If you're looking for an addition to your tea collection, try white tea! Although it might not be in the spotlight like green tea, black tea, and oolong tea, white tea is actually on par with those popular brews in terms of health benefits. Since white tea is minimally processed, it contains a high level of antioxidants, can help support your immune system, and even reduce inflammation. White tea also boasts a light, delicate flavor that will definitely brighten your day.
If you want to know more about the products in our 10 best list of favorites, keep reading! We've also included a buying guide reviewed by a certified tea sommelier to help you figure out which tea is best for you.
Quick List - Top White Teas
Harney & Sons
Experience The Essence Of Provence With A Delicate Fusion Of Floral And Fruit Flavors
Prince of Peace
Experience the Rich Aroma and Full Body of Organic White Tea
Kate Hesser is a certified tea sommelier, tea taster, blogger, and brand collaborator. She provides event and restaurant menu consulting, and personalized tasting experiences for in-home gatherings and office retreats. She believes every tea is made with pride and has something unique to show us!
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
In the world of teas, black tea and green tea are perhaps the most well-known. But have you ever heard of white tea? Let us tell you some of the wonderful health benefits of this amazing, delicious tea!
Despite not being as prominent as its counterparts, white tea is actually one of the rarest and most delicate types of tea! Its leaves are picked as young buds when they're covered by white hair. This gives them their name: white tea.
Most white tea is grown in the Yunnan province of China, but smaller quantities are also being grown in Sri Lanka, Kenya, and the Darjeeling region of India. Both varieties of white tea are made from the Da Bai "Great White" cultivar.
White tea can be enjoyed in the quiet of the early morning through the evening. While it is the least processed tea and still has the majority of its caffeine within it, it can contain between six and 55 milligrams. If you aren't into teas with a bitter taste, then white tea is definitely the way to go! With a mild, gentle flavor, it's easy to drink and will leave you feeling completely calm and relaxed.
Since white tea is not heavily processed, it still retains all of the precious vitamins and minerals found naturally in the plant. Particularly, white tea is rich in polyphenols, antioxidants that can protect you from the damaging effects of free radicals.
They help slow down aging, lessen chronic inflammation, and boost your immune system. They may even reduce the risk of heart disease!
Similar to green tea, white tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a compound with antioxidant capacity that may improve heart health and aid weight loss, although more research is needed.
When choosing a white tea, make sure to consider crucial factors such as the tea type and where it's sourced. In this buying guide, we've listed a few crucial points to help you choose the right product for yourself!
White teas from China are separated into four grades, with the highest quality consisting only of buds and the lowest quality consisting of mostly leaves. This gives each grade of tea different characteristics.
Silver Needle is the cream of the crop! It's made only from the top buds of the camellia sinensis plant, a variety that was originally only grown in the Fuding district of Fujian province, China. So if you're looking for the highest-quality silver needle, find one that's grown in Fujian.
Since the buds are picked during the first harvest, silver needle flaunts a soft, slightly sweet flavor that stays the same even after multiple infusions. The aroma of this tea is woodsy and floral, while the color looks a bit ivory. Just take a sip and feel the delicate flavor lingering on your palate. It's definitely a must-try for tea addicts!
The price is often directly proportional to its quality, and Silver Needle is surely the most expensive variety out of all types of white tea. So expect to pay a bit more for it!
Silver Needle is often added to fine Earl Grey blends as its distinct "sweet hay" flavor helps to round out any sharpness from the Bergamot.
White Peony, or Bai Mu Dan, is the second grade of white tea. It consists of hand-picked young buds and one or two tea leaves at the top of each plant shoot.
Compared to Silver Needle, White Peony tea doesn't cost as much, but the taste is still exquisite and unique. It has a strong flavor with a floral hint and a slightly nutty aftertaste. The color doesn't look pale like Silver Needle but is instead greener in color. If you prefer a full-bodied, rich taste, this type of white tea is a great option for you!
While Silver Needle is made from the first plucking of the first buds of the Dai Ban team bushes, White Peony is made from the second plucking of buds and early leaves of the same bushes.
Tribute Eyebrow, or Gong Mei, scores the third rank. Its interesting name is derived from the long, crescent-shaped leaves that look quite similar to the eyebrow of the Chinese god of longevity. This type of tea is harvested after Silver Needle and White Peony and features a darker color and bold, fruity taste that resembles oolong tea.
Longevity Eyebrow, also known as Shou Mei, is the fourth grade, containing mostly leaves and very few buds. The taste of this tea is similar to Tribute Eyebrow and enjoyed by many people.
True white tea (Silver Needle and White Peony for example) is made from the camellia sinensis plant variety found in China. However, there are many other types of white tea that are grown in other parts of the world.
Ceylon white, a variety in Sri Lanka, consists of tea buds that are at least 25 millimeters in length. It features a mild, fruity taste with a note of honey. On the other hand, Imperial Himalayan white tea is cultivated at the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. Since it's grown at high altitudes, the flavor is often crisp and pretty bold.
Tea comes in two forms: loose leaf and tea bags. While tea bags are convenient and takes less time to brew, loose leaf tea produces a more full-bodied flavor. So before making your purchase, take into consideration the pros and cons of each type!
When it comes to convenience, tea bags definitely beat loose leaf teas. There's no complicated equipment or long wait. You just need to put a tea bag into your favorite cup, pour some water, and wait for a few minutes until your tea is done! Plus, they tend to be quite affordable.
However, you should pay attention to the material of the bags. While most tea bags are safe, some are made from plastic and might release microplastic particles into your tea. Paper tea bags can also be troublesome as well! Some products are chlorine-bleached and contain health-damaging components such as dioxin.
If this is a concern for you, opt for tea bags crafted from 100 percent natural fibers. Make sure to choose tea bags with full leaves too. Some tea bags contain crumbles and stems that have lost most of the natural essential oils. So always go for high-quality tea bags that are infused with whole leaves to reap all of the health benefits.
In addition, as white teas have some of the most delicate flavors in the tea spectrum, you will get the strongest and most enjoyable flavor from loose leaf tea.
Loose leaf teas are usually very high in quality and often consist of only whole leaves. As a result, they are packed with the vitamins, minerals, and essential oils that exist naturally in the leaves. Once steeped, the leaves will release a full-bodied, rich flavor that will keep on lingering for a while.
However, brewing loose leaf tea takes time. You'll need a tea infuser or teapot as well, and sometimes the price can be steep. But for tea addicts, loose leaf teas will definitely give you the experience you're looking for!
Typically white teas are brewed at lower temperatures (158-176 degrees Fahrenheit) but for longer amounts of time, such as 4 to 7 minutes.
A tea that is made only from white tea gives us the natural, clear taste of the leaves, so you'll get to know the characteristics of the tea right away. And since it's quite easy to determine the quality of a natural tea, it's often made up of high-quality ingredients only.
If you find a single tea too simple and want to experience different tastes, a blended tea might be a better choice. There are various blended tea options available on the market. Some are infused with fruits like mango and pear, while some are enriched with flowers such as rose.
Some blended teas might be infused with artificial flavors and perfumes in order to further enhance the taste of the tea or hide low-quality tea leaves. To avoid this, check the label and opt for products that are free from artificial additives.
Look for blends with flavors that are complementary to those found in white tea such as peach, apricot, mango, cherry, or lemongrass.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||
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Tea Form | Amount of Tea Bags | Volume (of Loose Leaf) | Additional Flavors | Caffeinated | |||||
1 | Harney & Sons Provence|Tin of 20 Sachets | ![]() | Experience The Essence Of Provence With A Delicate Fusion Of Floral And Fruit Flavors | Tea Bag | 20 | Apricot, Lemon and Lavender | |||
2 | Prince of Peace Organic White Tea, 20 tea bags | ![]() | Experience the Rich Aroma and Full Body of Organic White Tea | Tea Bag | 100 | Honey | |||
3 | Twinings 100% Pure White Tea | ![]() | Savor The Delicately Smooth Flavor Of 100% Pure White Tea | Tea Bag | 20 (Pack of 2) | ||||
4 | Uncle Lee’s Tea Organic White Tea|100 Bags | ![]() | Experience The Delicate Purity Of Organic White Tea | Tea Bag | 100 | ||||
5 | FullChea Silver Needle White Tea | ![]() | A delicate brew of purity and elegance | Loose Leaf | 2.5 oz | ||||
6 | iMoZai Organic White Tea | ![]() | Discover The Delicate Elegance Of Organic White Tea | Tea Bag | 100 | ||||
7 | Davidson's Organics Himalayan White (Loose Leaf) | ![]() | Embrace the Crisp, Floral Essence of Organic Himalayan White Tea | Loose Leaf | 16 oz | ||||
8 | The Republic of Tea Orange Blossom 100% White Tea Bags|50-Count | ![]() | Discover the Delicate Citrus Aroma of Rare Chinese White Tea | Tea Bag | 50 | Orange Blossom | |||
9 | HANDPICK Organic White Tea|100 Tea Bags | ![]() | Enjoy The Floral And Smooth Essence Of Pure White Tea | Tea Bag | 100 | ||||
10 | FGO Organic White Tea | ![]() | Pure, organic, and refreshingly light | Tea Bag | 100 |
Amount of Tea Bags | 20 |
---|---|
Additional Flavors | Apricot, Lemon and Lavender |
This gluten-free tea is designed to provide a gentle and refreshing caffeine boost, making it an ideal choice for any time of the day. The carefully cut white tea leaves, when brewed at 175º for three minutes, release a delightful aroma reminiscent of a sunrise in Provence. Harney & Sons is committed to environmental sustainability, being a proud member of 1% for The Planet, contributing one percent of their sales to environmental causes.
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | 100 |
---|---|
Additional Flavors | Honey |
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | 20 (Pack of 2) |
---|---|
Additional Flavors |
Twinings 100% Pure White Tea is crafted from the youngest, most tender buds and tips of the tea bush, primarily grown in the Fujian Province of China. Known for its fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds, this tea is air-dried to prevent oxidation, preserving its light, natural taste and delicate aroma. Each tea bag is sealed for freshness, ensuring a consistently smooth and refreshing cup of tea.
Hand-picked in the spring, this tea yields a pale-yellow brew that can be enjoyed hot or iced. Steep for 2 minutes in freshly boiled water to bring out its pure flavor, which can be enjoyed alone or with milk and sweetener. Twinings combines tradition and innovation, encouraging consumers to "Drink in Life" by taking small steps towards well-being, one sip at a time.
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | 100 |
---|---|
Additional Flavors |
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
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Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | |
---|---|
Additional Flavors |
Savor the refined taste of FullChea White Tea Silver Needle, a premium loose-leaf tea known for its delicate aroma and naturally sweet flavor. Harvested from the tender top buds of the tea tree, this rare and precious white tea offers a smooth, refreshing experience with low caffeine, making it perfect for any time of day.
Crafted with no additives or fillers, this tea preserves its pure, natural essence while delivering a subtly floral and soothing brew. Enjoy it hot or cold, and let each sip transport you to the tranquility of springtime with its light, fragrant character.
Tea Form | Loose Leaf |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | 2.5 oz |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | 100 |
---|---|
Additional Flavors |
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | |
---|---|
Additional Flavors |
Brewing Himalayan White tea is straightforward: heat fresh, filtered water just short of boiling, add 2 grams of tea to an infuser or directly into an 8-ounce mug, pour the water, and steep for 3-5 minutes. This process allows the tea's nuanced flavors to fully develop, offering a perfect cup of wellness. Davidson’s commitment to quality, from farm to cup, guarantees an authentic and responsibly sourced tea experience for discerning tea enthusiasts.
Tea Form | Loose Leaf |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | 16 oz |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | 50 |
---|---|
Additional Flavors | Orange Blossom |
Steeping this tea is simple, whether you prefer it hot or cold. The light, pale-yellow brew features a naturally sweet, grassy flavor, subtly enhanced by natural orange and orange flower flavoring. Each cup contains approximately 20 milligrams of caffeine, significantly lower than coffee, making it a perfect choice for a gentle pick-me-up. Free from gluten, carbs, and sugar, this tea supports a diet-friendly lifestyle while delivering a pure, natural taste.
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | 100 |
---|---|
Additional Flavors |
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
Amount of Tea Bags | 100 |
---|---|
Additional Flavors |
Enjoy the delicate, smooth taste of FGO Organic White Tea, packed in 100 eco-conscious tea bags for a convenient and flavorful brew. Made from premium, USDA-certified organic white tea leaves, this gentle yet refreshing tea is naturally rich in antioxidants and offers a subtly sweet, floral character.
Packaged in foil-lined kraft bags for freshness, these bleach-free, glue-free tea bags ensure a clean, pure tea-drinking experience with no unnecessary waste. Whether you’re sipping for relaxation or wellness, this Non-GMO Project Verified white tea is a simple way to enjoy a moment of tranquility in every cup.
Tea Form | Tea Bag |
---|---|
Volume (of Loose Leaf) | |
Caffeinated |
My favorite white tea is the 6 Years Masters White by Grass People Tree. It is a white peony variety with a peach and sweet grass flavor.
In addition to reviewing and commenting on our buying guide, Kate also took the time to answer some commonly asked questions about white tea.
Kate says, "White tea is said to have the highest amount of caffeine because it is the least processed, but because it is brewed gently and slowly, less of the tea's caffeine is released into the cup."
"Yes," Kate says. "White tea is hydrating and cleansing, rich in antioxidants, and has anti-inflammatory properties."
For those who want to try out more varieties of tea, we've got your back! Check out our articles for more tea recommendations.
No. 1: Harney & Sons |Provence|Tin of 20 Sachets
No. 2: Prince of Peace|Organic White Tea, 20 tea bags
No. 3: Twinings |100% Pure White Tea
No. 4: Uncle Lee’s Tea|Organic White Tea|100 Bags
No. 5: FullChea|Silver Needle White Tea
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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