Verzameling: Witte thee

White tea holds a unique position among teas because it undergoes minimal processing, preserving more of the tea plant's natural compounds than any other variety. All true teas (white, green, oolong, and black) come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but what distinguishes them is how the leaves are processed after harvest.

For DRUERA's white teas, the journey begins with hand-picking the youngest tea buds, typically harvested before sunrise in Sri Lanka's high-altitude tea regions (ranging from 2,200 to 2,500 meters elevation). Only slightly curved buds, just over 2.5 centimeters and covered with fine silver or golden hairs, are selected. This careful harvesting is labor-intensive: approximately 5 kilograms of fresh buds go into making just 1 kilogram of finished Silver Tips tea.

After harvest, the processing is remarkably simple. The hand-plucked buds are rolled by hand to create their characteristic curved shape, then left to wither and dry naturally in the shaded sun. This gentle sun-drying prevents oxidation while maintaining the leaves' natural flavor and compounds. There's no steaming, pan-firing, rolling, or extended oxidation like other teas undergo. The entire process is designed to preserve the tea in its most natural state.

This minimal processing matters significantly for health benefits. Because white tea skips the oxidation step that creates black tea and the heat processing that characterizes green tea, it retains a higher percentage of polyphenols, the naturally occurring antioxidants found in fresh tea leaves. Studies comparing different tea types have found that white tea can contain up to three times more of certain beneficial polyphenols than green or black tea. The catechins remain largely intact, particularly the powerful antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which has been extensively studied for health benefits.

The result is a tea with an exceptionally delicate, subtle character. Where black tea is robust and malty and green tea can be vegetal or grassy, white tea offers soft floral notes, natural sweetness, and a smooth finish without bitterness. The liquor ranges from pale ivory to soft gold, and the flavor is so naturally pleasant that most people enjoy it without any additions.

Ceylon white tea, specifically from Sri Lanka's highlands, is celebrated globally for its exceptional quality. The combination of high altitude, careful hand-processing, and ideal growing conditions produces white teas that command premium prices in international markets and are sought after by tea connoisseurs worldwide.

Silver Tips and Golden Tips represent two distinct grades of Ceylon white tea, and understanding their differences helps you choose the one that best suits your preferences.

Silver Tips Tea is made from very young, unopened tea buds known as the "imperial pluck." These buds haven't yet unfurled into leaves and are covered in fine, silvery-white downy hairs that give the tea its name and create a shimmering appearance when light catches the dry buds. The processing involves drying these delicate buds in shaded sunlight to preserve their pale silver-white color. The resulting brew is extremely light and refined, with a pale ivory to soft golden liquor. Flavor-wise, Silver Tips delivers delicate floral notes reminiscent of fresh wildflowers, a subtle honey sweetness, and an exceptionally smooth, silky mouthfeel with virtually no bitterness. It's the more delicate of the two options.

Golden Tips Tea uses tender buds that have been processed slightly differently to develop their characteristic golden color. While still handpicked from the same young buds, the withering and drying process allows them to develop warm golden tones rather than the silvery white of Silver Tips. The tea produces a liquor with warm undertones and slightly more depth than Silver Tips, though it remains light-bodied compared to other tea types. The flavor profile includes subtle sweetness with a clean finish and gentle floral aromatics, but with marginally more body and complexity than its silver counterpart.

Choosing between them:

Choose Silver Tips ($47 loose-leaf, $40 tea bags) if you prefer the most delicate possible tea experience, enjoy subtle flavors and appreciate nuance, or want the "purest" expression of white tea. The Silver Tips is the more traditional choice for those who value refinement over intensity.

Choose Golden Tips ($57 loose-leaf, $54 tea bags) if you want a white tea with slightly more depth while maintaining elegance, prefer warmer flavor notes, or find extremely delicate teas too subtle for your palate. The Golden Tips offers a bit more to grasp onto while remaining firmly in white tea territory.

Both teas deliver the same exceptional health benefits associated with minimally processed white tea. The choice truly comes down to flavor preference. If you're new to white tea, you might start with Golden Tips for its slightly more approachable character, then explore Silver Tips once you've developed appreciation for white tea's subtlety.

DRUERA offers both varieties in loose-leaf and tea bag format. The loose-leaf versions allow the buds to fully expand during steeping for maximum flavor extraction and are ideal for the traditional tea experience. The tea bags provide convenience without sacrificing quality, using biodegradable pyramid bags that give the delicate buds room to infuse properly.

White tea offers an impressive range of health benefits, largely stemming from its minimal processing which preserves the highest concentration of beneficial compounds found naturally in tea leaves.

Antioxidant content stands out as white tea's primary health advantage. Because white tea is the least processed variety, it retains more polyphenols, particularly catechins like EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), than green or black tea. Research has found white tea to have particularly powerful "radical-scavenging" effects compared to other tea types. These antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules linked to aging, chronic inflammation, weakened immunity, and various diseases.

Heart health benefits from white tea's catechins in several ways. Studies show that catechins may help improve cholesterol profiles by reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol while supporting healthy HDL levels. The polyphenols also help relax blood vessels, improving circulation and potentially helping maintain healthy blood pressure. One analysis found that people drinking three or more cups of tea daily enjoyed a 21% lower risk of heart disease.

Skin health and anti-aging properties are particularly notable. White tea polyphenols, especially catechins and EGCG, have been shown to block enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for skin's firmness and elasticity. Research found that white tea applied to skin helps protect against UV damage, while internal consumption provides antioxidants that fight the free radicals contributing to premature aging. Studies suggest white tea may help slow signs of aging, reduce inflammation from conditions like eczema, and promote clearer, more even skin.

Metabolism and weight management may be supported by white tea's combination of caffeine and catechins. A German study found white tea extract both decreased growth of new fat cells and increased breakdown of existing fat. Research suggests white tea may boost metabolism by approximately 4-5%, which could translate to burning an extra 70-100 calories daily.

Other benefits include support for dental health (catechins fight plaque bacteria while fluoride strengthens enamel), bone health (catechins may suppress cells that break down bones), immune function (antimicrobial properties help fight infections), and blood sugar regulation (polyphenols may improve insulin sensitivity).

Brewing for best results:

White tea requires gentler treatment than black or even green tea. Using water that's too hot will damage the delicate leaves and create bitterness.

• Water temperature: Heat water to 65-80°C (149-176°F). Let boiling water cool for 2-3 minutes, or use a temperature-controlled kettle. Never use boiling water directly on white tea.
• Steep time: Start with 1-2 minutes for a lighter brew, extending to 3-5 minutes for more intensity. White tea is very forgiving and rarely becomes bitter even with longer steeping.
• Amount: Use 1-2 heaping teaspoons of loose-leaf tea per 200ml (6-8 oz) of water.
• Water quality: Use filtered or spring water for best flavor. Avoid distilled water which can taste flat.
• Re-steeping: High-quality white tea like DRUERA's can be steeped 2-3 times, with each infusion offering slightly different characteristics.

Caffeine note: White tea contains caffeine (approximately 15-55 mg per cup depending on brewing), but typically less than green tea when brewed properly at lower temperatures. The presence of L-theanine provides calm focus rather than the jittery energy some experience from coffee.