The Health Benefits of White Tea

The term white tea is not synonymous to your black tea with milk.  It is a specific form of tea that comes from the silvery leaves and delicate buds of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis where all true tea comes from.  Silvery is an adjective used to refer to those very young leaves and buds still covered with the plants fine hair.  This mainly account for the tea’s white/grey color.  White tea has been around most definitely as old as its green and black relatives.  Its brew ranges from pale yellow to light red color.  “Grassy” flavor that is oftentimes associated with green tea is not present in white teas.  This tea is to some extent sweet in essence and mild in flavor.

          White tea is produced by carefully handpicking the immature leaves and buds during the earliest time of spring and it is the least processed kind of tea.  White tea contains the highest level of polyphenols compared to any other tea.  Unlike other tea that undergoes stages like wilting, oxidizing and drying, white tea is mostly just air dried.  Polyphenols are very potent antioxidants.  Researches show that drinking white tea can be very healthy due to this high polyphenol content.  A study at Pace University which centered mainly on Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and pneumonia causing pathogens showed that white tea extracts can kill harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses in the body at a higher rate than most other teas.  This same research also concluded that the high fluoride content of white tea helps impede the development of dental plaques which are the main culprit of tooth decay.

Another study conducted by the Oregon State University in Corvallis showed that that white tea can offer protection against cancer.  They said that white tea extracts is almost as competent as the prescription drug sulindac used in preventing growth of colon tumors in genetically predisposed lab mice.  According to this, the group of mice given with white tea has reduced tumor rate of thirteen to thirty percent and when combined with sulindac resulted to an astounding tumor reduction of up to 80 percent!

          More researches show that white tea is also found to be effective in reducing bad cholesterol causing major coronary and cardiovascular diseases.  It also helps in lowering blood pressure and aids the body in fighting stress and fatigue.  It is even found to be beneficial for the body’s metabolic processes and boosts the immune system.

Well, you’re going to be on your way to a healthy and beautiful new you if you start drinking that white tea.  See the magical results for yourself!

White Teas