This article introduces the varieties, brewing, storage and selection methods of chinese white tea, as well as its health benefits. White tea is an elegant, refreshing and healthy type of tea that deserves our appreciation and enjoyment.
Kinds of White Tea
White tea has white hair silver needle, white peony, tribute eyebrow, longevity eyebrow, Tian Shan white and other varieties. Among them, white hair silver needle has a shape similar to a needle, the surface of the tea leaves is rich in white hair, and the length is about three centimeters. White peony has green leaves with silver-white buds in the middle. After brewing, the leaves will gradually unfold, like a flower bud blooming.
White Hair Silver Needle (白毫银针, báiháo yínzhēn)
White hair silver needle is one of the white tea varieties. It was made in 1796 and originated in Fujian. It is mainly produced in Fuding, Songxi, Jianyang and other places. The finished tea of white hair silver needle has a shape like a pine needle, the surface is rich in white hair, and the length is generally about three centimeters.
White Peony (白牡丹, báimǔdān)
White peony is one of the white tea varieties. White peony is produced in Nanping Zhenghe County and Songxi County of Fujian Province. The tea leaves are white and green, with white buds in the middle of the green leaves. The shape is similar to a flower, and after brewing, white peony will gradually unfold, like a budding peony.
Tribute Eyebrow (贡眉, gòngméi)
Tribute eyebrow is a white tea made from Fuding big white and Fuding white tea trees. It is also known as longevity eyebrow. The tea leaves are tender, the buds and leaves are connected, and there are no old stems. After making the tea leaves, the leaves are flat and curled, the tea aroma is rich, and the tea soup is light yellow, and the tea leaves are green.
The Benefits of Drinking White Tea
Beauty and Skin Care
White tea contains rich antioxidants, such as catechins, tea polyphenols, etc. Drinking white tea can enhance the skin’s resistance, and have a certain effect on wrinkles and pigmentation caused by free radicals. Therefore, it has the effect of beauty and skin care, and is suitable for women who are exposed to computers and oil smoke.
Moisturize the Intestines and Relieve Constipation
White tea is a kind of beverage belonging to green tea, with a cold nature and a certain cold air. Eating it can increase the smoothness of the intestines. At the same time, the rich water in the tea leaves can increase the water content of the stool, help excrete the stool in the body, and avoid the accumulation of intestinal toxins.
Anti-aging
White tea is rich in polyphenols and other antioxidants, which can fight against free radicals in the human body, reduce the damage of free radicals to normal cells, reduce the probability of cell aging, and have anti-aging effects. At the same time, it can reduce some diseases caused by free radicals, and also have a certain health care effect.
Protect Teeth
White tea contains high amounts of amino acids, cellulose, fluorides, calcium ions, etc. Among them, fluorides, calcium and amino acids can promote the health of teeth and gums. When chewing tea, the cellulose in white tea can clean the mouth and reduce tooth decay. Therefore, women can protect their teeth by drinking white tea.
Enhance Immunity
White tea is rich in vitamin C, which can enhance the strength of phagocytic cells and regulate the body’s immunity. White tea also contains carotene, vitamin A, antioxidant polyphenols, etc., which can act on the respiratory mucosa, enhance the strength of the respiratory mucosa. Drinking it can enhance the body’s ability to resist colds and other viruses.
Brighten Eyes
White tea contains a lot of vitamins and carotene in addition to cellulose, protein and other ingredients. Carotene can prevent night blindness, vitamin A can improve vision, enhance visual function, and relieve eye fatigue. The antioxidants in white tea can act on the retina, prevent macular degeneration of the retina, and therefore have a good effect on vision.
Protect Liver
The natural polyphenols in white tea can fight against free radicals, prevent free radical damage to the liver, enhance the activity of peroxidase in the liver, enhance the function of the liver, and also enhance the liver’s ability to sober up, and have a good protective effect on the liver.
How to Brew White Tea
There are many ways to brew white tea, and you can choose the appropriate method according to different varieties, years, tea sets and personal preferences. Generally speaking, white tea brewing requires moderate water temperature, appropriate time, and avoid too hot and too strong. Here are four common white tea brewing methods:
- White Tea Cup Brewing Method: Suitable for silver needle white tea, white peony tea, old white tea. Use about 3 grams of white tea, put it in a glass cup or thermos cup, and then directly pour 90°C water into the container. After one minute, you can enjoy it.
- White Tea Gaiwan Brewing Method: Suitable for new white tea, silver needle white tea, white peony tea. Use 5 grams of white tea, and brew it slowly with 85°C water. The brewing time is about 30 seconds each time, and it can be brewed continuously for 5-6 times.
- White Tea Purple Clay Teapot Brewing Method: Suitable for white tea cake, old white tea. Choose your favorite purple clay teapot, take 7 grams of tea, and brew it with boiling water. The brewing time is about 1 minute each time, and it can be brewed continuously for 8-10 times.
- White Tea Boiling Method: Suitable for old white tea. Take 5-10 grams of dry tea, first put the tea in the pot, add 500-1500 ml of cold water, then boil it over high heat, change to low heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, and then drink it.
White Tea Storage Method
The storage method of white tea must meet the following conditions:
- Sealed: The natural transformation of white tea is the natural transformation of the substances in the tea leaves, so it must be stored in a sealed container, such as a porcelain jar with good sealing performance.
- Avoid light: Light will cause oxidation on the surface of the tea leaves, affecting the transformation, taste, and flavor.
- Avoid odor: White tea is very absorbent, so when storing it, you must avoid objects with odors and odors, including the containers used for storage, which should be made of materials that do not produce odors.
- Avoid humidity: White tea should be avoided from humid places when stored. Tea leaves can be stored for a long time without deterioration in places with low dryness, so avoid dampness of the tea leaves.
- Store at room temperature: No need to store in a refrigerated environment, if in the north, avoid heating in winter.
How to Select White Tea
The selection method of white tea has the following basic criteria:
- Observe the shape, color, and aroma of the tea leaves, choose complete, full, white-haired, and fragrant white tea, and avoid broken, yellow, and odorous white tea.
- Observe the color, clarity, and taste of the tea soup, choose bright, transparent, sweet, and smooth white tea, and avoid cloudy, sedimentary, bitter, and thin white tea.
- Compare the year and price of the tea leaves, choose white tea that matches the price and value, and avoid white tea with large price and year differences, especially old white tea that is made old.
- According to personal preferences and needs, choose different varieties and years of white tea, such as silver needle white tea, white peony tea, longevity eyebrow tea, etc., new white tea, old white tea, etc.
The Bottom line
White tea is an elegant, refreshing and healthy type of tea. It has many varieties, each with its own characteristics and flavors. White tea brewing, storage and selection all have certain skills, and you need to pay attention to some details to taste the charm of white tea. White tea can not only beautify and nourish the skin, moisturize the intestines and relieve constipation, anti-aging, protect teeth, enhance immunity, brighten eyes, protect the liver, etc., but also make our mood more comfortable and pleasant. White tea is a type of tea that we cherish and taste, and we hope you can get happiness and health from it.
