Vietnamese white tea is a high-value tea with a delicate flavor. In the past, white tea was served to the imperial rulers only. White tea is hand-harvested for a short period and less processed than other types of tea. Due to its delicate nature, Vietnamese white tea tends to be more expensive and contains less caffeine.
Let’s explore Vietnamese white tea a bit further in the article below!
Contents
1. Origins of Vietnamese white tea
It is believed to have first appeared in the Tang and Song Dynasty, where there was a custom of offering fine tea as a tribute to the Imperial ruler. There is very little documentation on white tea origination in Vietnam. It is known that Vietnamese white tea grows in the Giang River (Yen Bai Province) and Hoang Su Phi District (Ha Giang Province). The local Hmong people in the region harvest tea buds by climbing to the top of the old tea tree.
Vietnamese white tea comes from highland areas with cool temperatures. Because of its origin, tea leaves contain many compounds that bring various health benefits. The tea leaves are harvested annually in March and April when the weather is not rainy or humid. It is the reason why white tea is rare and has a great taste.
2. Characteristics of Vietnamese white tea
The visible whitish appearance is the unique characteristic of white tea. Its name, therefore, is derived from the leaves’ outer appearance. Because people collect white tea when buds are unopened and covered with soft, silvery-white hairs, which help protect the shoots from pests and UV rays.
Processing white tea is quite simple, making it the least processed out of all Vietnamese teas. Firstly, farmers will pick only the young buds and maybe one or two leaves at the tip of branches. Then they will lay the leaves and buds on bamboo trays to wither for several hours to help tea retain its natural flavor.
Although the production of Vietnamese white tea is simple, it has an abundance of flavors. It has a bright yellow-colored drink with a very delicate and naturally sweet taste with a slightly acrid taste. White tea is perfect for a morning and afternoon drink.
Find out other Vietnamese tea with white appearance, click here: Vietnamese Snow Shan tea
3. White tea production process in Vietnam
While Vietnamese green tea and black tea are allowed to be exposed to oxidation through different methods, white tea is minimally processed so that much less oxidation occurs.
White Tea Making Process: Green Bud → Withering (72 hrs) → Drying (110°C/65°C)
When buds are plucked, they are spread out in the sun or in a carefully monitored outdoor or indoor environment to wither. This step draws moisture from the cells to the surface and allows the fermentation process to begin. The drying step stops the natural fermentation and further develops the flavor of white tea. Since oxidation is not supported manually, Vietnamese white tea has a subtler and more delicate flavor than green and black tea.
4. Vietnamese white tea benefits
White tea can provide many health benefits as it contains many antioxidants and active ingredients such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins.
Firstly, Vietnamese white tea is packed with polyphenol, which is a plant-based molecule that has antioxidant benefits. Thus, it can protect our bodies from damage caused by free radicals. Several known health issues linked to free radicals include aging, chronic inflammation, and weakened immune systems.
Besides, polyphenols found in white tea can help reduce the risk of heart disease, insulin resistance, and osteoporosis.
Secondly, white tea is a good source of EGCG and caffeine. EGCG is known for its synergistic effect that can help the body to burn fat and thus assist in losing weight. EGCG is also good for preventing diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Thirdly, white tea provides catechin, tannins, and fluoride that can improve enamel strength, prevent cavities and plaque growth on the surface of teeth.
Finally, white tea can help decelerate skin aging. Applying white tea to the skin can slow the aging process by protecting it from harmful UV rays. Some studies have shown that polyphenols in white tea can suppress cellular components that may damage the fiber network, helping shield the skin from premature aging.
There is only a small amount of caffeine in white tea. It is estimated that the amount of caffeine contained in white tea is 15% less than in green tea. Therefore, white tea is a good option for anyone who wants to reduce the intake of caffeine.
Related post: Does Vietnamese lotus tea have caffeine? Facts you should know
5. How to brew white tea correctly
Vietnamese white tea is the most expensive type of tea. Unlike other types of tea, white tea’s delicate flavor can easily be ruined by improper brewing. Thus, it is important to know how to brew white tea.
Step 1: Water Preparation
To bring out the subtler flavor of white tea, you should use only spring water or filtered water. Tap water from wells or transported by copper pipes should be avoided as the strong scent competes with the delicate flavor of white tea leaves. Besides, you should not use boiling water to brew white tea. It is much better to leave boiling water to cool for around 5-8 minutes before pouring it over white tea leaves.
Step 2: Tea Preparation
Use two teaspoons of white tea buds for 6 ounces of water or two tablespoons of white tea leaves for the same amount. When you combine both tea buds and tea leaves, use around 1.5 tablespoons of white tea for every 6 ounces of water.
Step 3: Tea Steeping
Before steeping tea, you should pre-warm the teacup by pouring a small amount of boiling water into the teacup and then tossing it out. White tea can be steeped from at least one minute to five minutes to the maximum, depending on the taste you want to achieve.
Click here for more information about How to make Vietnamese tea – A guideline to enjoy our tea easily!
6. The best Vietnamese white tea supplier
Future Generation Company (FGC) was founded in 1996 and is now a leading tea manufacturing and trading company in Vietnam. We proudly own many famous tea farms in Northern Vietnam, where the atmosphere and soil nutrients are perfect for growing the best tea trees.
We have invested in tea cultivation, applied modern machines to the making of tea so far. We also bring top-tier experts to provide our customers with the best products and large amounts of tea.
FGC has a variety of services, from selling different types of tea to helping customers to develop their private label teas. We ensure that our customers always get the best products and services at competitive prices.
In addition to producing white tea, FGC can provide you with some different teas, such as black tea, green tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, flower-scented tea, and specialty tea. Our manufacturing capabilities have been growing tremendously over the years, from having only 1 tea factory to owning 15 factories, allowing us to serve nearly 20,000 tons of tea to customers in over 50 countries worldwide.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via either:
- Website: https://vietnam-tea.com/contact-us
- Email address: info@vietnam-tea.com
- Phone number: +84 24 73 000 125 or +84 24 6664 7788
If you are interested in buying tea from us, we are happy to support and consult you with the best solution for your requirements. You can find not only the highest quality tea but also the best packaging development and tea blending service for your company.
Our sales consultants will help you with the buying process, which is summarised in the graph below:
After receiving your inquiry, we will contact you to clarify your requirements and provide samples and quotations to you.
When you have been fully satisfied with our samples, we will discuss different options for packaging, logistics, payments, etc.
Once you are ready, we will sign a contract and start producing tea for you! We truly appreciate your interest in our company and look forward to working with you.
Vietnamese white tea is a precious tea with a special flavor. If you want to import the best Vietnamese white tea for the market, contact FGC today!
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