If you’ve seen white tea on a tea menu and wondered what makes it different from green or black tea, you’re not alone. White tea is a delicate tea made from the young buds and leaves of the Camellia sinensis tea plant, with very little processing after it is picked.
The result is a light-colored tea with a gentle flavor that can be slightly sweet, floral, fruity, or even a little earthy depending on the variety.
White tea is a nice choice when you want something lighter than a traditional black tea. I especially like the idea of serving it for an afternoon tea with a few scones or cookies, or brewing a cup when you have time to sit down and actually enjoy it.
And if the lighter, floral side of tea is what you enjoy most, you’ll also want to explore my Beginner’s Guide to Floral Tea. It’s another fun way to discover new flavors for your teacup.
Let’s take a closer look at white tea and find one you might want to try.
Jump to:
- What Is White Tea?
- What Does White Tea Taste Like?
- Popular Types of White Tea
- How to Brew White Tea
- Can You Add Milk or Sugar to White Tea?
- When Is a Good Time to Drink White Tea?
- White Tea vs. Green Tea
- White Tea vs. Black Tea
- What to Serve with White Tea
- White Tea Party Ideas
- Make It a White Tea Tasting
- More Beginner’s Tea Guides
- White Tea FAQs
- Ready to Try White Tea?
What Is White Tea?
White tea is one of the main types of true tea, along with black, green, and oolong tea. They all come from the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets them apart is mainly how the leaves are harvested and processed.
White tea gets its name from the fine, silvery-white hairs that can be seen on the young tea buds used in some varieties.
The leaves and buds are generally allowed to wither and dry with minimal processing. This helps give white tea its characteristically delicate flavor and pale golden color.
You don’t need to know all the technical details to enjoy it. Think of white tea as one of the lighter and more delicate members of the tea family.
What Does White Tea Taste Like?
If you normally drink a strong English Breakfast or Earl Grey, your first sip of white tea may surprise you.
White tea isn’t usually bold. Instead, its flavors tend to be much more subtle.
Depending on the variety, you might notice:
- Light floral notes
- Gentle sweetness
- Fruity flavors
- Honey-like notes
- Fresh or grassy flavors
- Mild earthy or woody notes
Part of the fun is trying a few varieties and seeing which one you prefer.
If floral flavors are what catch your attention, you may also enjoy my Beginner’s Guide to Lavender Tea, especially if you’re looking for more ways to explore floral flavors at tea time.
Popular Types of White Tea
You don’t need to memorize a long list of white teas before you start drinking them. These are a few of the names you’re most likely to come across.
Silver Needle
Silver Needle, also called Bai Hao Yin Zhen, is made primarily from young tea buds. It’s one of the best-known white teas and has a very delicate, lightly sweet flavor.
This might be a fun tea to serve at a small afternoon tea when you want the tea itself to be part of the experience.
White Peony
White Peony, also known as Bai Mudan, includes both buds and young leaves. It generally has a little more body than Silver Needle while still keeping the lighter qualities associated with white tea.
If you’re trying white tea for the first time, this can be a nice place to start.
Shou Mei
Shou Mei is typically made with more mature leaves and tends to have a fuller flavor than the more delicate white teas.
If you’ve tried white tea before and thought it was almost too light, this might be one to try next.
How to Brew White Tea
White tea is easy to make, but because the leaves are delicate, you don’t want to pour aggressively boiling water over them.
Water that is too hot or tea that is steeped too long can overpower the gentle flavors you’re trying to enjoy.
Here’s a good place to start:
- Heat your water to approximately 175°F–185°F.
- Use about 1–2 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea per 8 ounces of water, adjusting for the size and density of your tea leaves.
- Steep for approximately 3–5 minutes.
- Taste your tea and adjust the steeping time the next time you make a cup.
Different varieties can have slightly different brewing recommendations, so always take a look at the instructions that come with your tea, too.
If you’re new to loose-leaf tea, my guide to How to Make Loose Leaf Tea will walk you through what you need and how to get started.
This is also the perfect place to add my Free Tea Brewing Guide. Keep it handy in your kitchen so you don’t have to remember the different water temperatures and steeping times every time you make tea.
Can You Add Milk or Sugar to White Tea?
You certainly can, but I suggest tasting your white tea plain first.
Because the flavor is so delicate, milk, cream, lemon, or a lot of sweetener can quickly become the main flavor in your cup.
Take a few sips without adding anything and see what you think.
If you’d like a little sweetness, start with a small amount of honey or sugar. You can always add more.
Fruit can also pair beautifully with white tea. Peach, raspberry, strawberry, citrus, and pear flavors are especially nice choices.
When Is a Good Time to Drink White Tea?
There really isn’t a wrong time for tea, but white tea seems especially suited to those quieter parts of the day.
I could see myself enjoying a cup in the late morning when I’m taking a break or in the afternoon with a scone or a few cookies. It’s also a lovely tea to serve when a friend comes over because it feels a little different without being complicated.
White tea is especially nice for a late-morning tea break, afternoon tea, tea with a friend, reading a book, sitting outside on a pleasant afternoon, or enjoying with a light dessert.
Just remember that white tea does contain caffeine because it comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The amount can vary depending on the particular tea, how much you use, and how you brew it.
White Tea vs. Green Tea
White and green tea both come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but they are processed differently.
White tea generally goes through minimal processing and is known for its subtle, delicate flavors. Green tea is heated during processing and can have flavors ranging from grassy and vegetal to sweet, nutty, or toasted.
If you’re curious about green tea, head over to my Beginner’s Guide to Green Tea to learn about its different varieties and flavors.
Another fun idea is to brew one cup of each and taste them side by side. It’s an easy way to discover which flavors you enjoy most.
White Tea vs. Black Tea
You’ll probably notice an even bigger difference between white and black tea.
Black tea is more heavily oxidized, which creates the darker color and stronger flavors we associate with teas such as English Breakfast and Earl Grey.
White tea is much lighter and more subtle.
If you’re normally a black tea drinker, don’t expect white tea to taste like a weaker cup of black tea. It’s really its own experience.
You can learn more about the different varieties and flavors in my Beginner’s Guide to Black Tea.
What to Serve with White Tea
Because white tea has such a delicate flavor, I like the idea of pairing it with lighter desserts that won’t completely take over your cup of tea.
Scones with lemon curd, fresh berries, shortbread, and citrus desserts are all lovely choices. You can also browse my Tea Party Cookies for more ideas. Lemon Lavender Cookies, Lemon Raspberry Cookies, and Rose Shortbread would all look beautiful on an afternoon tea table.
You don’t need a huge menu either. A pot of White Peony tea, a plate of scones, a few cookies, and fresh berries can turn an ordinary afternoon into a simple tea for two.
White Tea Party Ideas
White tea would be such a pretty addition to a spring tea party, Mother’s Day tea, bridal shower, birthday tea, or a simple afternoon with a few friends.
Since white tea has such a light flavor, I would keep the menu fairly simple.
One easy menu could be:
White Peony Tea + Scones + Lemon Curd + Tea Cookies + Fresh Berries
You could even set out two different white teas and let everyone decide which one they like best.
If you’re planning a larger gathering, my Ideas to Plan a Tea Party can help you put everything together. You can also use my Ultimate Tea Party Checklist, so you don’t forget those little details before your guests arrive.
Make It a White Tea Tasting
Here’s another fun idea if you’re having a few friends over: instead of serving just one tea, turn the afternoon into a mini white tea tasting.
Choose two or three varieties, such as Silver Needle, White Peony, and a fruit- or floral-blended white tea.
Brew each one separately and let everyone taste them without adding anything at first.
Talk about what you notice.
Does one taste sweeter? More floral? Fruity? Earthy?
There aren’t any wrong answers, which is part of what makes a tea tasting fun.
Add a small plate of scones, shortbread, or tea cookies, and suddenly you have a simple tea party activity without having to plan an elaborate event.
You could even give everyone a little card to write down the name of each tea and their favorite flavors.
More Beginner’s Tea Guides
Once you start learning about tea, you’ll quickly discover how many different flavors and varieties there are to try.
If you’d like to keep exploring, try one of these Tea Guides next:
You definitely don’t have to learn everything at once. Pick a tea that sounds interesting, brew yourself a cup, and start there.
White Tea FAQs
Yes. White tea naturally contains caffeine because it comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The amount can vary depending on the variety, amount of tea used, water temperature, and steeping time.
White tea generally has a light, delicate flavor. Depending on the variety, you may notice floral, sweet, fruity, honey-like, grassy, woody, or slightly earthy notes.
White Peony is a good place to start because it generally has a little more flavor and body than some of the very delicate white teas. Silver Needle is another classic variety worth trying if you want to compare the two.
Absolutely. White tea can be served hot or iced. An iced white tea with peach, berries, or citrus would be especially nice for a spring or summer tea party.
Yes. White tea is considered a true tea because it comes from the Camellia sinensis plant—the same plant used to make green, black, and oolong tea.
Ready to Try White Tea?
If you’ve always passed over white tea because you weren’t quite sure what it was, now you have a reason to give it a try.
Start with White Peony or Silver Needle, brew it gently, and take a few minutes to notice the flavor before adding anything to your cup. You may discover that you really enjoy having something lighter in your tea collection.
And if white tea has you curious about other delicate flavors, explore my Beginner’s Guide to Floral Tea or Beginner’s Guide to Lavender Tea next.
Until next time, keep life sweet—one cup at a time.
