How is White Tea made?
White tea, like green and black tea, is made from the Camellia Sinensis tea plant. The tea buds for white tea are picked before the sun rises, when the photosynthesis process has not yet started, to retain the shoot’s natural flavours. All the nutrients from the shoot are then still present and not transported to the rest of the plant. The picking is restricted to the most experienced tea pickers as it requires gentleness to avoid damaging the cells within the bud and causing fermentation and therefore bitterness to develop within the bud. A single tea picker can normally harvest 200-250 grams of buds each day whilst he or she would usually pick 16-20 kg of tea – 2 leaves and a bud. Once cleaned and sorted, the tea buds are simply dried, for white tea is the least processed of all teas. This makes white tea one of the purest teas in the world. When brewed, the tea has a light colour and a subtle taste with a floral character. White tea is the least processed of all teas. This makes white tea one of the purest teas in the world.
Drinking White Tea
This minimally processed tea has a light colour, a subtle taste with a floral character, and is the least caffeinated among all teas, making it an excellent option for those who are sensitive to caffeine. To prepare white tea, water should be cooled to a temperature between 65-70 degrees Celsius for about maximum 3 minutes, to avoid bitterness. The interesting thing about this tea is that you can use it for multiple infusions. With every infusion (time you make tea) different flavours are released. The first infusion contains most of the bitter substances present in the tea. The more often you pour the tea, the sweeter the tea will taste. Give it a try and be pleasantly surprised. Although green tea is known for its healthy properties, white tea is even healthier. White tea contains a lot of polyphenols, an antioxidant that ensures that the (damaged) skin cells in our body renew. This tea also contains about 4 times as much vitamin C as other teas. This tea is perfect for relaxation, as it has a calming effect on the brain due to the presence of theanine. White tea can be paired with light salads, white fish, or mild young cheeses. It can be safe to drink moderately during pregnancy due to its low caffeine content.
Why White Tea from Dilmah?
In Sri Lanka, White tea is also known as Silver Tips, and is considered one of the rarest and most sophisticated types of tea. While many teas labelled as “White Tea” actually contain a mix of green or black teas with only a small amount of white tea, real white tea has a unique appearance with silvery leaves and a velvety texture that produces a bright, golden drink when brewed. When you choose Dilmah’s white tea, you can feel good knowing that it’s grown sustainably and ethically on our farms in Sri Lanka, and in cases where the ingredients are not grown in Sri Lanka, we are committed to source them from equally sustainable and ethical partners. Dilmah takes great care of its tea pickers and the environment, and donates a minimum of 15% of their pre-tax turnover to the MJF Foundation to help underprivileged individuals, and to Dilmah Conservation to protect the local fauna and flora. So not only are you treating yourself to a delicious cup of tea, but you’re also contributing to a better future for others.