FRESH FIND A CUP OF WHITE TEA?

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While we've all heard how healthy chamomile, black or green tea is for yourhealth, have you heard about white tea? A current hot beverage trend in the West, especially in North America, white tea is gradually emerging in the Indian market. As the name suggests, white tea is not really white in colour. It is a very pale yellow type of tea and its leaves are long and pointed. Also, white tea is considered to be the most expensive tea in the world. 
What is white tea? White tea is the most perfectly formed leaves and buds all in a single bush. They need special care and effort to be grown. Early spring is supposed to be the best time to grow white tea. This tea is not fermented or steamed the way other tea leaves are — they are left to dry carefully in the shade, where the sun would shrivel and blacken them while starting the fermentation process. White tea is said to have a very delicate fruity flavour and an exceptional aroma with low caffeine content while being rich in antioxidants. Origin: White tea originated in the 1700s in the Fijuan region of China. In 2000, a study came out about white tea and its growing popularity in the West. This study launched white tea in the international market and encouraged tea producers in India and Sri Lanka to start growing and harvesting white tea. The process: White tea is a light oxidised tea which is grown and harvested in China, Taiwan and northern Thailand. It comes from the buds and leaves of the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves and buds are allowed to wither in natural sunlight before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation. The leaves of white tea are steamed and slowly dried. Unlike green or black tea, white tea is not rolled. The tea takes its name from the silver fuzz that still covers the buds, which turns white when the tea is dried. Health benefits: This tea prevents cancer, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, protects your heart, makes your bones stronger, clears your skin and delays the signs of aging.