White Peony Tea
Benefits Of White Peony Tea
We don't often hear too much about white tea in general or white peony tea in particular. There are many claims and testimonials promoting the benefits of white peony tree. Some of these claims are true, others may be suspect. Certainly there are compounds and elements found in a white tea that are definitely beneficial. The extent to which these benefits occur is of course always open to question.
What Is White Tea? - White tea has been around a long, long time. It has been a favorite beverage in China, where it originates, for a few thousand years at least. White tea gets its name from the hair or fuzz that covers the unopened buds of the tea blossom. These hairs actually have a silvery color but turn white as the tea is dried. There are several varieties of white tea on the market, the most expensive tea, and the tea having the most delicate taste, is Baihao Yinshen, silver needle white tea. The next highest ranking in terms of delicacy and popularity is Bai Mudan, white peony tea. White peony tea is not quite as delicate as silver needle tea, is darker, and the taste is considered to be more robust. It is brewed from the bud of the tea plant and the tender, immature leaves adjacent to the bud. The primary difference between white peony tea and silver needles tea, is that the former is made from the unopened bud and two adjacent leaves, while the latter is made from the buds only
Less Processing Means More Health Benefits - Most all tea that we drink is brewed from leaves that have been processed to some extent. Although all true teas come from the same plant, Camilla senesis, the resulting tea will be white, green, brown, or black, depending upon how the leaves and/or buds are processed. The production of green tea involves air drying of the tea leaves, and other types of tea involve oxidation of the leaves, whereas for white tea the leaves or buds are lightly steamed, a process which preserves more of the polyphenols, powerful anti-oxidants. The body's immune system benefits from these anti-oxidants and our teeth benefit from drinking white tea, or white peony tea, as it is rich in fluoride. White peony tea is also significantly lower in caffeine than is the case with most other types of tea.
Though a bit more robust than silver needle tea, white peony tea still has what can be described as a delicate flavor. The taste is a bit fruity, as opposed to the vegetative and almost grassy taste associated with green tea. White peony tea, and most white tea for that matter, is not cheap. When brewing your own you'll find the cost approaches one dollar a cup. White peony tea does not have quite the same shelf life as most other types of tea, so purchases should be limited to a supply that are expected to last for no more than 2 or 3 months.
Other Benefits - In addition to boosting the immune system and helping prevent cavities because of the presence of anti-oxidants and fluoride, white peony tea is also considered to be beneficial in keeping cholesterol levels within desired levels. Adding white tea to the diet also supposedly helps fight rheumatoid arthritis, and slows the breakdown of elastin and collagen, thereby helping keep the skin more wrinkle-free as we age.
Tea Plant, Not Peony Plant - It should be obvious at this point that white peony tea comes from the tea plant, and not from the peony plant. Where it gets its name may well have become lost in the mists of time. White tea has only recently been introduced to Western culture, but appears to be gaining popularity rapidly. Although the health benefits claimed for white peony tea appear to be essentially valid, it is the taste more than anything which contributes to its growing popularity.