Fighting Bacteria

When it comes to fighting off bacterial viruses, Chinese green tea is an excellent option.  However, new studies also show that white tea and white tea extract have an antiviral effect on people, specific to pathogenic viruses.  In fact, this type of healthy tea extract is now being added to some toothpaste brands, serving as an oral antimicrobial for better health.

Green tea, loose black tea, oolong tea, and Chinese white tea all come from the Camellia sinensis plant.  For white tea, the leaves are harvested while still very young, a time when the buds are covered with a white “hair like” substance, thus the name.  This Chinese herbal tea is grown and harvested primarily in China, specifically the Fujian Province, where this form of tea has actually been grown for hundreds of years.

Growing Environment of White Tea

This plant grows throughout China where they receive a significant amount of sun and rain.  Because of the perfect environment in which the Camellia sinensis plant is grown, white tea ends up with outstanding properties.  One of the best varieties known is called Silver Needle, which is made from the buds only.  Every bud is handpicked from the plant but only during March 15 and April 10, a time when the buds have become ideal for the most incredible flavored tea.

Other types of white tea are made with the buds and leaves, which are first withered for a few hours and then dried in the open air.  The outside temperature and moisture content in the air also work to produce amazing flavor and healing properties of this specialty tea.  Tea growers understand the balance that must take place for indoor and solar withering so the tea comes out to perfection.

The benefits of Chinese white tea is that it can be enjoyed any time day or night, hot or cold, and in the summer or winter.  More and more people have discovered the beautiful balance of this exotic tea, which promotes peace and relaxation.  Just sitting down with a cup of tea creates a tranquil atmosphere or it can be enjoyed while sitting around with friends.  White tea also helps improve concentration and improve overall mood.

Therefore, cutting down on calorie intake is the first step.  Obviously, you still need to eat enough food to provide the body with nutrition so you need to cut calories but without putting your body at risk.  A great way to burn calories is with exercise.  Just 30 minutes a day would boost metabolism so you lose weight.

For long-term increase of the body’s metabolic rate, lifting weights is an excellent option.  Remember that muscle uses a high amount of calories, even when not being used.  Therefore, to continually burn calories, it helps to increase muscle mass.

Increasing Metabolism

If you are working on dropping unwanted pounds, boosting your metabolism is essential.  Now, as mentioned, you want to reduce calorie intake but not too much.  The reason is that when you reduce calories significantly, the body automatically slows down and begins saving the calories as fat since it believes it is being starved.  In fact, the more you cut out calories the slower you will lose weight.

Instead, the key is losing weight is to reduce your calorie intake a little and then use exercise to burn additional calories.  Remember, exercise increases the body’s metabolic rate, which makes burning calories more efficient.

Losing Weight with Tea

Another secret that many people are still unaware of for losing weight is by drinking healthy tea.  Study after study show that some types of tea, such as Chinese Black tea increase metabolic rate.  Additionally, various forms of herbal tea eliminate the absorption of fat coming from your diet.

Reducing the amount of fat your body stores helps with weight loss and drinking tea accomplishes that.  In addition, this means cholesterol levels are also lowered.  After all, when triglycerides, which are a type of fat begins to increase, your cholesterol level would also increase.

However, the greatest quality tea has associated with weight loss is increasing metabolism.  It has been believed that drinking Chinese tea, green tea, loose white tea, oolong tea, and loose black tea helps with controlling weight.  While more studies are needed, it appears there is a direct correlation between the two.

Other benefits of drinking tea that have been identified include slowing down the aging process and preventing disease.  Because of this, a tremendous amount of research has gone into research specific to tea.

Beneficial Antioxidants

A number of studies show that Chinese green tea helps prevent cancer and heart disease.  The reason is that green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which are vital to good health.

Antioxidants fight free radicals, which are the result of a byproduct associated with the digestive system.  Carrying oxygen that contains molecules to the cellular structure of the body and DNA is what free radicals do.  However, if you were to eat a diet containing antioxidants, damage caused by free radicals would be eliminated.

Many plant sources contain antioxidants such as fresh fruits and vegetables and while beneficial, tea is by far the best way of getting antioxidants into the body.  This is why tea has become increasingly popular over the years.

Japanese Study

In Japan, the University of Tokushima conducted a study to determine the effect of tea on the way the body burns calories.  This particular study focused on men that were stopped from drinking tea containing caffeine and antioxidants for four days.

Prior to the study, the men were examined to determine the number of calories they typically burned on a daily basis.  Then, for a period of three days, these men ate a standard American diet.  In addition, four groups were created, each being given a different regime that includes:

1. Water
2. Water, with 270 milligrams of caffeine (similar to what tea contains)
3. Tea, at full strength
4. Tea, at half strength

The study then compared the men who drank water with those that drank the full strength tea.  The results showed an increase of energy expenditure of 2.9%.  However, men that drank the water containing caffeine saw an even greater increase of 3.4%.

Now, for the group of men that drank the full strength tea, fax oxidation was also increased, 12% more than men that drank only water.  Interestingly, fax oxidation at this level was not seen in the men that were given the water containing caffeine.

The study suggests that while caffeine can boost the body’s metabolism, it is not enough to help with weight loss.  However, tea, which contains caffeine, as well as antioxidants, shows a significant connection with weight loss.

We know that tea is a healthy beverage, which is why people all over the world drink it.  However, using tea to lose weight is not only effective but it is also safe.  Therefore, including tea as a part of your weight loss program would help you drop unwanted pounds faster.

Since its discovery, this herbal tea has been known by people in China, Taiwan, and Japan to provide a variety of healing properties.  However, modern medicine and research has now taken what Asian people believed and proven them to be right.  Studies show that green tea is extremely beneficial for health but even so, it is seldom recommended by conventional doctors to patients.

One green tea benefit has to do with Alzheimer’s disease, which is a type of neurological illness that affects primarily the elderly.  With this disease, people begin to lose memory, even of people they know and love.  Studies are starting to reveal that green tea can help stop the progression of Alzheimer’s, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.

Another area in which green tea is promising is by preventing and controlling various types of cancer.  A cure for cancer has been on the forefront of medical doctors and researchers for years but the result has been the development of conventional treatment to include radiation, chemotherapy, and other potentially dangerous measures.  However, drinking green tea or taking green tea supplements is now providing hope with studies showing a definite link to the prevention and even treatment of cancer.

Then, people with arthritis live with a painful and debilitating disease that makes it hard to do anything.  Walking, going up and down steps, bending, and even lifting a coffee cup can be difficult, if not impossible.  Today, no cure for arthritis has been found but scientists and researchers now believe that drinking three to four cups of green tea daily makes a significant improvement.

Green tea has also been show to help people with Multiple Sclerosis or MS.  This disease also causes significant pain, making it difficult to move.  While further studies are needed, early research indicates that green tea could be beneficial for people with MS.

The healing properties of green tea have been substantiated for a long time for a variety of illnesses.  Since all forms of Chinese green tea can be purchased at the local store and without a prescription, both on and offline, this is an exceptional benefit.  In fact, you can find green tea products at health stores and sometimes, buying bulk green tea means a nice discount in price.  With the smooth flavor and medicinal benefits, it is no wonder that this has quickly become a natural treatment of choice.

We wanted to provide you with information to show you the many ways in which green tea can help improve health but keep in mind, if used for medicinal purposes, you should always consult with your doctor first and never stop taking conventional medication or treatment without doctor’s approval.  In rare instances, digestive problems occur when drinking green tea so typically, it is recommended that no more than three cups be consumed in any given day.

Processing of Green Tea

Interestingly, the same plant called Camellia sinensis that produces loose black tea, white tea, and oolong tea produces green tea.  The only difference is the processing method used.  For instance, all tea is fermented except green tea.  Instead, after the leaves are hand plucked, they are laid out to dry, which can take up to 24 hours.  Once the drying is done, the leaves are pan fried or steamed so the leaves do not ferment.  At that point, the leaves are tightly rolled, followed by a second drying process.

Due to the way in which loose green tea is processed, it has a unique flavor and aroma from other types of tea.  When brewed, the color is light green and if green tea is enjoyed without cream or sugar, it has a slightly grassy flavor.  Because green tea is not fermented, it has a unique flavor over Chinese black tea, oolong, or white tea.

Benefits of Antioxidants

The process used for oolong and black tea involves fermentation, which means the antioxidants, known as epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG are oxidized.  In this case, antioxidants are converted into different compounds.  However, without green tea being fermented, EGCG is not touched.  For this reason, green tea has the highest level of antioxidants, giving it incredible healing properties.

For one thing, EGCG can fight off free radicals, which carry molecules carrying oxygen through the body, wrecking havoc, specifically to the digestive tract.  If free radicals are not controlled, they cause significant damage to DNA and the body’s cellular system.  When cells become damaged, serious disease is common, which includes heart disease, high cholesterol levels, and even cancer.

Today, doctors suggest that people eat foods high in antioxidants, specifically EGCG.  With this, the person would live a long, healthy life.  If you look at people that live in Asia, you would notice that they have much lower incidences of disease because they consume so much green tea.

Varieties of Green Tea

As you begin looking at one or more tea companies, you will quickly realize that green tea comes in wonderful varieties.  In fact, this particular type of tea can be found not only in China but also throughout Japan and even in India, Kenya, Korea, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Vietnam.  Therefore, opportunities for green tea are tremendous.

Of course, you should try a variety of blends, as well as the best green tea that has not been blended so you can determine the one you like best.  Then when you purchase bulk green tea, you need to make sure you are buying the current year’s crop grown only in the finest tea gardens.

Buying Quality Green Tea

Quality tea gardens are found around the globe but the quality of tea produced varies.  The process associated with growing and harvesting tea requires a lot of time, much of the work being done by hand.  For this reason, if a worker were to take any type of shortcut, it would be noticed in the tea purchased.  The leaves should only be plucked by hand and the tealeaves processed on the same day plucked.

The highest quality green tea comes from tea gardens that are run by skilled artisans.  These workers are highly skilled in plucking tea and know what to pluck, as well as how long the leaves should be steamed, which is anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds.  This simple step is essential, which determines the flavor, as well as softness or thickness of the tealeaves.

Along with tea coming from the finest tea gardens, you should always purchase tea that is from the best pluckings in the current year.  Workers pluck leaves during the spring, which is the first harvest, until the first frost.  Because of this, some tea, such as green tea is harvested four, sometimes five times in a single year.

One particular time of year for growing green tea is in the summer but again, the first pluckings during the first growing season in the spring ensures the highest quality possible.

The better tea gardens work hard to grade later plucking with a lower grade than tealeaves plucked early and some will actually use words such as “first plucking” on the label.  While you would pay more money for tea from the first plucking, you will also enjoy the most amazing flavor and aroma.

Buying Green Tea Online

If you want to buy tea online, you will find a better selection although you could also shop locally.  Many of today’s teashops are trying to put first plucking tea in their list of teas offered and choose the highest grade they can find.

Some local teashops also let customers know when a shipment of first plucking green tea or other type of tea has arrived.

Because green tea plucked early limits available quantity, it can be challenging to find.  Typically, this tea would hit the market for customers to buy sometime in May to June.

While you can still purchase excellent green tea that is not from the first plucking, the key is to purchase from a reputable source.

Starting your Day

One of the best ways you start your day is with a hot cup of herbal tea.  This helps clear the mind and prepare the body for the busy day ahead.  In fact, many people feel they cannot accomplish much without having their cup of tea with breakfast.

As with anything, the higher the quality of tea the more wonderful the experience will be.

Enhancing the Experience

Okay, so what is the best way to experience tea at its finest?

Most importantly, find a type of tea that you enjoy.  This might be something like Chinese green tea, Jasmine tea, loose black tea, genmaicha tea, or some other type of exotic tea.  Keep in mind that while thousands of varieties exist, they are all extensions of four primary types that come from the same plant called Camellia sinensis.  The four basic types of tea include green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea.

Tea is grown throughout the world, although a large volume comes from China.  However, the geographical location, as well as the way the tea is grown, plucked, dried, and processed determines the final product.  Therefore, you may need to try several types of tea before narrowing your choices down to a few that you love.

Once you have found quality tea that leaves you feeling warm inside, you will find each cup brings satisfaction.  Of course, expect to pay a little more for the higher quality tea but it is well worth the price.  However, even high quality tea is not considered expensive.

Quality Tea Benefits

What type of benefits would you get from drinking high quality tea?

The first thing you would notice is flavor.  When looking at high quality, fresh tea from store bought tea bags, there is simply no comparison.

Additionally, the tea you choose should provide some type of tea benefit.  Quality tea from fresh leaves helps by fighting off free radicals that do damage to the cellular level of the body, reduces stress, and promotes overall good health.

You will also find that high quality tea would quickly become a natural part of your daily regimen.  As you taste the wonderful flavor, smell the aroma, and enjoy the medicinal benefits, you will want to consume two to four cups daily.

Without doubt, tea is versatile.  This one beverage is delicious served hot or cold and in fact, tea can be used for cooking.  In fact, if you were to look online, you would be shocked at the hundreds of recipes available that include tea as an ingredient.

To enjoy the greatest benefits and flavor, you want to choose only loose leaf tea.  The flavor is much better and often, if the leaves are kept moist, they can be used four or five times to produce a perfect cup of tea.

Ensuring Quality

To ensure you have the most amazing experience while sipping on tea, remember, always purchase high quality loose leaf, and make sure the tea is properly prepared.  You will find the best tea from tea companies, locally or online.  These specialty companies sell nothing but tea and tea products so they can assist you in choosing.  The important thing is to purchase your tea only from guarantees that each shipment of tea received from its country of origin is carefully inspected and tasted.  This type of quality control is imperative.

When looking to buy tea online or locally, the following should be considered:

Tea Garden – Geographic Location and Reputation

Environment – Factors such as Humidity and Temperature

Plucking – Time of Year Tea is Plucked

Processing – Quality and Method of Processing Tea

Flavoring – Recipe and Method of Blending and Flavoring Tea

As long as the tea company you buy from tests each shipment received, you would have greater confidence that the quality would be consistent.

Quality Preparation

Just as you need to purchase only the finest tea, the method of making the tea is just as important.  Some people think of this as a type of science but in fact, it is more of an art, something you can learn.  For starters, always use bottled watered, which could be purified or mineral.  Then, you never want to brew the tea longer than four minutes, especially green tea.  The reason is that tea that brews longer becomes bitter because tannic acid is released in greater quantity.  Finally, always enjoy your tea in a gorgeous cup or use your finest tea set when entertaining friends.

Popular Flavored White Tea

Although you would love many of the flavored white tea options now being made, one that has made a huge impression on people all over the world is white licorice tea.

Just as we know that healthy tea is great for the body, keep in mind that licorice is also healthy.  Keep in mind that Chinese white tea is processed different from other types of tea so the level of antioxidants left is higher than in loose black tea or loose green tea.  With this, white tea helps prevent and even fight serious diseases such as heart disease and even cancer.  Therefore, whether loose white tea is consumed with or without flavoring, it offers medicinal properties.

If you are just now learning about tea, it can be confusing as to the way quality differs among the various types of tea.  The key is the tea garden in which the tea is grown.  When tea is grown and harvested by a skilled worker, the quality would be higher.

Importance of the Tea Garden

The tea garden where any tea, especially white tea is grown is critical to overall quality.  The leaves and buds used to make white tea must be carefully plucked by hand and then properly harvested.  Then for white licorice tea, only the finest star anise should be used.  Even the blending or infusing of the two must be done correctly.

White tea, black tea, green tea, and oolong tea all come from the Camellia sinensis plant.  The difference is the way the tea is harvested and processed.  White tea takes more time and it is harvested much earlier in the year, a time when the leaves have not opened fully and the buds are still covered with white hair, thus the name.

Unlike Chinese black, green, or oolong tea, white tea is not fermented.  Because of this, the flavor is delicate and slightly sweet, as well as higher in antioxidants.

Tea Garden Facts

For quality white tea, the leaves and buds must all be plucked by hand and even then, only unopened leaves and undamaged buds are used.  Typically, this involves using only the top two leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.  In addition, the worker harvests leaves and buds in March and April, a time when the climate is perfect.

Additionally, the time when white tea is harvested, it cannot be raining and the night before there should be no frost.  Even on the morning when harvested, the dew should be dry.  These environmental factors are crucial to harvesting white tea.

Once hand plucked, the leaves would be dried and steamed and the time steamed would be something that only a highly skilled artisan would know.

Infusing of Star Anise

To create white licorice tea, high quality white tea would be blended with star anise.  The best tea gardens in the world use whole pieces of star anise, as well as the appropriate combination of leaves, buds, and anise to produce an amazing flavor.

After processing, white tea is carefully stored and then packed for export.  This type of tea is grown only once a year but keep in mind that other types of tea are also processed, keeping tea garden workers busy.

Importance of the Gardeners

The goal of gardeners of the best tea gardens is to work throughout the year to maintain the garden so the finest tea is grown, harvested, and processed each year.

In the summer, weeds must be eliminated from the tea garden.  This time of year is when black tea and green tea are harvested and processed.  Unlike white tea that is grown just once a year, black, oolong, and Chinese green tea is grown three to four times each year.

The fall is when the Camellia sinensis plant grows the most so this is the type when gardeners will fertilize and new plants go into the ground.  Then by the month of October, pruning is required so the plants are ready for the upcoming winter.

Throughout the winter, gardeners provide a lot of attention to the Camellia sinensis plants four years old and less.  If the winter were harsh, then extra protection would be provided to help the plants get through the cold months.

By the latter part of February and the early part of March, pruning is needed to help the plants get ready for springtime.  Once harvested, the entire process would start over.

Without doubt, gardeners of tea gardens have a lot of work to be done all year long.  They must work hard to harvest and process each type of tea accordingly.  Obviously, tea gardens that are tended to best will produce the best, oolong, white, black, and the best green tea possible.

It requires a lot of time, patience, and skill to garden a tea garden.  Typically, gardeners come from generations of gardeners, learning from the parents whose family has been associated with tea gardens for years.

As you can see, the single cup of tea you enjoy such as white licorice tea takes a tremendous amount of work to achieve the great flavor and aroma.  Therefore, the next time you enjoy the distinct flavor of white tea or white licorice tea, think about the hard work that was dedicated to give you an amazing cup of tea.

Experts suggest that green tea was the first discovered some 3,000 years ago in China.  At that time, fresh leaves were plucked from the Camellia sinensis plant, which were then allowed to dry in the sun before being stored.  Then by the 8^th century, an evaporation process was used but in the 12^th century, the leaves were sautéed or pan-fried.  Over the years, the same processing steps used for Chinese green tea was used for Chinese black tea.

Interestingly, of all tea produced today, green tea is just one of a few left natural.  For instance, loose black tea is fermented but green tea is not.  This allows chlorophyll in the leaves to remain natural, giving green tea the unique color.  This also leaves healthy antioxidants alone, making green tea a healthier choice than any other type of tea.

Antioxidants are powerful, protecting the body from disease and fighting existing disease.  Antioxidants work by neutralizing free radicals, which are molecules that carry oxygen to DNA and cells.  While the body creates free radicals as a part of the digestive tract, if not controlled, they can do serious damage.

In addition to drinking green tea, you should also eat a diet rich of antioxidants such as fresh fruits and vegetables.  With this, you would have a means of protecting the body.

In the past few years, a tremendous amount of research has gone into identifying the long-term benefits associated with drinking green tea.  These studies show that the body is protected from heart disease, high cholesterol, and various types of cancer.  However, studies also show that drinking loose green tea or taking a green tea supplement can help with weight lose while regulating insulin within the body.  Although additional research is needed, it is likely that even more health benefits will be revealed.

Green Tea Classifications

The way in which green tea is dried determines its classification with there being five in all.

Stir Frying – The first classification involves the leaves being sautéed.  Usually, this is left for special teas or those exported.  The result of this process is a stronger flavor and aroma.  The types of tea usually stir fried include gunpowder green tea and dragonwell green tea.

Roasting – Another classification is roasting, which involves leaves being placed in a special chest or basket and then roasted.  In this case, the leaves are left intact and used to make flowering tea such as monkey king.

Semi-Roasting – Next, tealeaves are both fried and roasted, which retains the beautiful appearance and gives the tea a full-bodied flavor and aroma.

Solar Drying – This method is very old, which involves allowing the leaves to dry in direct sunlight.  Typically, solar dried leaves are used for compressed products such as green tea cakes commonly sold today.

Steaming – The last classification involves the leaves being steamed at high temperatures so they dry.  Sencha is steamed, which is a delicious variety of green tea.

For each of the five classifications of green tea are different grades for quality.  However, making a firm determination can be tough since every region where green tea is grown has a different system for grading.  In China, which grows the most green tea than any other country has specific grading.

Tea that will be exported is graded based on the leaf’s age, as well as the shape of the leaf when finished processing.  This would include green tea varieties such as gunpowder, young hyson, hyson, imperial, hyson skin, dust, and twankay.  These categories have a number of grades and in fact, a single shaped leaf might have more than a single grade.

As you can see, grading green tea is challenging since you would have a hard time knowing the tea dried.  If you understand the various methods of drying, as well as the way in which flavor and aroma are affected, this would help you choose only varieties that have been dried so you end up with the best quality.  A few other ways to distinguish quality grades includes:

Form – Bagged tea is a much lower grade than loose leaves, regardless of the tea being oolong, white, black, or green.  Therefore, only purchase loose tea.

Price – Typically, green tea is very affordable but if the price is low, chances are the quality is too.  Therefore, look at different prices so you can determine what price would justify high quality.

Tea Companies – Additionally, the better tea companies usually sell higher quality tea.  For this reason, it would be worth finding and shopping only at the best tea companies available.

You can purchase green tea varieties from around the world, making this an exciting venture.  With so many different flavors and infusions, you are sure to find several that you love.

Today, both China and Japan are responsible for producing the largest quantity of green tea.  However, other countries also produce delicious flavors.  For example, Ceylon green tea is produced in Sri Lanka, which actually has more of a malty or nutty flavor and a fuller body than tea grown in Asia.

Green tea is also produced in India, which is called Darjeeling.  This variety of green tea still has the grassy flavor found in Asian tea but it also has a muscatel flavor, which makes it distinct.  Another variety of green tea produced in India is called Assam, which has a medium body with a hint of honey.

Vietnam and Korean Green Tea

In Vietnam, some of the world’s best green tea is grown but most people have no idea.  This particular type of green tea is very different from tea grown in China and Japan, offering a much richer flavor.  In fact, green tea grown in Vietnam almost tastes bitter at first but if you hold a small amount in the mouth, it mellows.

Then, Korea is also a producer of green tea, which is high quality and delicious.  For this, the leaves are the first plucking, which makes the tea extremely delicate and light.  You will find that Hadong produces the finest green tea in Korea, which is all grown and processed by hand.

Australian Green Tea

Interestingly, green tea is also produced in Australia, which is a relatively new country growing this type of healthy tea.  However, the majority of green tea grown in Australia is for the country’s own use, meaning that not much is exported.  Even so, the Australian people are working hard to grow greater quantities of the type of green tea produced, known as Jasmine tea.

Kenyan Green Tea

Even Kenya is known for producing green tea, which as a fruitier and more floral flavor.  This particular type of green tea is only recently being introduced to the United States so the best place to purchase it is online through reputable tea companies.

Purchasing Tea Online

If you want to branch out and try unique flavors of green tea, those from any of the countries mentioned, you should look for reputable tea companies online.  When you buy tea online, you have more possibilities than tea found in a local teashop.

Of course, while tea companies online would have a much broader selection, depending on the tea, those considered rare would be hard to find.  Even so, the variety of tea online versus locally would be far greater.

To start, simply conduct research online using any of the top search engines to find several companies.  Typically, companies provide small samples of various tea varieties so you could choose two or three companies you like and then request samples.

It is important that you find the best green tea available, which is done by buying from reputable companies and looking at more than one company.  After all, each tea company will offer something different.  Therefore, shopping through several companies gives you the chance to purchase all types of green tea.

If you purchase a sample collection of tea through an online company, you would have the ability to sample several flavors without it costing you a fortune.  After trying the different tea varieties, you would then narrow your choices down to those you like best, buying larger quantity.

You will also discover that in some cases, online tea companies have sample collections that include not just green tea, but also loose black tea, white tea, and oolong tea whereas other companies have collections of different green tea varieties only.

Purchasing from the top tea companies would improve your chance of getting only the finest tea and for an affordable price.  The best tea companies receive tea from tea gardens from around the world, which means better variety and higher quality.

It is essential that you take your time in choosing a tea company, looking for those known for quality tea, as well as giving you a guarantee on every type of tea sold.  After all, you want the best tea you can find but without spending a fortune.  You also want to know that you would get a money-back guarantee if something were wrong with the order.

Remember, tea companies that have a solid reputation work hard to provide you with an amazing experience that involves good flavored tea of high quality.  These companies would also strive to offer customers with a nice variety of tea produced all over the world.

As you find several tea companies that you trust, you would then have the opportunity to discover some of the finest in the world and the most distinct tea grown, tea that is of the highest quality.

Green tea is without doubt the best choice in that it offers a light and refreshing flavor coupled with health benefits.  Green tea is loaded with antioxidants so it promotes good health and even fights numerous health issues.

Numerous studies have been done on green tea, and they all agree to for preventing and fighting disease, it is the most beneficial.  This type of tea helps with weight loss as well as reducing risk of cancer, heart disease, and high cholesterol.  In fact, several of the more recent studies show promise for Alzheimer’s disease.

All you need to do is begin your search for online tea companies, looking specifically for those that important tea from the finest tea gardens in the world.  With that, you have the opportunity to enjoy delicious flavor while also benefit from the medicinal properties.

Processing White Tea

The method for processing loose white tea involves plucking the leaves just prior to opening completely, as well as when buds are covered with a fine white hair, thus the name.  White tea is harvested earlier than any other type of tea and, the leaves do not go through fermentation.  Instead, Chinese white tealeaves are steamed and then dried.  In fact, this process is sometimes done in the field just after the leaves and buds are plucked, which maintains the wonderful, delicate flavor.

Finding White Tea

Because white tea is only harvested once a year whereas loose black tea, loose green tea, and loose oolong tea are processed several times, it is harder to find.  In fact, tea gardens typically have just a few plants set aside to produce white tea.  Making it even harder to find, this type of tea is only grown in China, Japan, and very few areas of Sri Lanka and India.  However, with growing demand, it is expected that more tea gardens will be developed specifically for white tea.

Price of White Tea

As you can imagine, since white tea is rarer than other types of exotic tea, it is more expensive.  The good news is that as popularity for this variety of tea continues to grow, pricing should start to go down.

Delicate Flavor of White Tea

Without doubt, the flavor associated with white tea is distinct, being very delicate and with a hint of sweetness.  The color is also very light and often, people will steep it too long because they believe it has not brewed long enough.  Although white tea does not have as much aroma as other types of tea, it is well worth enjoying.

Serving White Tea

It is essential when making white tea that it must be served properly.  This means never pouring boiling water directly onto the leaves.  The water temperature should be just below boiling.  In addition, to enjoy white tea at its finest, serve it plain within cream or sugar.

Caffeine in White Tea

Of all types of special teas, white tea has the lowest caffeine content, must 15 milligrams per cup.  However, if you were to drink a cup of Chinese black tea, it would have 40 milligrams and Chinese green tea has 20 milligrams of caffeine.  For this reason, white tea is ideal for people that have trouble with caffeine.

Health Properties of White Tea

Just as with green tea, white tea offers a number of health benefits.  For instance, this type of tea is very high in antioxidants, which provide tons of benefits, some that include the following:

Lower Risk of Cancer – Multiple studies who that white tea can prevent and help fight various forms of cancer.  Interesting, Asians that drink white tea as a part of daily life have fewer incidences of cancer than any other place in the world.  Some researchers believe that a special compound found in white and green tea stops cancerous cells from developing.  Even in people that have existing cancer, white tea has been shown effective for fighting cancer to include bladder, colon, lung, prostate, pancreatic, and others.

Reduce Cholesterol Levels and Risk of Heart Attack – Another benefit of white tea is being able to lower cholesterol levels.  Many studies show tea can stop the formation of abnormal blood clots, which helps to lower risk of heart attack and stroke.  Therefore, drinking tea on a daily basis would help in these situations too.

Arthritis – Antioxidants found in tea have been shown to prevent and lower severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is a very painful disease.  In fact, results from a number of studies indicate that risk is dramatically reduced by drinking tea.  One study in particular used mice with arthritis and those fed tea had much milder cases than mice not fed tea.  Even people in China have lower incidences of Rheumatoid Arthritis than other countries.

Weight Loss – Another huge benefit of white tea, as well as green tea and other varieties of healthy tea is that with the combination of caffeine and catechins, weight loss is achieved.  In fact, studies show that tea can also help regulate insulin, making it beneficial for people with Diabetes.

Alzheimer’s disease – Although further studies are needed, early information indicates that tea can also reduce risk of developing this disease.

Immune System – Although all types of tea have been shown to improve immune system, white tea in particular has been shown to boost the body’s immune system, which helps in fighting off a number of illnesses caused from bacteria and virus, specifically strep throat.

As you can see, white tea, among other varieties offers all types of health benefits.  This coupled with the delicate, sweet flavor; it is easy to see why white tea is growing in popularity around the world.

Types of Chinese Teapots

While there are many different types of Chinese teapots, one in particular that is original and perfect for tea ceremonies or entertaining friends in the US is called the Yixing.  While the spelling appears as if the word would be pronounced one way, it is actually “E-Ching”.  This type of Chinese teapot is a collectible and features a design that has been used in China for thousands of years.  In fact, some Chinese swear that this type of teapot is magical, which comes in shapes of the Buddha, lotus flower, vegetables, animals, and fruits.

Although finding an authentic Yixing Chinese teapot would be hard to find, some newer options on the market feature contemporary shapes.  For instance, this type of teapot is now made in the shape of a wheelbarrow, chair, and other whimsical shapes that are sure to please.

Materials of the Yixing Teapot

The red clay used to make the Yixing teapot can only be found in the Yunnan province of China.  Because of the material, this ware is porous, making it easier to absorb color, which is why even the older teapots still have original vibrant colors.  These teapots are not even glazed although some of the newer ones could be.  Keep in mind that you only want to use one type of tea with the teapot because it will eventually begin absorbing flavors.  Therefore, whether you love chai green tea, gunpowder green tea, Chinese black tea, flowering tea, Jasmine tea, or something else, use just one pot for each type of tea.

Finding Yixing Chinese Teapots

It is actually very easy to locate Yixing teapots.  Because they are considered so popular and the perfect collectible, they are everywhere.  However, if you were looking for a genuine teapot, one of value, it would be important to purchase from a reputable and qualified dealer or vendor.  That way, you know you are buying homemade pot and not one made with a machine or some cheap knock-off.  If the teapot is genuine, your favorite healthy tea will taste better and heat more efficiently. 

Remember, there are certain things you want to look for when buying an authentic Chinese Yixing teapot.  Some of the more important elements include:

Cap – Needs to be firm and not easy to move

Body – Should not feel grainy

Knob – Needs to be in sync with the body, preferably ergonomic

Handle – Should be large enough to hold and firm

Capacity – Needs to be able to hold a substantial amount of water, enough to serve up to three people but no more

Mouth Net – Should have a net over the mouth to help strain loose tea leaves

Hardiness – Needs to be strong and durable

Color – Should never be dyed

Shape – Can be anything but the shape should not be clumsy and awkward

Craftsmanship – Overall teapot should be well made

Material – All Yixing Chinese teapots should only be made from Zhu or purple clay

Bottom – Should have the name of the artist engraved on the bottom

Skin – If the Yixing teapot is quality, it would have a brittle like skin with thinner interior walls

Pouring – When exotic tea is poured from the Yixing teapot, a smooth, consistent stream should be seen

Remember that along with the mentioned qualities of the Yixing Chinese teapot, when you find one that has it all, you could pay a high price.  Therefore, you should spend time looking so you can make comparisons.  If all the prices are outside your budget, then you might see if a manmade pot works.