White Tea Brew Guide
White Tea Brew Guide from About The Cup
White tea is a refreshing and delicious tea that can be enjoyed anytime of the day. It is a good choice for people who are looking for a healthy and low-caffeine beverage as it is a rich source of antioxidants. White tea is the least processed type of tea, made from the buds and young leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves are picked just before they open, when they are covered in fine shiny white hairs, hence the name "white" tea. Some call it silver tips as well. The leaves are then gently dried, without being allowed to oxidize much. This results in a tea that is light and delicate, with a subtle flavor and aroma.
White tea is native to China, where it is believed to have been first cultivated over thousands of years ago. The highest quality white teas come from the Fujian province in China. Other countries that produce white tea include Japan, India, and Sri Lanka.
White Tea Brewing Guide
White tea is a type of delicate tea that gives a smooth floral taste. Therefore, it is important to be gentle and use the correct materials when making a cup of white tea to brew and get the exact taste of the tea. By following below brewing guidelines, you will be able to taste a delicious and refreshing cup of white tea. The ingredients required to make a tea cup are as follows.
- 8oz of fresh water
- A tea kettle or what you like to heat the water
- One perfect teaspoon of loose black tea or a pyramid sachet if available
- A teapot
- A teacup
Here are the steps that you need to follow for a perfect green tea cup.
- Always use fresh water sourced from filtered or bottled water
The water that you use to make the tea should follow the exact characteristics of definition to water. If the water has any kind of added taste or an odor, you will not get the exact taste of white tea hence white tea gives a smoothly delicate brew.
- Boil the water through a kettle or a water heater, and allow it to cool for 1- 2 minutes under normal room temperature
The ideal temperature to brew white tea is 160- 180 0F. By allowing the water to cool down a little, only the perfect characteristics would come out to the brew from white tea. Make sure to rinse the kettle or water heater before using it.
- Rinse the teapot and teacup using few drops of boiled water
By rinsing the teapot and teacup with hot water, the walls of teapot and teacup would get heated up and it will avoid sudden cooling of boiled water when pour in to the teapot and teacup. This will lead you to have a perfect hot cup of white tea rather than a mild hot cup.
- Add 1 teaspoon of white tea from your preferred white tea variety to the teapot.
Generally, most of the white tea varieties like silver tips, silver needle, white peony and long life eye brow are equal in size. Therefore, the particle size of white tea does not affect its taste, but the white tea variety does. Hence the particle sizes are somewhat larger, generally the white tea cannot be seen as white tea bags. Nearly 1 teaspoon contains 1.5- 2g of tea. You may use an infuser to add tea for an easy filtering of white tea brew, which is optional.
- Pour water to the teapot and close the lid and steep the tea for 2- 3 minutes.
As white tea is not much astringent like black tea and bitter like green tea, there will be no issue if the brewing time exceeds the recommended brewing time period, the brew will still give you a delicate taste in the mouth. However, if it is steeped for a longer period, the brew will deliver you a pale bitterness. Brewing more means the white tea particles have more time to excrete the bitter characteristics.
- Pour the white tea brew to the teacup.
Generally, white tea is not consumed with any additive. However, adding few drops of honey or pairing it with some fruits may enhance its magical taste.
- Sit back, relax and enjoy your white tea sip by sip.
White tea is a luxury tea variety available in the world that is wrapped with healthy aspects and delicately smooth taste. Unlike other tea varieties, white tea making is not confusing at all. However, everyone has their own taste preference. So, you are always free to try several white tea varieties and select the best suit your taste buds.