White tea tea
The least processed tea, gently dried to showcase soft, natural floral sweetness.
Liquor colour: Pale straw
How it is made
White tea undergoes the most minimal intervention of any tea category. Freshly harvested buds and young leaves are carefully laid out to wither under controlled indoor air or weak natural sunlight. During this prolonged withering, moisture slowly evaporates and a negligible, natural oxidation takes place within the undisturbed cellular structure. Once sufficiently limp and dry, the leaves receive a gentle bake or hot-air drying to arrest any further enzymatic changes and stabilise them for storage, entirely omitting rolling, bruising, or high-heat de-enzyming steps.
What it tastes like
Because the leaf tissues remain unbruised, harsh catechins and tannins are not forced to the surface, resulting in an exceptionally gentle cup. The prolonged withering encourages the development of delicate aromatic esters without producing heavy roasted or vegetal qualities. In the cup, this translates to soft notes of melon, fresh hay, honeysuckle, and dried apricot. The mouthfeel is characteristically silky, light, and refreshing, carrying very low natural bitterness and a tender, nectar-like lingering sweetness that coats the palate cleanly.
Caffeine and brewing
A typical cup contains an estimated 15 to 30 mg of caffeine, though tip-heavy plucks can occasionally yield more. Brew with water cooled to around 75 to 80°C and infuse for three to four minutes to preserve its subtle nuance.
Good for
It suits contemplative drinkers who appreciate delicate, subtle aromas and soft, refreshing infusions without drying astringency.
Two common misconceptions
- White tea is not naturally caffeine-free; silvery bud-only picks can actually contain significant caffeine.
- It is not completely unoxidised, as ambient enzymatic oxidation occurs slowly during the long withering stage.
13 white tea teas
- W-CN-003 Shou Mei
China, typical 25 mg - W-CN-002 White Peony (Bai Mudan)
China, typical 38 mg - W-CN-005 Aged White Tea (Lao Bai Cha)
China, typical 25 mg - W-CN-001 Silver Needle (Baihao Yinzhen)
China, typical 35 mg - W-IN-007 Darjeeling White
India, typical 30 mg - W-CN-004 Gong Mei
China, typical 30 mg - W-CN-006 Yunnan Moonlight White (Yue Guang Bai)
China, typical 35 mg - W-IN-010 Assam White
India, typical 38 mg - W-LK-008 Ceylon Silver Tips
Sri Lanka, typical 30 mg - W-KE-009 Kenyan Purple White
Kenya, typical 30 mg - W-MW-011 Malawi White Tea
Malawi, typical 30 mg - W-NP-012 Nepal Silver Needle
Nepal, typical 35 mg - W-TW-013 Taiwan White Tea
Taiwan, typical 35 mg