The Truth About White Tea's Caffeine Content: Does It Have Any?

Don't you love sipping tea while it rains? It is hard to find someone who does not love tea. Teas have always been acknowledged as one of the favorite beverages of everyone, especially business professionals, as it helps them feel fresh and energetic. If I would ask you ‘Have you tried white tea?’, you would certainly ask me ‘Does white tea have caffeine?’

Caffeine has always been the prime component of tea. However, did you know that caffeine can reduce your immunity? Are you upset thinking that you will have to cut down your tea consumption? Don’t worry! There are various types of teas available in the market with different caffeine levels and health benefits, so you won't have to compromise your health or taste buds.

Don't worry about it; the solution is here, and that is white tea. Many of you might be having questions like, "What is white tea?"; "Does white tea have caffeine?" and much more. So let's get to know more about white tea. 

Jump to:

• What is white tea?
• What are the different types of white tea?
• Does white tea have caffeine?
• How is white tea made?
• How should you drink white tea?
• What are the impressive health benefits of white tea?
• Some interesting facts about white tea
• How white tea is sold and stored?
• Does white tea have more caffeine than green tea?
• Warnings and precautions of white tea
• Frequently asked questions about white tea
• Conclusion
• Comments

What is white tea?

White tea is a minimally processed tea made from the opened buds, and the springtime tea leaves grown in the Fujian state in China. From mid-March to early April, the leaves of the white tea are traditionally harvested. When we brew white tea leaves, they change their color to light gold and release floral fragrances. The floral aroma may differ as per the type of white tea.

White tea leaves are dried under the sun immediately after harvesting and then rolled up slightly. Sometimes heat vents or drying chambers are also used for withering the white tea leaves. It helps to prevent oxidation, gives the tea its light flavor and color, and preserves the antioxidants. The taste of white tea depends on the region where it is grown, it's harvesting season, and how it is preserved and dried after harvesting.

What are the different types of white tea?

There are various types of white tea available in the market, and each has different tastes and characteristics. 

• Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle White Tea) — As the name suggests, it is made from the tea plant's silvery buds and is one of the most expensive white teas. It's a high-quality tea having a mild taste but has more caffeine content than average. Initially, Silver Needle White Tea was exclusively produced traditionally in the Fujian state in China, and now it is produced in other regions of China as well. 

• Bai Mudan (White Peony) — White peony tea is made from the starting leaves of the tea plant and mostly from the first and second consequent leaves of the stem. The leaves used for white peony are young but not as young as the silver needle and have a lower amount of caffeine. As white peony tea is made from both the stems and the buds, it has a stronger taste and darker color than the silver needle white tea.

• Shou Mein (Eyebrow White Tea) — The tea leaves used for making eyebrow white tea consist of leaves that are older than the ones used for making white peony leaves. As a result, they have less caffeine as compared to the other white teas.

Does white tea have caffeine?

Every type of tea or coffee contains some amount of caffeine in it. The caffeine content in white tea depends on the region in which it is harvested. Fujian tea contains less caffeine as it is brewed for a short time. A single cup of white tea can contain 6 mg of caffeine, whereas a single cup of coffee may contain 80 mg to 200 mg of caffeine. As it contains a low amount of caffeine and is brewed for a short time, it doesn't cause as much acidity as black tea and coffee.

Initially, white tea was grown only in the Fujian province of China, but is now harvested in Darjeeling in India and also in other regions of the world where tea plants are grown. The caffeine levels in the white tea may differ as per the area where it's grown, and the white tea plants grown outside of China seem to have more caffeine in them.

How is white tea made?

White tea is made from the closed buds of the Camellia Sinensis tea plant. These plants grow at high altitudes of mostly 5000-6000 feet above sea level. The cold air that surrounds the plants increases the aromatic compounds of the plants. To extract the flavor from the white tea leaves, very little processing is done. There are three steps for producing white tea. So, let's have a look.

• Plucking — High-quality white tea is made from the unopened buds and the first leaves of the tea plant. Buds are plucked from the tree at the early stage of their growth. The quality of the tea depends on the conditions when the shoots are plucked. 

• Withering — Withering is the process of letting the leaves dry for a specific period. The buds of tea plants with or without leaves are spread on the withering pans to dry them for 72 hours. Some white tea producers in the underdeveloped regions wither the white tea leaves in the natural sunlight. Sometimes the tea leaves are rolled slightly with hands to extract the flavor from the leaves. When the white tea is made from the buds, this rolling process is usually avoided.

• Drying — When the leaves are withered for an extended period, then their moisture dries up. So, to maintain the quality of white tea and bring the moisture back in the leaves of the tea plant, they are withered or dried in the oven at the temperature of 110°C. Drying the leaves will bring down the moisture content in the tea to less than 1%.

How should you drink white tea?

White tea has to be brewed at a low temperature to maintain its quality and sweet aroma. To boil the tea leaves, take clean and pure distilled water that is not boiled yet. Ideally, the water boils quickly, so keep a watch on it and make sure that it doesn't become too hot. Mostly, white teas need a maximum of five minutes to bring the floral aroma to the drink. Some of the white teas of different varieties may become bitter-tasting if boiled or brewed for an extended period, or even if the water is too hot.

The amount of tea leaves required for a cup of tea depends on the tea leaves. If the tea leaves mixture contains large and compact buds, then a teaspoon of the mixture will be sufficient for an eight-ounce cup of tea. If the tea leaves mixture contains large open and lightweight leaves, then a tablespoon of leaves will be enough for a single cup of tea. Adding sugar is not needed for your tea; but, if you want to add some sugar, then first taste and then add it as per your preference.

What are the impressive health benefits of white tea?

There are various scientifically-proven health benefits of drinking white tea over black or green tea. Read further to know how it is beneficial to us.

1. Is rich in antioxidants

White tea contains catechins, a type of polyphenols that are plant-based molecules that act as antioxidants inside the body. These antioxidants prevent the radicals from causing harm to the cells.

White tea can be attributed as one of the best teas that can fight these radicals and has similar health benefits to green tea. The white tea powder prevents the inflammation in the skin cells caused by the radicals.

2. Reduces the risk of heart disease

Heart disease is one of the common medical conditions faced by most people these days. White tea contains antioxidants known as flavonoids, which prevent the growth of cancer cells and stop the development of new cells.

3. Helps to lose weight

White tea has some similar properties to green tea, which can be beneficial for losing body fat. As very few people know about white tea, they prefer green tea over it. White tea stimulates the breaking down of fat present in the body and also prevents it from forming again. It also helps you to boost the metabolism of your body by 4-5%.

4. Protects the teeth from bacteria

White tea contains a combination of molecules like fluoride, tannins, and catechins, which help strengthen teeth, protect them from cavities and make the surface of the teeth resistant to the acid attack by the bacteria.

5. Prevents skin aging

The consistent part of aging is wrinkles or fine lines, as well as looser skin. There are usually two types of aging, internal and external aging. The polyphenols and catechins found in white tea may help protect your skin from both internal and external aging.

In internal aging, certain enzymes or radicals of the body may damage the fiber network of the skin, which helps the skin remain firm and tight. Whereas in external aging, the skin is damaged due to environmental factors like the sun's harmful UV rays. 

Some interesting facts about white tea

Here are some of the interesting facts about white tea that very few of you might know. 

• White tea was exported from China in 1891 — China had invented white tea in 1857 but only started exporting it to other countries in the world in 1891.

• White tea is the least cooked tea — As we know, all types of tea leaves have to undergo certain processes before they are packed and delivered to our doorstep. But, white tea doesn't undergo such processes. It is only withered in the sunlight or withering pans for 72 hours so that the leaves become mature.

• White tea is slightly oxidized — White tea is withered for an extended amount of time, and so it is slightly oxidized from the process.

• White tea can be brewed at high temperatures — Experts recommend that the delicate green teas have to be brewed at 70-80°C. Ah! That's not true for white tea. White tea has to be brewed at high temperatures as the buds are thick, and it takes quite a long time to soak in the flavors.

How white tea is sold and stored?

White tea is sold as full leaves, in the form of teabags, and occasionally in the form of bottled iced tea. High-quality white tea is also available in the form of whole leaves. It is stored in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place and away from the direct sunlight. You can store white tea for six months to one year; even after a year, the white tea won't decay, but it may lose some of its flavor and taste.

Does white tea have more caffeine than green tea?

White tea is considered to have a low amount of caffeine, but this isn't true in every case. Sometimes the caffeine content of white tea can be higher than green tea or black tea. Even though all types of teas are made from Camellia sinensis, the caffeine content varies based on the different factors.

Factors influencing the caffeine content in tea are:

• Growing conditions
• Time of harvesting
• Method of harvesting
• Type of tree
• Processing method
• Brewing method

It is a bit difficult to estimate which tea has a high level of caffeine. But you can guess which tea has high caffeine based on its leaves because the teas that have small tea leaves have higher amounts of caffeine than the big mature leaves. Also, the season in which the tea leaves are harvested determines the amount of caffeine it has. A study has shown that white peony tea and silver needle tea have more caffeine than Chinese green tea.

Warnings and precautions of white tea

Each type of tea contains caffeine. Everybody is aware that too much caffeine is not suitable for our health, so here are a few precautions that might help you if you love drinking white tea.

If you drink too much white tea, then you might experience dizziness and fast heart rates. To avoid these adverse effects, it's recommended not to drink more than two to three cups of white tea each day.

White tea contains some amount of fluoride in it, as it is absorbed from the soil. Fluoride is a mineral that is used for strengthening the teeth. Although it is not harmful if taken in small doses, over-consumption of fluoride might cause fluorosis, a bone disease similar to arthritis.

If you drink white tea made from high-quality leaves, then the chances of having fluorosis decreases, but it is not eliminated.

When any comparison is made in terms of fluoride, then white tea is the best choice as it contains less fluoride. The young buds and leaves contain less amount of caffeine in it, and the reason for this is the time of its harvesting. Black and green teas are harvested when the leaves grow older, whereas, for the white tea, the leaves or buds are harvested when the tea leaves are small and young.

Frequently asked questions about white tea

1. Does white tea make you sleepy?

Yes, if you drink white tea in large quantities, then you might feel a bit sleepy within an hour of its consumption. White tea has little amount of caffeine, and if you have zero tolerance for caffeine, you may feel drowsy.

2. What is silver needle white tea good for?

Silver needle tea has a large number of antioxidants and therefore can fight anti-aging. Moreover, it helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and it also helps to improve eyesight.

3. Is white tea antiviral?

Researchers have found that white tea extract inactivates the viruses and slows down bacterial growth that causes strep infections, cavities in the teeth, and pneumonia.

4. Why is silver needle tea so expensive?

Silver needle tea is manufactured from the single tip of the tea stem, and when it dries, it looks like silver needles; therefore, it is very expensive compared to other tea.

5. How many times can you steep white tea?

White tea can be steeped 2-3 times, but the white tea changes its flavor every time you steep it. You will have to increase the water temperature and the steeping time every time you brew it.

Conclusion

White tea is one of the healthiest and beneficial teas in the world. Though it is rare and expensive, it has a good quality taste, and its floral aroma is mind-blowing. It has various health benefits, and also the antioxidant characteristic is beneficial for the skin.

I hope this article 'Does white tea have caffeine?' has given you clear insights into white tea, facts about white tea, its impressive benefits, and much more.

So which type of white tea would you like to try? If you are drinking white tea for the first time, share your experience with other readers in the comments section below.