What is White Tea and what makes it so expensive?

We Indians love our daily dose of masala chai. But the quest for trying out different varieties every time, has broadened our horizon. From green tea to herbal tea, the healthier alternatives have slowly made space into our kitchen and our lives. White tea is another healthier version of tea which is gradually becoming popular. (Image: Pixabay)

The new leaves and buds of the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis are dried to make the perfect white tea. This tea originates from China and has now made its way into the Indian Kitchen. The young buds are plucked at a very early stage, where they are still covered with the white feather like hair and thus the name, ‘White Tea’. The leaves and buds don’t get the chance to get oxidised as they are air dried the moment they are plucked, making White tea the freshest variety among all the other tea made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The leaves are not exposed to any form of artificial heat, instead they are let out to dry and wither naturally. The minimum processing and 0 oxidation, makes white tea unique from the rest.(Image: Pixabay)

Also Read: 6 Brewing tips for the perfect cuppa

Each country has their own white tea, cultivated and customised according to their own choices of flavour. Here are some popular varieties: (Image: Pixabay)

Silver Needle tea is among the most premium variety of white tea that is cultivated in China. It is made from the big buds that are covered the white furry hair and thus it is called ‘silver’ white tea. Silver needle tea is very good for the digestive system. Heart burns, acidity and cramps, silver needle tea can give you relief from all. (Image: Pixabay)

This tea is cultivated from the unopened buds of the tea plant. It has a sweet and nutty taste to it with a shimmery texture. White peony tea is good for your kidney health and it combats bacteria and viruses inside us. This tea is also good for building our immunity system (Image: Pixabay)

Rumours has it that Buddhist trained monkeys cultivated this tea in the hilly regions of China. With only 2 calories per serving, this variety of white tea is good for diabetic patients and also aids in weight loss. (Image: Pixabay)

Also Read: 10 amazing benefits of drinking black tea

This refreshing tea is from the Fujian Province of China. It is slightly golden in colour and is good for the heart. This tea is also known to improve hair and skin health (Image: Pixabay)

Darjeeling white tea is best known for its healing properties. This variety of white tea has the power to fight dieses and can be given to a sick person. Almost translucent in colour, this tea has a hint of sweetness to it. (Image: Pixabay)

They way this tea is harvested is responsible for it being so much expensive than the other varieties of tea available in the market. Although white tea comes from the same plant that gives us black and green tea, it is the cultivation process of white tea, that makes it unique from the rest. The harvest is very tedious and time consuming as only the tiny new born buds and leaves goes into the production of this tea. The authentic white tea is quite hard to cultivate, making it a bit costlier. (Image: Pixabay)

Disclaimer: Images are for representation purposes only

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