Loose-leaf white tea is one of our favorites. We love re-steeping the same leaves multiple times, releasing the finely crafted teas’ compounds in smooth, layered infusions. White teas are the least processed of all tea types and feature delicate, complex flavors. Plucked in the spring as the tea bush wakes from winter dormancy, white teas are withered and dried without any rolling or oxidizing.
Because of their minimal processing, a white tea’s quality becomes a reflection of the soils in which it’s grown, the health of the tea bushes, and the tea producers’ expertise, including proper harvest time and careful post-harvest handling.
Our best-selling english tea store brand pai mu tan white tea blend is a loose-leaf tea with a smooth velvety flavor and delicate jammy notes. Pai mu tan is the highest grade of white tea available at less than astronomical prices. The leaves are plucked from a special varietal tea bush called narcissus to create this coveted blend. It's the perfect gift for tea enthusiasts. Also try our earl grey and fruit-flavored loose-leaf white teas. Visit our "about tea" page to learn the best way to brew loose tea leaves. Our popular white tea sampler contains some of our favorite loose-leaf packs of white tea.
Looking for a boldly fruity white tea? check out our peach fuzz white tea , tangerine white tea and exotic pomegranate white/green tea first. Love bubbly more than brews? our raspberry champagne white tea might be your new favorite. Do you often opt for herbal teas? low-caf, herbaceous white thunder tea is the tea for you. Prefer your tea pure? our savory-sweet organic bai mu dan and our grassy, sweet silver needle white tea are your best bets! still not sure where to begin? all our loose-leaf white teas come in easy and convenient sample sizes, so you can find which one appeals to you the most.
WHAT IS WHITE TEA?
White tea is one of the least complicated teas to produce - it's simply picked and withered until dry. While white tea originated in fujian province, china, there are many different styles and origins of white tea to choose from these days. Some are very delicate and floral while others are a bit more robust and woodsy. Some white teas are made in the classical way of just a pure bud production, while other incorporate open leaves to give the tea more body.
Aged white teas are really interesting and delicious as well - definitely something to check out if you want to deepen your understanding of this family of teas.
White tea is traditionally made from the hand-picked buds of the camellia sinensis bush before they unfurl into leaves. In the last century or so, however, the top two baby leaves that flank the bud have also been added and the foundation of the style has widened. The name 'white tea' reflects the fine silvery hairs that surround each bud. One quality that will always define the style is that white teas are never subject to forced oxidation, though some white teas will naturally oxidize over time as they are never heated to prevent it. The lightly processed buds and leaves yield a luxurious, pale yellow liquor that is sweet and delicate with herbaceous, floral, and/or fruity flavors.
On being subtle and sublime whether you choose fuzzy silver buds or delicate green leaves, white teas are a must for any tea lover. White teas are the least processed category of tea which makes a graceful, fresh cup. These teas do not have the loud flavors of black or oolong teas, nor do they contain the deeply vegetal notes of green tea. White teas are subtle, but don’t let that fool you—they can be quite complex in their quiet flavors. They are perfect to sip slowly, in order to focus on the mild flavors. On a lack of process
some tea experts will say that tea brewed in tea bags won’t yield as flavorful of a brew as loose leaf brewing methods, since the size of the tea bag limits the infusion ability. The difference in taste is fairly minimal for the average tea drinker, but if you have a more refined palate, opt for tea bags that are a bit roomier, such as the pyramid tea bags from tea forte. There is also more standardization with your typical tea bag, as they are blended with the intention of uniformity, but again, you probably won’t notice any difference unless you have an especially well-defined palate.
Our most popular loose leaf white teas are our, night white , or our line-up of flavored white teas; blue mu tan , pear mu tan , peach mu tan , pom mu tan, and mango mu tan. Why is it good for you? another question that we get asked a lot. Each tea has its own health benefits, but we say the healthiest tea is the one you want to drink. How much is too much? that is an easy one; drink more. There is never too much tea! steep these teas multiple times as loose leaf teas have far more flavor than traditional tea bags due to the superior quality and freshness.