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Article: What is White Tea?

What is White Tea?

What is White Tea?

Ever wondered, “White tea? So… are the leaves actually white?”

Spoiler: Not exactly! It gets its name from the tiny, silvery fuzz coating the leaves—like they’re rocking a fluffy white sweater. Top-tier white teas, like Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needles), are even cuter: plump little buds swaddled in that fuzz, looking like they’ve been dusted with powdered sugar.

Now, how’s white tea different from its tea buddies? Let’s just say it’s the chillest in the crew. Other teas go through all sorts of drama: Green tea hits the “stop” button with a quick roast (no fermentation here), black tea gets a good rubdown to speed up fermentation, oolong even does a little “shake” to halfway ferment… White tea? It’s like, “Meh, let’s keep it simple.” Pluck the leaves, lay ’em out to dry gently (no roughhousing), then give ’em a light bake. That’s it. No extra steps, no overcomplicating—total “go with the flow” energy.

And that laziness? It’s a superpower. White tea tastes like a sip of fresh-picked mountain goodness—sweet, clean, no bitter bite. The brew? A soft, sunny yellow, clear as light through a glass. So yeah, white tea’s the “no-makeup, no-filter” star of the tea world. Natural, easy, and totally charming—just the way it is.

Whisked Matcha (Usucha)

If you want maximum goodness—antioxidants, L-theanine, chlorophyll—go classic usucha (thin matcha). No frills, just pure tea.

Ingredients

  • 2 g ceremonial-grade matcha
  • 60 ml water at 60–80 °C

Steps

  1. Sift matcha into a wide bowl.
  2. Add water and whisk in a quick W/M motion for ~20 seconds until frothy 

Sparkling Matcha

Cold, bright, and fizzy. Cold whisking preserves the fresh, grassy notes and gives matcha a crisp twist. 

Ingredients

  • 3 g matcha
  • 30 ml hot water (60–80 °C)
  • 120 ml warm or frothed milk (dairy or plant)
  • Optional: a touch of agave or maple

Steps

  1. Sift matcha, add water, whisk smooth (no clumps).
  2. Pour in milk; sweeten to taste.

Matcha Latte

Smooth, creamy, and gently sweet—the latte balances bright green flavour with milk for a comfort sip. Not sure which milk? See Best Milk for Matcha Lattes.

Ingredients

  • 2 g matcha
  • 120 ml sparkling water
  • Ice, lemon slice or yuzu (optional)

Steps

  1. Whisk matcha directly with sparkling water until smooth and vibrant.
  2. Add ice and citrus if you like.
  3. Enjoy it. Optional: sweeten to taste