Best White Tea Brands Reviewed and Compared
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White tea is a lesser known tea that’s mild in taste but mighty in health benefits.
From harvesting in China all the way to your teacup, white tea is minimally processed, making it one of the purest and healthiest teas you can find. The tea leaves and leaf buds are among the newest on the Camellia sinensis plant, giving white tea a fresh, delicate taste.
The health benefits of white tea range from cardiovascular health to body composition, so this mild tea should be a staple in your health-conscious cabinet. With high antioxidant properties and anti-cancer capabilities, white tea is the super tea we didn’t know we needed…until now.
If you’re looking for a light and healthy drink to start off your morning, white tea may be the beverage of choice for you. It’s low in caffeine and potentially boosts more health benefits than other teas.
- Tealyra
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Our rating - Silver Needle Leaves
- Price: See Here
- Triple Leaf Tea
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Our rating - White Peony Leaves
- Price: See Here
- Prince of Peace
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Our rating - 100 Servings
- Price: See Here
White tea is unique from its siblings, black and green tea, because of the specific part of the Camellia sinensis plant that is used. Genuine white tea uses the young leaves and leaf buds to brew a mild tea, but some tea manufacturers may not use genuine white tea leaves.
We’ve researched and narrowed down the best white teas based on many factors, including quality, value, and brand. We prioritized white teas that contain Silver Needle or White Peony leaves, as these are the highest quality and highest grade white teas. Organic white tea may also be a superior option because they aren’t sprayed with harmful pesticides that alter the sweet, nutty taste of white tea.
For the best selection of white teas available, check out our top white tea recommendations below and stick around after the reviews for in-depth information on white tea facts and health benefits.
10 Best White Teas & Brands
1. Tealyra – Organic Jasmine White Tea
Tealyra’s Organic Jasmine White Tea is the only product on our list that is verified Silver Needle, the highest grade of white tea. The young tea leaves and leaf buds are uniquely combined with jasmine essence for a light tea with sophisticated floral notes. Because of the unmatchable quality, it’s the Editor’s Choice on our list.
Best White Tea Brand
The name Tealyra represents the company’s mission to create a constellation of the very best teas. They are a global business with one of the widest selections of tea in the industry.
Quality
Being a verified Silver Needle white tea, this product is among the best quality white teas on our list. It’s infused with jasmine for a deeper flavor, but still has the health benefits and smooth tea properties of a pure white tea. It’s organically grown in Fujian China, boosting the level of quality due to authenticity.
Value
Tealyra’s Organic Jasmine White Tea contains 4 ounces of loose leaf tea, which is significantly less than other white teas. However, this product is organic and Silver Needle, so the quality makes it worth the value.
- Silver Needle
- Organic
- Contains jasmine
- Grown in Fujian China
- Rich in antioxidants
- Beneficial for people with osteoporosis
- All-natural ingredients
- Luxurious blend
- More expensive option
- Contains only 4 ounces
2. Triple Leaf Tea – White Peony Tea
Triple Leaf Tea starts with high quality White Peony tea leaves and leaf buds to create a luxurious white tea that has a golden color and slightly sweet flavor. The company adopts ancient Chinese traditions to preserve authenticity in order to bring a tea that was once reserved for royalty to the everyday tea lover.
#2 White Tea Brand
Triple Leaf Tea is a Chinese-American family-owned business that specializes in a variety of teas. They use ancient and modern day Chinese herbalism to create their tea formulas.
Quality
The White Peony tea leaves and leaf buds in this white tea come from the Fujian province in China, where traditional white tea is grown according to tradition. This is a pure white tea with no added ingredients or flavors. Due to the traditional nature of this product, it’s a high-quality white tea with Chinese roots.
Value
Each order contains six boxes of 20 servings for a total of 120 servings. This is a great value for those who want to stock up on a high-quality, pure white tea.
- White Peony
- Contains 120 servings
- All-natural ingredients
- Family-owned business
- Recycled packaging
- Formulated according to tradition
- Mild taste
3. Prince of Peace – Organic White Tea
Prince of Peace uses Peony White Tea, which is one of the highest grades of white tea, in this product. The leaves are hand-picked in China during peak Spring season for maximum freshness. It’s 100% organic and contains 100 servings, making it the Best Value on our list. Each cup has three times more antioxidants than green tea and contains notes of honey, chestnut, oak, and vanilla.
#3 White Tea Brand
Prince of Peace is a leading company in gourmet products, supplements, and herbal products. The company is built on the ethical principles of the Christian faith, so customer service and respect are among the company’s top values.
Quality
This product uses one of the highest quality sources of white tea – Peony White Tea. It’s only harvested during the Spring in China’s Fujian province, so this product is very exclusive.
Value
Despite being high in quality, this product is priced affordably. For 100 servings, this product is less expensive than comparable products. This product is a great value.
- Organic
- Contains 100 servings
- Peony White Tea
- Tea bags are individually wrapped
- Low in caffeine
- Flavor is very mild
4. Numi – Organic Orange Spice Tea
Numi flavors its white tea with organic herbs, orange peel, and berries for a smooth blend with notes of citrus and spice. The company has high standards, so all the ingredients are pure, organic, and fair trade, and the packaging is recyclable and sustainable. Numi vows to use 100% real ingredients, so their tea doesn’t contain any perfumes or flavorings.
#4 White Tea Brand
Numi manufactures exclusively organic tea because they believe it’s better for the environment, the farmers, and the consumers. Their tea is full leaf, which brews a smooth, rich flavor when steeped.
Quality
Numi uses full leaf quality organic tea in all their herbal products. Because their products are flavored naturally with tea leaves, they don’t add any artificial or natural flavors to their already flavorful products. With pure, organic, and fair trade ingredients, Numi is among the high quality white tea manufacturers.
Value
Each bag of Numi Orange Spice white tea contains one full pound of tea leaves, containing many servings. For the generous supply and high quality, this tea is priced accordingly, although it’s slightly more expensive than other white tea blends.
- Organic
- Full leaf tea
- Pure ingredients
- Fair trade ingredients
- Non-GMO
- Kosher certified
- Sustainable packaging
- Low in caffeine
- Contains 1 pound of tea
- Loose leaf
- Slightly more expensive
5. Uncle Lee’s Tea – Organic White Tea
The organic aspect of this tea is important to Uncle Lee’s Tea consumers because of the use of harmful pesticides. Uncle Lee’s Tea is 100% organic and uses all-natural fertilizers instead of artificial pesticides. This preserves the pure flavor of the white tea. This product contains 100 servings of organic, pure white tea, so it’s both high in quality and value.
#5 White Tea Brand
Uncle Lee’s Tea combines Eastern and Western traditions for high-quality tea that can be enjoyed globally. Their manufacturing process ensures that tea is packaged without sacrificing quality or tradition.
Quality
Uncle Lee’s Organic White Tea is high in quality because it’s organic and free of pesticides.
Value
With 100 servings per container and an affordable price, this white tea is one of the best value. Uncle Lee’s Organic White Tea is ideal for someone who wants to purchase organic white tea in bulk.
- Organic
- Pesticide free
- 100 servings
- Affordable option
- Low in caffeine
- Gluten free
- Kosher certified
- Taste is very mild
6. Harney & Sons – Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea
Harney & Sons take a unique approach to white tea by infusing the tea leaf buds with green tea and jasmine flowers. This gives the tea a floral aroma and unique flavor. Each leaf bud is hand rolled into pearl shapes by local women in the Fujian province, giving the tea a luxurious look. Since it contains green tea, it contains more caffeine than other white teas.
#6 White Tea Brand
Harney & Sons is a family-owned business founded by John Harney, a luxury tea lover, published author, and creator of the official line of teas requested by the Historic Royal Palaces of England. Their mission is to create high-quality tea that serves as an everyday luxury for tea lovers.
Quality
This brand creates a line of fine, luxury teas, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the highest quality white teas on our list. The hand rolled pearl shape and the addition of jasmine essence make this tea blend a true rarity.
Value
Each tin of Harney & Sons Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea contains 20 servings, which is to be expected of a luxury tea brand. This product is priced according to the high quality and unique blend, but it’s not a very affordable option.
- Contains jasmine
- Leaf buds are hand rolled into pearls
- Kosher certified
- Made by a luxury tea brand
- More expensive option
- Contains 20 servings
7. The Republic of Tea – Emperor's White Tea
The Republic of Tea has crafted one of the rarest teas in the world. Hand plucked only two days out of the year, the white leaf buds are pulled right before the leaf opens for a complex, sweet flavor. This white tea is one of the least processed, rich in antioxidants, and boosts many health benefits. With 50 servings per container, this product is high in both quality and value.
#7 White Tea Brand
The Republic of Tea emphasizes a sip by sip lifestyle, rather than gulp by gulp, to truly savor their tea. They have won many awards for their airtight tins, and they are a socially and environmentally responsible company.
Quality
This tea is grown and hand-plucked in the Fujian Province in China for authentic white tea, making it a high-quality option. The ingredients are pure, and the brand even uses unbleached tea bags.
Value
Containing 50 servings per container, The Republic of Tea Emperor’s White Tea is fairly priced and a good value. Despite being a very rare tea, only yielding leaves two days out of the year, it’s still affordable.
- Hand-plucked leaf buds
- Rare tea blend
- High in antioxidants
- Low in caffeine
- Contains 50 servings
- Unbleached tea bags
- More expensive option
8. Vahdam – Himalayan Imperial White Tea
Harvested on the foothills of the Himalayas, this loose leaf white tea is one of India’s finest. These tea leaves are grown in very small quantities, so drinking Vahdam white tea is a luxury. Most white teas are grown in the Fujian province of China, where white tea is traditionally harvested, but Vahdam Himalayan Imperial White Tea is a tribute that high-quality white tea can be grown anywhere in the world.
#8 White Tea Brand
Vahdam is known as India’s global tea brand because they ship to more than 80 countries and have been a strong presence in the industry for more than 80 years. Their products are ethical, fair trade, and direct to consumer.
Quality
Vahdam white is among the best quality white teas on our list because the tea leaves are grown in the Himalayas. However, the manufacturer discloses that this is not Silver Needle white tea, so it’s not the best quality possible.
Value
This product contains 1.76 ounces of loose leaf tea, which makes approximately 25 cups. For the Himalayan origins and the length of supply, this product is a good value.
- Harvested in the Himalayas
- Grown in India
- Vacuum packaged for freshness
- Low in caffeine
- Contains 25 servings
- Fair-trade
- Loose leaf
- Untraditionally harvested
9. Twinnings of London – Fujian Chinese White Tea
For more than 300 years, Twinnings of London has been creating master tea blends for a nation of tea lovers. Their white tea is 100% pure and grown in the Fujian province in China. They are a leading brand in the United Kingdom for their high-quality yet affordable herbal teas, and their white tea is no exception.
#9 White Tea Brand
Established in the 18th century, Twinnings of London is one of the oldest tea companies in the world. Ten generations of the Twinnings family have grown the company to a go-to resource for tea lovers.
Quality
With pure ingredients – exclusively white tea grown in the Fujian province in China – this product is great quality. Many white teas are blended with other teas and flavors, but this is pure white tea.
Value
This is an affordable brand of white tea that doesn’t sacrifice quality. While other brands supply more than 20 servings per container, Twinnings of London manages to keep prices low for everyone to enjoy.
- Pure ingredients
- Affordable option
- Made in the Fujian province of China
- Family-owned business
- Contains only 20 servings
10. The Tao of Tea – Imperial White Tea
This tea is believed to be a favorite among tea purists for its golden brew, mellow flavor, and Fujian Chinese origin. The Tao of Tea works with tea growers that practice the traditional style of hand processing tea that has been preserved for centuries. The tea offers notes of chestnut with a flavor that’s smoky, nutty, and vegetal.
#10 White Tea Brand
The Tao of Tea is a pure leaf company with a focus on sourcing the best tea leaves possible. High quality tea leaves are only harvested seldom times per year, so The Tao of Tea makes quality first priority.
Quality
The minimal processing of this product makes it very high quality. The tea is harvested by hand in early Spring in the Fujian province of China, making it a tea that holds true to authenticity and tradition. With pure white tea ingredients, this product uses young tea leaves and buds for a classic take on white tea.
Value
This product is fairly priced and on par with comparable products. The quality of this tea makes it an even better value.
- Pure leaf blend
- Contains 30 servings
- Made in Fujian China
- Uses sustainable farming methods
- Products are fair trade
- Loose leaf
- Slightly more expensive
All About White Tea
White tea has been grown and enjoyed in China for more than a thousand years, and it’s finally making its way to the rest of the world.
As the name suggests, white tea is made from the white or silver hairs on the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves and leaf buds on this plant also make black and green teas, but white tea is the least processed out of them all.
What differentiates white tea from other teas that stem from the same plant is the low level of processing and harvesting the plant while it’s still young.
Before the leaf buds on the plant are fully open, the fine hairs and buds are plucked for tea. To make white tea, they are then thoroughly steamed to inactivate the enzymes and dried out. (1)
Because white tea is the least processed tea that comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, it’s believed to be the most nutritious.
Different Types of White Tea
There are five main types of white tea: Silver Needle, White Peony, Longevity Eyebrow, Tribute Eyebrow, and Fujian New Craft.
Silver Needle and White Peony tea are the highest quality and therefore the most popular.
Made from only the leaf buds of the Camellia sinensis plant, Silver Needle is the most expensive and highly sought white tea. The entire process is plucking the leaves during early Spring, left out to wilt, and dried out. It’s the least processed and the highest grade, but it’s also the most rare.
White Peony is made from unopened bud plus several of the plant leaves. Because of the addition of the leaves, White Peony has a stronger flavor than other forms of white tea. It’s more common than Silver Needle but considered lower in grade.
Most white teas are non-oxidized, but Longevity Eyebrow is slightly oxidized using the leaves that are leftover after the Silver Needle and White Peony tea leaves and buds have been plucked. This type of white tea is often compared to oolong tea for its appearance and taste.
Tribute Eyebrow is similar to Longevity Eyebrow in the curled shape and dark color of the leaves. It’s a lower grade white tea than the others, consisting of young leaves and no leaf buds.
In the sixties, a new type of white tea emerged – Fujian New Craft. Manufacturers wanted to increase overall white tea production, so the tea leaves are withered, slightly rolled, and dried on a grand scale. The leaves are darker and the flavor is stronger than other white teas.
The different types of white tea depend on how the tea leaves are harvested, the age of the leaves when they’re plucked, and the time of year or season when the leaves are ready. But white tea also differs based on what flavors are added to it. There are endless possibilities when it comes to combining these unique types of white tea with other common tea ingredients, such as other tea leaves, dried flowers, etc. Pure white tea with no other ingredients is the most common way to brew white tea, but by adding some other flavors, the different blends of white tea are limitless.
Different Blends of White Tea
While most white teas are pure, some white teas are blended with other teas or ingredients for a more sophisticated flavor profile.
Jasmine is commonly combined with white tea because the flavors complement each other nicely. The subtle, smooth flavor of the white tea pairs effortlessly with the floral aroma of jasmine essence and jasmine flowers.
Since white tea comes from the same plant as green and black teas, white tea may also be paired with another type of tea. This usually results in a higher caffeine concentration and a bitter, bold flavor.
White tea is extremely mild, and many people opt for white teas that are more flavorful. This is why white tea blends are popular among tea enthusiasts.
You can buy white tea pre-blended with other ingredients, or you can blend your own loose leaf white tea with other ingredients. There are infinite combinations, making white tea one of the most versatile teas. You can base your tea combination on flavor or the benefits you want to promote, such as adding peppermint to your white tea to aid in digestion. Even if you drink white tea with no added ingredients, it’s still pleasant in taste and packed with health benefits.
5 Main Health Benefits of White Tea
Because white tea is significantly less processed than green tea, it’s believed to have the same, if not more, health benefits. This is pretty impressive because white tea is generally very mild due to the young tea leaves and leaf buds on the Camellia sinensis plant.
Even though white tea is mild, it’s mighty with these 5 main health benefits:
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Rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants are important in the body because they fight off cell-damaging free radicals. (2) This is essential for skin health as well as overall body health. (3) The antioxidants in white tea come from a type of polyphenols called catechins, which have anti-cancer, immune-boosting, and antioxidative properties. (4, 5)
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Protect against osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, the hollowing of bones, is exacerbated by oxidative stress and free radical damage. (6) The catechins in white tea are believed to inhibit the progression of osteoporosis because white tea is linked to higher bone density. (7, 8, 9)
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Improves cardiovascular health
White tea has been shown to help reduce LDL cholesterol levels and lower the risk of coronary heart disease. (10, 11, 12) The polyphenols in white tea act as powerful agents that prevent cardiovascular disease by releasing antioxidants to prevent free radical damage and limiting the effects of cellular aging. (13, 14)
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Could prevent cancer
Test-tube studies on cancer cells have shown that white tea may kill cancer cells. In one study, several types of lung cancer cells were killed by white tea extract. (15) Other studies show that white tea can stop the progression of colon cancer cells. (16, 17)
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Aids weight loss
Green tea is extremely popular and effective for aiding in weight loss, but its sibling – white tea – may be even more helpful in aiding weight loss. This is because white tea contains a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is linked to burning fat and preventing new fat cells from forming. (18) White tea can also boost metabolism by an extra 4-5%. (19)
These are just some of the many health benefits of white tea. If you want to boost your overall health by simply enjoying a cup or two of tea per day, then investing in a high-quality white tea is a good place to start. Because white tea has the potential to be extremely high in antioxidants and other health properties, you want to make sure you choose from the best white teas on the market. Not sure how to choose a high-quality white tea? We’ve got you covered–just keep reading.
How to Choose the Best White Tea
There’s no denying the greatness of white tea, but when it comes down to it, there are a few key characteristics to choosing the best white tea.
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Flavor
White tea is very mild, which makes it a great option for people who are new to drinking tea. If you’re an experienced tea drinker, you may prefer a white tea blend that contains a wider flavor profile.
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Caffeine
White is naturally low in caffeine. However, white tea blends containing green tea are slightly higher in caffeine. You should keep this in mind when choosing your white tea.
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Origin
Most whites originate from the Fujian province of China, which is the most traditional and authentic place that grows white tea leaves. Silver Needle and White Peony tea are more likely to be grown here, too, but they’re more rare.
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Price
White tea is very affordable, but some of the luxury tea brands are slightly more expensive than others. Pure white tea can also be purchased in bulk for a more affordable option.
Decision Time
When choosing from the 10 best white teas on the market that we’ve curated on our list above, you can’t go wrong.
To make your decision a little easier, consider why you want to introduce white tea into your lifestyle. If you’re new to drinking tea, opt for a budget-friendly white tea. If you’re an experienced connoisseur, try a more luxurious tea blend that offers a fresh take on a favorite classic.
Whichever white tea you choose, your body will thank you for the added health benefits and your taste buds will thank you for the new experience.
