What Is White Tea? A Detailed Guide to Its Shelf Life, Storage Methods, and Benefits

What is white tea? Many friends may have this question. White tea is a lightly fermented tea and a traditional famous tea created by Chinese tea farmers. It is one of China's six major tea categories. It refers to a tea that, after picking, is not subjected to fixation or rolling, but is processed only by sun-drying or drying over a low fire. So how long can white tea be stored? How should it be stored? And what are the benefits and effects of white tea?

I. What is white tea?

White tea is the oldest and healthiest tea category in China, and is called the treasured “aristocrat” among the six major tea categories. White tea, as the name suggests, is named because both its name and its liquor color are like silver and white as snow. Fuding in Fujian, China, is the main producing area of white tea; in addition, Zhenghe, Jianyang, Songxi, and other places are also producing areas of white tea. It is understood that more than 60% of the country's white tea output comes from Fuding, Fujian, hence the term Fuding white tea. Because most white tea is an export variety, most of it is sold abroad, and only a very small amount of white tea is sold domestically. This has led many Chinese tea drinkers to not even know what kind of tea white tea is.

II. How long can white tea be stored? How should it be stored?

We all know that the longer white tea is stored, the higher its medicinal value, so generally, if white tea is stored well, it can be kept for a long time. Therefore, when storing white tea, we should pay attention to its storage methods. White tea should be stored at low temperature and away from light. Now let us look at several of its storage methods:

1. Canister storage method: Store the white tea leaves in a tea canister to prevent them from being crushed. For the choice of tea canister, tin canisters are best, followed by iron canisters and paper canisters, and the seal must be good.

2. Charcoal storage method: First, take an appropriate amount of charcoal and put it into a small cloth bag, place it at the bottom of the tea canister holding the white tea, then arrange the packaged tea leaves in layers in the canister, and seal the jar opening. The charcoal should be replaced once a month.

3. Refrigerated storage method: Seal the tea leaves well in a bag or tea canister, and store it in a refrigerator. The temperature should preferably be 5°.

4. Thermos storage method: Put the white tea leaves into a newly bought thermos and seal it well.

5. Quicklime storage method: Wrap quicklime in a cloth bag, and at the same time seal and package the tea leaves well. The tea leaves should be sealed and packaged and kept away from items with strong odors. Note that the quicklime bag should preferably be replaced once every 2 months.

III. The benefits and effects of white tea

1. Refreshing

White tea leaves contain caffeine, and caffeine can act on the human nervous system, making people excited and achieving a refreshing effect.

2. Sterilization

Substances such as caffeine in white tea leaves can react with proteins in bacteria, coagulate them, and thereby kill the bacteria, achieving a sterilizing and anti-inflammatory effect.

3. Lowering blood lipids and blood pressure

Certain components contained in white tea leaves can promote fat breakdown, regulate blood sugar balance, lower blood lipids and blood pressure, and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

4. Anti-radiation

Related studies show that white tea also has an anti-radiation effect.

At the same time, white tea also helps with heatstroke prevention, detoxification, treating toothache, cancer prevention, and diuresis.