White tea is fast becoming a very popular drink in the Western world. Once consumed only in China and Japan, and only for the most elegant of occasions, white tea is now being consumed as an everyday beverage for people all over the world. White tea is special because of its very light and delicate flavor and fragrance. It’s far milder and less astringent than black teas, and lacks the grassy flavor of many green teas. In addition, white tea has all the health benefits of green tea, and possibly even more benefits. Like black and green tea, white tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant. But, white teas are harvested much earlier than other teas, before the leaves are fully open and while they retain fine white hair on the buds. White... »View More
Jasmine tea is the most popular flavored tea in the world. The first jasmine tea was produced in China and made from green tea. Today, however, jasmine flowers are used to scent teas from all over the world, in black, white, green and oolong varieties. What makes jasmine tea so wonderful is its special blend of high quality loose tea leaves with jasmine petals. The jasmine petals impart a delicate yet very aromatic fragrance and a slightly sweet flavor to the tea. Jasmine has been produced in China for at least 700 years. The original production of jasmine tea included plucking the jasmine blossoms just as they were beginning to open in the morning. Then the jasmine petals were kept cool until evening when they were added to the green tea... »View More
There are literally hundreds of varieties of green tea, each with its own distinct flavor and characteristics. Green tea is grown in several countries throughout the world, but the vast majority of it is grown in China and Japan. Most tea gardens, particularly those in China and Japan have been around for many years. It takes time to develop a quality tea garden, along with knowledge, patience and the help of Mother Nature. Different kinds of green tea and green tea gardens in different countries require different care and attention. For an example, we’ll look at the year round work required to maintain a high quality tea garden in Japan that produces Matcha, Gyokuro and Sencha, three popular varieties of Japanese green tea. Spring – The... »View More
White tea is quickly gaining popularity in the Western world. Though it has long been praised in Asia, the rest of us are just beginning to get to know this delicate treat. And no other white tea is more delicious than white Persian melon tea. This rare blend of white tea is one that is pleasing to even the most discriminating palate. The best white Persian melon tea should be made from the finest blend of loose white tea combined with high quality sweet melon nectar. To ensure that you buy only the best quality white Persian melon tea, it’s important that you understand the most popular cultivars for white tea and the grades of white tea. There is no international standard for grading tea, so beyond understanding these basic grades, it’s... »View More
In recent years, white tea has gained great popularity. Tea connoisseurs everywhere have come to appreciate white tea’s delicate, slightly sweet flavor. Though white tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant, just like black tea, green tea and oolong tea, there are several significant differences between white tea and other teas. Processing – White tea is harvested before the leaves are fully open, when the buds have fine white hair covering them. This is much earlier than other teas are harvested. In addition, white tea leaves are not fermented. Rather their leaves are simply steamed and then dried, often right in the fields. This protects white tea’s delicate flavor. Availability – Less white tea is grown than other types of... »View More
White tea has become a very popular drink in recent years. Though it’s been grown at least as far back as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), it is a new beverage to most people in the Western world. Later, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) the emperor Hui Zhong declared white tea to be the most elegant form of tea, and this declaration made white tea more popular and increased the number of tea gardens growing the variety. During this same dynasty, a new method of white tea preparation emerged, known as the Song method. Prior to this, white tea leaves were processed into cakes and prepared by boiling pieces of the tea cake in kettles. During the Song Dynasty, white tea began being produced in powdered form. After the white tea leaves were... »View More
Many people who have recently tasted white licorice tea for the first time find themselves frustrated when it comes to finding this delicious white tea blend. Like other white teas, white licorice tea is rare and can only be found in a few tea shops. However, if you know where to look, you can find fine white licorice tea as well as other rare white teas. White tea comes from the same plant as other teas, but it is harvested much earlier than other teas, before the leaves are fully open. White tea is harvested just once each year, while green and black tea is harvested several times during the growing season. I In addition, there are fewer white tea plants being cultivated. These two differences in white tea harvesting are the reason it is... »View More
If you’ve ever shopped for green tea, no doubt you’re aware that there are a vast number of choices. There are green teas from many regions of the world, and many varieties, grades and flavors from each region. Green tea was likely the first kind of tea. About 3000 years ago in China, people plucked fresh tea leaves and let them dry in the sun before storing them. In the 8th century, tea processors began using the evaporation process, and by the 12th century, they began sautéing the leaves. Basically, green tea came about before tea processors learned the methods associated with processing black tea. Even today, green tea is one of the teas left in its most natural state. Unlike black tea, green tea is unfermented. This lack of fermentation... »View More
One of the most recent trends in Western tea drinking is white tea. Though white tea has been around for centuries, it has only recently become popular outside of the Asian world. And, even in China and Japan, where most white tea is grown, it was traditionally reserved for special occasions because of its rarity. Today, however, tea drinkers all over the world are enjoying white tea more and more. White tea comes from the same plant as other teas, the camellia sinensis. But, it is harvested before the leaves are fully open and while the buds are still covered with fine white hair. This makes the tea leaves much mellower, resulting in a much milder tea than black and green teas. In addition to being harvested at a different time than other teas... »View More
Flavored white teas are becoming increasingly popular. White tea is fairly new to the Western world, but is becoming more popular each year. White tea is the mildest of all teas, so it is a natural choice as a base for flavored tea, since the additional flavorings really shine in white tea. One of the most popular flavored white teas is white licorice tea. White licorice tea is a flavorful blend of licorice and the best white tea. White licorice tea is also extremely healthy. Because of the way that it’s processed, white tea has more anti-oxidants than black tea, making it effective at preventing many serious diseases like cancer and heart disease. These healthy benefits are another reason that flavored and unflavored white teas are becoming... »View More