White tea comes from leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant (just like black and green teas). The leaves are harvested young while the buds are still covered in very fine, white hairs. The best quality white tea is harvested first and the leaves gently dried. As a result of careful handling, white tea buds still have the same high concentration of antioxidants as fresh tea leaves.

The finest qualities of white tea, often known as ‘Silver Needle’ consist exclusively of undamaged and unopened buds of tea leaves, which are hand-picked during Spring. By this point, the buds have reached the perfect balance between youth and maturity which gives the best-tasting tea. Other qualities of white tea may incorporate young leaves that are no longer buds.

The extremely gentle and quick processing of white tea means the buds and leaves are left very close to their natural state, allowing the antioxidants in the leaves to survive intact, making white tea a great option for the health-conscious. White tea is reputed to help with weight loss, lower insulin resistance, protect your teeth from bacteria and reduce inflammation.