The Impurity of White Tea

White tea has recently gone through a huge surge in popularity.  From Lipton bottled iced tea to the high end bulk leaves found at Infinitea Teahouse (and stores like us), white tea has gained a foothold in the American market, finding its way into cupboards and fridges everywhere.  But why?  It’s unaffordable, untraditional, difficult to produce, difficult to ship, and light enough in the cup to fool most Americans into wondering if someone forgot to add the leaves. 

One reason for the popularity is the health benefits.  White tea comes from very young leaves and goes through very little processing compared to green and black teas.  This means that the health benefits of the tea leaf are not lost through processing.  Nearly every day, a study comes out proclaiming the health benefits of white tea, the latest being evidence that it stops the creation of new fat cells in a person’s body.  With the health food industry at full swing, it is easy to see how the beverage has been exploited by marketers. 

Another reason for the influx in white tea is the taste.  While not having a bold taste like a Starbucks mocha, white tea is picked before the leaves are open, which gives it a natural sweetness, containing little of the grassy flavor that turns many palates away from green tea.  It also mixes well with fruits, allowing for such combinations as peach blossom or plum berry which are popular over ice in the summer. 

As justifiable as white tea’s popularity may be, there is always a down side.  As larger and larger companies figure out how much money might be made on such a product, quality begins to sag.  Many of the grocery store bagged teas that claim to be “white tea” contain less than 50% white tea, and the iced teas you find at the gas station are not much better, as they often contain vastly more sugar and other additives than pure white tea.   This is not to disparage the entire industry.  Many companies have gone out of their way to maintain quality and consistency. 

As convoluted as this all probably seems, it mirrors the experience of nearly every type of “health food.”  It begins as a pure and valid source of good health, and ends up being no more than an overpriced, beautifully marketed sugar pill. 

In essence, white tea has fantastic health benefits.   It is calming, promotes longevity, fights bacteria and viruses, and reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, wrinkles, and some forms of cancer.  It also has a great, natural taste.  But be careful, what you may think is a cup of pure white tea may actually contain very little of it.