Teatime Tuesday: White Tea

Teatime Tuesday: White Tea

Because caffeine tends to “disagree” with me, I stopped drinking coffee many years ago. I was eventually introduced to herbals “teas” which are actually tisanes or infusions. A couple of years ago, I discovered green and white teas which do contain caffeine but not enough to cause issues. Jasmine, a green tea, is my absolute favorite, but I also partake a white tea, a lighter, brighter flavored tea.

According to The New Tea Companion, white tea “was originally named after the tiny white or silver hairs that cover the bud {of the Camellia sinensis plant) as it develops at the top of each tea shoot.” White tea was originally only made in China from two varieties of the team plant, but with the popularity of white tea, it is now being produced in other parts of the world.

For tea aficionados, there is a difference between white teas. Some are made from only the new leaf bud

and gathered before it starts to unfurl, while other white teas are made from the new bud and one or two young open leaves. Purists will notice these white teas look significantly different from Yin Shen White Needles.

I’m still dabbling with white teas but find that almost all when brewed have a very pale, almost champagne-colored liquid. Some popular varieties in addition to Yin Shen are Bai Mudan (White Peony), Monkey Picked White Tea, and Darjeeling. The aroma is light, soft, and sweet, which author Jane Pettigrew describes as “velvety.” (I’m not sure how to interpret that!) Others have used words such as floral, grassy, honey, fruity, melon, peach, apricot, vanilla, chocolate, citrus, herby, mild, subtle, delicate and sweet. Because it is the least processed of the three teas (black, green, white), the level of antioxidants in white tea is higher than that of others.

In addition to its antioxidants, white tea is a great source of fluoride which can help protect your teeth from bacteria and sugar. Some studies have shown the compounds in white tea may protect against osteoporosis, heart disease, and insulin resistance.

What I find most beneficial is taking time to brew the tea, sitting down, and enjoying the fragrance and taste – being in the moment – which lessens my stress level. If you’ve never tried white tea, I highly recommend you give it a try!

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Dutch Dawn

Will they survive the 500-mile journey to freedom?

Isak Westgard is only six missions short to be rotated stateside. Then the unthinkable happens, and he crashes in the occupied Netherlands where the chances of him making it back to England are slim to none. The beautiful and tough-as-nails resistance courier begs to differ and claims she hasn’t lost anyone yet. The problem is the longer they’re together, the less he wants to escape.

 
Annaliese Claasen has escorted her fair share of refugees and downed Allied pilots to safety - too numerous to remember. Until now. There’s something different about the Norwegian-American lieutenant, and it’s more than his good looks. Can she get him out of the country before losing her heart?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/bMjoxV

Sources:
The New Tea Companion by Jane Pettigrew & Bruce Richardson, Benjamin Press, Kentucky, 2008
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/white-tea-benefits
https://www.teatulia.com/tea-varieties/what-is-white-tea.htm

Photo Credits:
Tea “needles:” By Iateasquirrel, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Cup of White Tea: Courtesy of SakiProducts.com
Tea Plants: Pixabay/sxh41920