THE UNSUNG BENEFITS OF WHITE TEA

So by now I'm sure you've heard all the hoopla surrounding green tea and all of its health benefits. Among those tested clinically are:
*Weight loss/increased metabolism
*Immune system support
*Tooth decay prevention
*Cancer prevention (especially skin cancer)
etc., etc., etc.,

Green tea is awesome and it tastes great (try Goji Berry Green Tea from Yogi Teas, very yummy), but did you know that the lesser known White Tea possesses all of these qualities and more??

White tea is freaking amazing! Real white tea (Yin Zhen, or silver needle, READ LABELS! It may say white but it might not be the good stuff) is the least processed of all teas. Basically it is harvested and then dried in the sun... that's it. No chemicals, just antioxidant goodness!

Because of the limited processing and the nature of white tea (it is technically the tea buds before they sprout, therefore they have all of the antioxidants a full grown leaf needs but over a smaller surface area) it has more EGCG (yep, the antioxidant in green tea that boosts metabolism) and higher catechin levels (another antioxidant that helps prevent cancer) than any other tea.

White tea also has less caffeine than green tea, about 1/3 the amount in a cup of coffee. Too much caffeine can mess with your metabolism and lead to adrenal insufficiency, aka it can make it harder for you to lose weight in the long run, making white tea a great option for dieters.

I drink white tea like crazy for the health benefits and because it has such a mild and sweet flavor. Rishi Tea's silver needle is pretty good and you can add stevia to your cup to naturally sweeten it if you want more flavor.

The only downside to White Tea: the cost. It is only able to be harvested 2 days a year in a small province in China, hence making supplies limited. Trust me, the health benefits are worth every penny, but if you're tight on cash like I am in this current economy, you can also try cheaper versions (non-silver needle) that include tea leaves and white tea buds in combination. Similar health effects for a lot less moolah!