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White Tea
Pure, Fresh, Clean, Healthy!, Enjoy this beverage anytime of day...
White tea, popular for centuries in China, has become increasingly popular in other countries,
including the United States.
Check out our white teas today!
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Benefits...
Contains more anti-oxidants than other tea varieties
Can help boost your body's immune system
Helps to inhibit the growth of dental plaque
May aid in preventing many different types of cancer
Helps to lower blood pressure, promoting healthy blood vessels
Can help strengthen bone density, relieving arthritis & osteoporosis
Can increase good cholesterol and decrease the bad
Helps to promote healthier skin by reducing free radicals
Protects the heart by lowering blood pressure & reducing cholesterol
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WHITE TEA FACTS:
Camellia Sinensis, a small bushy plant, is responsible for all of the tea that we drink,
including black, green, oolong, and white. The different varieties, even though they originate
from the same plant, vary in color, chemical composition, taste, and nutritional benefits.
The differences are not only a result of ripeness of the leaves, but also degree of oxidation.
Tea leaves are harvested, and immediately begin to dry out and oxidize. During this process,
chemical changes begin to occur in the leaves. The longer they are left to dry on their own,
the darker their color becomes. The oxidation of some tea is quickened by rolling the leaves
to release their juices. The oxidation is then halted by heating or steaming the leaves.
White tea comes from the youngest, and most tender tea leaves. It is best from an early spring
harvest. These leaves are often covered
with white hairs. They are also often protected from the sun in order to limit the production
of chlorophyll, which would make the tea more green in color. After the leaves are harvested,
they are dried for a very short time (without being rolled), and are heated quickly so as to
prevent oxidization.
The result of this processing is a delicate, mildly sweet tea, which lacks some of
the “green“ or “grassy“ flavors often present in green tea.
For the tea drinker concerned with the health benefits, the minimal processing means something
else. White tea normally contains more polyphenols (cancer-fighting anti-oxidants) than
other tea varieties. Recent studies have also concluded that white tea can help your body’s
immune system fight off viruses and other bacteria. Some of the same studies also concluded
that drinking white tea helps to inhibit the growth of dental plaque.
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WHITE TEA TODAY:
White tea, popular for centuries in China, has become increasingly popular in other countries,
including the United States. However, the US, being a country of “convenience”, purchases
pre-bottled white teas which contain chemicals, excessive sweeteners, and other “natural” flavors.
In fact, in some of the more popular bottled white teas, the tea’s natural flavor is overpowered
by the other fruit flavors that they have added. And, if you examine a label or two, you will
note that the word “tea” is not the first item on the list.
White tea was originally meant to be tea in it’s most natural state, and all of this processing
is NOT natural. The excessive processing pretty much destroys most of the health benefits
that come from drinking white tea.
There is a solution for those who wish to enjoy this sublime tea and reap all of the health benefits.
Brew the tea fresh, from whole, loose leaves, purchased from a reputable seller. But, you may
think that this is too difficult or time-consuming. It isn’t, in all reality. All you need is a
simple pot with an infuser basket, or a cup with a filter. Place the tea in the basket, add a
little sweetener or stevia if you like, add some hot water (not boiling), and let it steep for
a few short minutes. Remove the infuser, pour your tea, and enjoy! It can be enjoyed hot,
but also makes a very pleasant iced tea. Brew it at night, place it in your refrigerator, and
take it to work in a thermos the next day, for a very enjoyable and refreshing drink while on-the-job.
Per cup, you are paying much less than for the pre-bottled junk, which is mostly chemicals with just
a splash of tea.
If you enjoy the fruity flavors found in the pre-bottled varieties, feel free to add some dried
fruit before you brew your tea. Dried citrus peels or apple chunks add a nice hint of fruit flavor,
without overpowering the taste of the tea.
Once you try brewing your own white tea, whether plain or with fruit and/or sweetener, it is highly
likely that you will never go back to the pre-made, chemical-laden tea blends. Give it a try!
Check out our white teas today!
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By: Edie Foss - Sept 2007
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