How To Find The Best White Teas & Their Benefits

White tea comes from the same plant as black and green tea. But white tea leaves and buds are picked earlier on in their lifecycle. And they aren’t as processed as green teas and black teas. White tea contains caffeine, although the amount can vary depending on the type of white tea and the brewing method used.

White teas have light, delicate, and sweeter flavors. Plus, because they’re less processed, white tea lovers get even more health benefits like:

• Antioxidants
• Heart health support
• Weight loss
• Dental support
• Cancer-fighting properties
• Lowers risk of insulin resistance
• Bone health support
• Anti-aging properties
• Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s
• Reduced risk of Parkinson’s

The best part is, it’s easy to brew. Make it hot or iced. Brew loose leaf or with tea bags — the choice is yours. And we’ve put together this guide to help you dive even deeper into the world of white tea. Here’s what you’ll learn inside:

We want you to know that we take all of our tea recommendations seriously. We look through all the best-selling teas and read through all the reviews. We only choose teas we know are quality — so you can trust our top picks.

The best white peony teas

White peony is a traditional Chinese white tea (also known as Bai Mu Dan or Pai Mu Tan). It’s slightly oxidized and barely processed. This preserves most of the white peony’s natural nutrients and freshness.

White peony tea leaves are dried and only slightly withered. You may also find the leaves still have whole stalks and branches depending on the brand.

It’s largely known to fight against bacteria and viruses. And lots of white peony lovers use it to aid in fat loss and key health support. Here are some of our favorite white peony brews:

This white peony is a premium, loose leaf organic tea. It has low caffeine levels, making it perfect to drink any time of day. It’s a darker, bolder white tea. But it still has the white peony signature sweetness.

If you’re looking for white peony in a tea bag, this is the brand to try. It’s delicate, crisp, and has slightly nutty flavors mixed in. Enjoy its floral aromas and chocolatey base with any meal.

This sophisticated loose-leaf peony has mellow, sweet notes of honey and grape. It’s a strong-bodied tea that’s been heat dried and slightly oxidized to preserve flavor. Enjoy this organic, low-caffeine tea any time of day.

Rishi’s white peony is slowly air-dried with a mild but full-bodied flavor. It has notes of mellow hay, honey, and nectar. This results in an earthy but sweet flavor profile that pairs incredibly well with food.

The Best Silver Needle Teas

Baihao Yinzhen, or silver needle, is a Chinese white tea. It’s made in Fujian Province and is also called White Hair Silver Needle tea. Although each brand has its own taste, silver needle usually has a fresh-cut hay profile. It’s usually sweet, vegetal, and on the delicate side.

Most silver needle tea drinkers enjoy it because it’s considered the highest grade of white tea you can buy. It’s also typically fermented which offers additional health benefits like:

• Flavonoids
• Antioxidants
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Anti-aging properties

Start turning back the clock with these delicious silver-needle white tea brews:

This silver-tip white tea is available in loose-leaf form. It has low to medium caffeine levels and is organically grown in China. Enjoy its naturally sweet taste with notes of smoke and wood.

The best long-life eyebrow white teas

This special kind of white tea has many names:

• Long Life Brows
• Long Life Tea
• Longevity Eyebrow
• Old Bush Shoumei
• Shou Mei Longevity Eyebrows

It’s named after the shape of its leaves which resemble the eyebrow of the Taoist deity of longevity. It also contains special antioxidants known for their anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. Long-life eyebrow tea is also made from more mature leaves, and it’s considered a rare delicacy.

The next time you’re craving a cup, give these long-life eyebrow white teas a try:

Although long-life eyebrow tea is usually in loose leaves, this brand serves it up in tea bags. This makes it easy to enjoy this delicacy on the go. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy traditional eastern tea with western brewing styles.

Serve Numi’s white tea blend hot or iced — and enjoy it any time of day (or night). It has a slightly floral taste profile and is certified organic. Plus, it’s served in tea bags for easy brewing.

The antioxidant power in this white tea is greater than most green teas. It has a full-body flavor and is hand-picked for taste and freshness. Plus, the brand supports world relief efforts, including orphaned children in China.

The Best Imperial White Teas

Imperial white teas come from leaves grown in high elevation — usually inland mountains. They’re known for their clean, clear tastes and aromas. They’re usually air-dried and withered indoors. This means there’s no leaf rolling or bruising as it’s processed.

Most imperial white teas have a light, somewhat sweet taste. But others can have smoky, woodsy, earthy, or even vegetal flavors. The tastes change depending on where the leaves are grown — closer to the coast or more inland. See if you can tell the difference between these top-rated imperial white teas:

This low-caffeine brew is made from premium white tea leaves grown at high elevations. It’s grown in small quantities and is only available in loose-leaf. Many tea lovers use it to make high-end kombucha or iced tea.

This is another quality loose leaf imperial white tea. It’s a full-bodied brew with a slightly smoky flavor and vegetal notes. If you sip it slowly, you’ll notice its mellow, nutty flavors, too.

This delicious imperial white tea is packed with antioxidants and flavor. It’s 100% natural with no artificial flavors, essences, or oils. Plus, it’s carefully selected by only the best tea connoisseurs.

The best Fujian white teas

Fujian is a region in China where many varieties of white tea come from. It’s famous for its mountains, coastal cities, and teas (white and oolong). Teas from this region are also known as Shou Mei and have:

• Mellow tastes
• Floral and light aromas
• Fruity and woody notes

They’re delicious and we recommend trying these Fujian white teas a try:

This 100% pure white tea has a natural yet extraordinary taste. It’s from the Fujian Province in China and has lower caffeine levels. It’s perfect to drink day or night — and the leaves are hand-selected for quality.

This is another 100% pure white tea and it’s packed in natural, unbleached tea bags. It hails from China’s Fujian Province. And it’s crafted from only the highest quality rare spring buds.

Is white tea caffeinated?

Yes, white tea has caffeine. But it’s lower on the caffeine scale compared to black teas, green tea, and especially coffee. Each 8 oz cup usually has between 15 mg and 30 mg of caffeine. This makes it the perfect tea to drink in the morning, at night, or all day long. However, caffeine levels vary widely based on:

The type of white tea

White teas with lots of buds have less caffeine. For example, silver-needle white teas are made almost exclusively with buds. So it has the lowest level of caffeine compared to other types of white tea.

The brand

Processing and harvesting also affect caffeine levels. And each white tea manufacturer has its own way of processing its tea.

The kind of tea

If you prefer loose-leaf white tea, you likely consume less caffeine. Crushed white tea leaves in tea bags have more caffeine.

Steep temperatures and times

The longer you steep your white tea, the more caffeine you extract. And the higher the water temperature at which you steep, the more caffeine as well.

Final thoughts and top picks

White tea is a popular drink all around the world. It’s delicate, delicious, and packed with tons of health benefits. And after careful consideration, we’ve chosen the following top white tea picks. Check out all the white teas here.

Also, read our other articles about the best teas!
How To Choose The Best Rooibos Tea
How To Choose The Best Yerba Mate Tea
How To Choose The Best Pu-Erh Tea
How To Find The Best Oolong Tea
Ultimate Guide To The Best Green Tea In The World
The Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Matcha Tea
How To Choose The Best Black Tea
Types of Herbal Teas & Their Benefits