Everything that is rare is precious. This is the case of white tea, very little cultivated on a global scale. White tea, originally from China, is a product prized throughout the world for its many health and skin benefits.
Thanks to its low level of oxidation, it retains a maximum of antioxidants, which makes it a valuable ally for the body.
Among its beneficial effects, white tea helps prevent skin aging, improves skin elasticity and promotes better hydration.
>In addition to its benefits for the skin, it supports overall health by strengthening the immune system and promoting digestion.
It is an essential drink for those looking to combine pleasure and well-being.
White tea seduces with its delicate and refined flavor, the result of a meticulous manufacturing process. The tea leaves, picked by hand, are minimally processed, which allows their natural properties to be preserved.
This gentle manufacturing method, which limits oxidation, allows white tea to retain its antioxidants and essential nutrients. Thanks to this wealth of benefits, it is recognized for its positive effects on health, in particular for strengthening the immune system and protecting the skin against the signs of aging.
Its subtle flavor makes it a preferred choice for tea lovers.
How is white tea made?
Less is more (“less is better” in French), this is, if necessary, the motto of white tea. Once harvested, the leaves of the tea plant are exposed to the open air, placed in a thin layer on large burlap or bamboo panels (this is “withering”). This is where slight oxidation takes place, lasting two to three days. This chemical process is natural: plants shiver by “rusting”, by turning black, once cut. But unlike other teas, oxidation will be stopped quickly, by exposing the leaves to direct sunlight to dry them, to stabilize them. White tea will not undergo any other changes. Once put in a box or bag, it will be ready to eat.
Everything you need to know about the delicacy of white tea
Why is white tea so difficult to obtain?
First, because the harvest takes place over a very short period of the year (around two weeks, twice a year), where the climate must be optimal. So that the leaves are collected at exactly the right time and so that the sun is there when drying. An episode of rain would harm the quality of a harvest. Then, the idea is to touch the leaves as little as possible, to keep them in the most natural state, so as not to deteriorate their quality.
What is the difference between white tea and green tea?
It is first of all the degree of oxidation which makes the main difference between types of tea, affecting their flavor, color and properties.
White tea is slightly oxidized at around 12%, when green tea is even less (below 10%), because its oxidation is stopped even earlier, just after picking.
The tea leaves are heated with steam to neutralize the enzyme responsible for oxidation.
Conversely, black tea undergoes complete oxidation.
Another difference between green tea: for white tea and green tea, the leaves of the tea plant are rolled to break the cellular structure of the leaves (and to let the juices and aromas emerge), before being dried.
A stage that white tea does not know.
What does white tea taste like?
It's a tea light with a subtle and voluptuous taste.
All in delicacy, white tea offers a soft and velvety texture.
It is much weaker than other teas, because it is less oxidized.
However, it is the oxidation stage that gives tea its astringency, that is to say its somewhat harsh and rough character in the mouth, caused by the tannins.
The more oxidized a tea, the stronger it will be.
Once modified in relation to the plant, it produces white tea. this very light, almost floral or herbaceous side ; sometimes slightly tangy.
Same thing for its color, which remains not very marked: very light tea, more green in color, sometimes with silvery reflections.
Where is white tea grown?
It is in China, the birthplace of tea and the world's largest tea producer, that white tea is harvested.
It is one of the great specialties of the province of Fujian, coastal region in the southeast of the country (facing the island of Taiwan).
Two great wines are particularly renowned there: Bai Mu Dan (“White Peony”) and Bai Hao Yin Zhen (“Silver Needles in white down”).
The latter comes from so-called imperial picking, where only the buds and the first leaves of the plant are collected.
What are the benefits of white tea?
Little processed, little oxidized, white tea is rich in antioxidants, that is to say in molecules playing a natural protective role.
These antioxidants could protect the body from free radicals (those atoms that harm the body) and reduce the risk of occurrence of many diseases.
Other potential benefits of white tea:
it would also be reputed to be a fat burner, thanks to its catechin content.
How to properly prepare your white tea?
Although it is rare, refined and not always easy to find, it would be a shame to miss the preparation of white tea. Here are the tips to follow for a successful infusion... and tasting.
Which teapot to choose?
If you not only drink white tea, but also green or black tea, you will need to opt for a “memory-free” teapot, which is the case with the vast majority of them (glass, cast iron, ceramic teapots, etc.). Only unglazed terracotta teapots retain the aromas from one infusion to the next. They are not recommended for white tea, because the tannins of green tea and black tea could overpower the delicacy of white tea. For more information, do not hesitate to consult our teapot guide.
What infusion time for white tea?
Experts recommend a steeping time for white tea of 3 minutes. Not infused enough? White teas can be bland, lacking in taste. Too infused? They have the advantage of not having excess astringency and bitterness, as is the case with green tea. Immerse the tea in hot, but not boiling, water: between 70 and 80 degrees. A higher infusion temperature could damage the subtle aromas of white tea, as well as its vitamins. Of course, as all white teas are not the same and some are mixed with other flavors, follow the recommendations indicated on the tea box.
At what time of day should you drink white tea?
White tea will accompany you during each of your pleasure breaks. In the morning, for breakfast, for brunch, but also for tea time. We enjoy it summer and winter, in a hot version or iced tea style.
To do this, let it infuse in hot water before cooling the whole thing with ice cubes. Allow on average five tablespoons of white tea for one liter of water.
Does white tea prevent you from sleeping?
You are afraid that theine from white tea prevents you from sleeping? We reassure you: the level of theine from white tea is on average lower than other teas. And unsurprisingly, much lower than a cup of coffee (because, yes, theine and caffeine are indeed the same molecule!). You can therefore consume it without fear even in the late afternoon or evening. White tea (and tea in general) is more of a stimulant for the body than a stimulant (a property reserved for coffee).
Which kusmi white tea is right for me?
Want to discover or rediscover white tea? We present to you the different blends of white tea offered by Kusmi. A quality, organic selection, which will include an attractive new product at the start of 2021.
White tea is always organic at Kusmi
Because it is normal to know what is really hidden in our tea bags, Kusmi has chosen organic. Whether it's tea, plants, spices... all the ingredients come from organic farming and certified by strict specifications established by the European Union. Controls and analyzes are also regularly carried out to verify compliance with quality standards. This allows Kusmi to be certified by Ecocert, an independent organization which carries out an annual audit of our production workshops. All these steps allow our tea boxes to display the AB logos for France and Eurofeuille for the European Union. Objective: to inform consumers as best as possible about the quality of our products.
White teas flavored and packaged in France
Like the rest of its range, Kusmi white teas are based on tricolor know-how. If the name Kusmi comes from Russia, it is in Normandy that our brand (which became French in 2003) thinks, creates, mixes, flavors and packages tea. More precisely in Saint-Vigor d’Ymonville, very close to Le Havre (Seine-Maritime). Our metal boxes are also made in France. Because fewer kilometers means less pollution and more work in our regions. In short, if you are keen to support the economy made in France, you are in the right place!
White tea packaged in an eco-responsible way
Whether for loose tea or bagged tea, Kusmi Tea is committed to a recycling and waste reduction approach. Made in France, our bags are made from polylactic acid (PLA), a biosourced and 100% biodegradable material, before being placed in recyclable cardboard boxes. Our loose organic teas are packaged in metal boxes, an infinitely recyclable material.
Kusmi Tea white tea blends
Whether you prefer them classic, fruity, tangy or exotic... let yourself be transported by the subtle and light taste of Kusmi Tea white teas. Good news: they are available in bulk (because it's good for the planet!), and in bags to follow you wherever you go.
The essential White Anastasia white tea
TheWhite Anastasia White Tea reinvents the iconic Anastasia, in homage to the daughter of the last Tsar of Russia. It is a creation of Pavel Kousmichoff, who founded the Kusmi tea house in 1867 in Saint Petersburg. On the program: a pure and delicate white tea, scented with orange blossom, bergamot and lemon.
The exceptional Alain Ducasse white tea
Treat yourself to an elegant tea time: enjoy a cup of white tea Alain Ducasse. The secret of his success? An exceptional harvest: the first leaves and tea buds are picked by hand in spring. This rare and precious tea is then enhanced by the famous chef, thanks to a unique recipe with delicate notes of rose and raspberry.
The exotic white tea Tropical White
A change of scenery guaranteed in a cup of Tropical White tea ! To be enjoyed hot or iced, this exotic blend is a remedy for melancholy... or prolonged absence from vacation. Its strengths to convince? The delicacy of white tea, a pleasant tangy note brought by passion fruit, and the roundness of mango. Perfect for a change of scenery!
The chic white tea White Bellini
Its name is taken from the “Bellini”, this emblematic cocktail of the majestic city of Venice. Imagined at the end of the 1940s by a certain Giuseppe Cipriani, owner of the prestigious Harry’s Bar in the City of the Doges, it consists of prosecco and peach nectar, preferably white. Its orange-pink color gives it a nice dose of sensuality... and would have inspired its creator to take its name, in homage to the Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini, who particularly loved these tones.
With tea White Bellini by Kusmi, peach-apricot white tea, we stick with this luxurious DNA: a precious white tea, from which we only pick the young shoots, enhanced with luscious peach and velvet apricot. An organic cocktail to enjoy without moderation, to quickly add to the brunch menu of your dreams!