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Nutrition and daily life

White tea: the least processed tea

White tea is made from the young buds and leaves of the tea bush with minimal processing. Its taste is gentle and its colour pale. This section covers white tea and how to drink it during treatment.

Last updated: ~1 min read
White tea: silvery buds
Figure 1.White tea: silvery buds.

01Short answer

White tea is made by simply withering and drying young buds. Its taste is delicate and slightly sweet. Its caffeine content depends on the variety and is not always low. In ordinary amounts it is generally safe. During neutropenia choose sealed packs and brew with boiled water. White tea is not a treatment; no special benefit has been shown.

02Simple explanation

White tea is young buds.

Minimal processing: withering and drying.

Caffeine is not always low.

Its taste is gentle and pale.

03Scientific explanation

Processing: white tea is not heated or rolled, only withered and dried, so its polyphenols remain in a different form.

NCI: it has not been shown in people that tea prevents or treats cancer.

MedlinePlus: about 400 mg of caffeine a day is generally considered safe for adults; during treatment watch your sleep and heart rate.

04What happens in the body?

Varieties

The best known are Silver Needle (buds only) and White Peony (buds and leaves).

Young buds on a bamboo tray.
Figure 2.Buds wither naturally.

Brewing

Boiled water that has cooled a little, to keep the delicate taste.

Straw-coloured white tea in a glass teapot.
Figure 3.A pale, delicate tea.

Safe brewing

Freshly boiled water, a clean teapot and a fresh brew. During neutropenia avoid cold tea that has stood for hours.

Iron and medicines

Drink tea about an hour after meals; do not take extract capsules without your doctor.

05Brewing: four steps

Sealed pack, fresh brew, right temperature, drink hot.

Sealed pack — Dry place.1Sealed packDry place.
Fresh brew — Not old cold tea.2Fresh brewNot old cold tea.
Right water — Boiled.3Right waterBoiled.
Drink soon — Do not keep.4Drink soonDo not keep.
FlavourTradition.
FluidsA warm drink.
SafetyBoiled water.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
VarietiesThe best known are Silver Needle (buds only) and White Peony (buds and leaves).
BrewingBoiled water that has cooled a little, to keep the delicate taste.
Safe brewingFreshly boiled water, a clean teapot and a fresh brew. During neutropenia avoid cold tea that has stood for hours.
Iron and medicinesDrink tea about an hour after meals; do not take extract capsules without your doctor.

07Key terms

Bud
An unopened young tea leaf.
Withering
Natural loss of moisture from the leaf.
Caffeine
A stimulant.
Polyphenols
Antioxidant plant compounds.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • White tea is the least processed.
  • It can contain caffeine.
  • Choose sealed packs.
  • Brew with boiled water.
  • Capsules only with your doctor.

09Frequently asked questions

Is white tea caffeine-free?

No; the amount depends on the variety, sometimes as much as green tea.

Is white tea healthier than others?

There is no special evidence.

Does this tea treat leukemia?

No. Tea is a pleasant drink, not a treatment.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Is white tea caffeine-free?

  2. Is white tea healthier than others?

  3. Does this tea treat leukemia?

My questions

12Sources

  1. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Green Tea
  2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — About Herbs. Green Tea
  3. MedlinePlus. Caffeine
  4. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Diet Guidelines for Immunosuppressed Patients
  5. National Cancer Institute. Diet and Cancer Risk
  6. World Health Organization (WHO). Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline (2023)
  7. World Health Organization (WHO). Trans fat — fact sheet
  8. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health — The Nutrition Source. Types of Fat
  9. British Dietetic Association. Fat: Food Fact Sheet
  10. British Dietetic Association. Omega-3: Food Fact Sheet
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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