White tea and green tea have become increasingly popular the world over for their many benefits for your health–from photoprotection to possible cholesterol lowering and heart healthy effects.
While green tea has been studied extensively for its applications to holistic health care, white tea is treated with much reverence due to its loftier pricing and delicate flavor. According to research, white tea may contain higher levels of antioxidants than green tea, something that could make a difference when it comes to health benefits from having these teas.
White tea is so named because the buds from which the tea is made have silvery-white hairs, and because the brewed tea is much lighter in color than traditional black tea or green teas. Both the buds and the very young tea leaves are steamed or fired to stop the oxidation process, and then dried. Because of this minimal oxidation process, white tea generally has a higher concentration of catechins (antioxidants) than does green tea.
In studies that have compared green tea with white tea, the results have been mixed as to which one is healthier. For example, in a recent study published in Nutrition and Cancer, the effects of green tea and white tea on the liver and lungs of mice with induced oxidative stress and DNA damage were evaluated. Although both green tea and white tea were effective in fighting oxidative stress and DNA damage, the authors noted that white tea‘was found to be more protective’than green tea.
The information above should clear up some issues in the green tea vs. white tea debate. Both green and white teas offer numerous health benefits, but white tea may have a slight edge over green tea. However, white tea is more expensive. Perhaps the way to get the best of both teas is to include green tea in a daily diet and to splurge on white tea once in a while.
The answer to the question as to which is healthier, green tea or white tea, is not entirely clear, but the good news is, both types of tea are power houses of antioxidants, so you can’t go wrong when choosing either one. For many people, the final choice may come down to cost, caffeine, and taste.
White teas are less common and thus more expensive. When it comes to caffeine content, white tea is generally believed to have less of the stimulant, although at least one study found higher levels of caffeine in tea buds and young tea leaves than in older leaves, which means the caffeine in some white teas may surpass those in green tea. Overall, however, analyses of caffeine content of teas shows green tea contains 9 to 50 mg per 8-ounce cup compared with 42 to 72 mg for black tea.
Finally, taste. Green tea tends to have a slightly grassy taste while white tea is sweeter and more subtle. If you can’t choose between the two, drink both green tea and white tea and you’ll never need to worry about which one is healthier.
How to Drink Pu Erh Tea for Weight Loss
Pu-erh tea is one of the favorites in the weight loss tea category because it has a number of properties that will help you lose weight more quickly and effectively.
Tea with Caffeine
Caffeine occurs naturally in tea. A mild stimulant, it accounts for tea’s reputation as a beverage that clears the mind and lifts the spirit.
Chinese Black Tea Benefits
Chinese black tea is often confused with red tea because black tea in America is something completely different. Chinese black tea can also be called fermented tea or more commonly known as dark tea.
