White tea comes from the delicate buds and younger leaves of the Camellia sinensis tree, the same plant that green tea derives from. It is grown and harvested almost exclusively in China, where the buds and leaves are allowed to wither in natural sunlight (known as wilting) before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation or further fermentation. This protects not only the delicate flavor of the white tea, but also retains high levels of the phytonutrients responsible for the tea's health benefits.
Although black, green, and white teas all derive from the same plant, they all undergo different processing. The more processing the tea goes through, the darker the tea becomes. Both green and white teas are among the least processed, being steamed as opposed to roasted. This process keeps the leaves closer to their natural state and increases the tea's antioxidant properties. The name "white tea" derives from the fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives the plant a whitish appearance.
Because white tea is harvested from younger buds than green tea, it contains a different proportion of the antioxidant polyphenols (most notably catechins) that give white and green teas their much purported health benefits. Research in both the US and Asia points to white tea as being possibly even more effective than green tea in preventing DNA mutations that lead to cancer, and at least as effective as green tea in protecting the skin from damaging UV radiation while boosting skin’s immune-activity.
Emerging research is also demonstrating that white tea can be effective at preventing and reversing the formation of wrinkles by supporting the skin’s collagen and elastin network. Clinical studies in the UK have shown that white tea outperforms several other botanical extracts in preventing the activation of enzymes that break down elastin and collagen. These enzymes, along with free radicals, degrade the skin’s support matrix over time, so their inhibition is critically important in maintaining the youthful look of the skin and restoring the collagen/elastin network to a more youthful composition.
