White Tea
A rare, and often expensive, delicacy almost exclusively from the Fujian provence in China. When brewed, it is pale and golden in color with a mellow taste and is highly refreshing, but it can require an experienced palate.
Like green tea, white tea is non-fermented. Unlike green tea it is not processed or treated, it is simply dried and packaged. Also unlike other teas, white is not graded, because it only comes from the bud. The tea buds have a silver tip and are covered in down and are only harvest a couple of days a year. The harvest is gathered by hand, and can be canceled due to bad weather. The younger the bud the higher the quality will be.
There are a few varieties of white tea, a couple of varieties that are regularly know are, Yin Zhen also known as Silver Needle, Pai Mu Tan also known as White Peony.
White tea has a high vitamin content and as with most tea, the health benefits are many. Not to mention a very mellow and soothing beverage that can enliven and refresh.
Links for further reading are coming.