Green vs. White Tea

Lately there has been a lot of hype in the media about the benefits of green tea. Yes, it’s low in caffeine and high in the antioxidants we all love. Yes, it’s highly recommended by popular diet fads, like the Skinny Bitch Diet. But don't let yourself get fixated by green teas; there is a new tea craze on the horizon, white tea, and believe it or not, it offers more health benefits than green tea.

When comparing the two teas, it is important to note, both teas come from the leaves of the evergreen tree Camellia sinensis. The main difference between the two leaves is white tea leaves are harvested at a younger age than green leaves. Although both teas are light in color and undergo little processing, white tea is purer because it does not go through the fermentation process green tea goes through.

Antioxidants

Regardless of the processing method, tea from the Camellia sinensis plant contains polyphenols, the nutrient responsible for tea's health benefits. The less processing a tea undergoes, the more polyphenols it retains. In this case, white tea contains more of teas health benefits. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) test is a popular way to measure the amount of antioxidants in different foods. The studies have found white tea contains three times the amount of antioxidants then green tea and 12-times as many antioxidants as a glass of orange juice.

Flavor

Obviously you want to enjoy your tea, and not everyone enjoys the “grassy” aftertaste associated with green teas. White teas however have a subtler sweeter taste and combines well with fruity flavors.

Caffeine Levels

Some people are concerned with the amount of caffeine in their beverages. The caffeine content of green and white tea is similar, and both contain the amino acid theanine, which has a calming effect that counteracts the stimulating effects of caffeine. However if you are really concerned about caffeine levels and want the drink with the least amount, white tea contains about 5 mg less per serving.