Green tea is light in color because of incomplete fermentation of the leaf. White tea is tea whose leaves are picked before they open fully, when the buds are still covered with fine, white hairs. That, of course, is why it’s called “white” tea. Green tea and white tea come from the same plant, the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The main difference between the two types of tea is that the white tea leaves are harvested at a younger age than the green tea leaves. They both undergo very little processing, though white tea is the least processed of any tea. Green tea is only partly fermented, and white tea is not fermented at all. By contrast, black tea is fully fermented.
Because they are gently treated, green tea and white tea retain higher amounts of their beneficial antioxidants. Studies have shown that white tea has a concentration of antioxidants that is three times higher than that of green tea. White tea contains less caffeine than green tea, about 15 milligrams per serving compared to 20 milligrams per serving for green tea. If caffeine tends to make you jittery, white tea may be the better choice.
White tea has the highest antioxidant content of any tea, which for many is the main reason for drinking it. As a comparison, one cup of white tea contains approximately twelve times as many antioxidants as fresh orange juice. Active ingredients of green tea and white tea, including catechin, theanine, and saponin, work to scavenge active oxygen species in the blood, helping protect the body from harmful microorganisms.
Nutritional Facts : One fusion green and white tea bag provides 0 calories, 0 g carbohydrate, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, and 0 g dietary fiber.
