all throughout the year. We hope that through this article, you have learnt about the different types of white teas that are available and what to look out for when buying your own tea so you can get the best white tea for you.