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tea bag in mug moody
tea bag in mug moody
Lifestyle

The Benefits of Drinking White Tea You Didn’t Know About

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at HKU chapter.

Winter is coming! That means it’s time for us to fluff up our softest cushions, wrap ourselves in velvety blankets, then clear our minds and get ready to attack our assignments. With a mug of tea by our sides cheering us on, of course. I’d totally recommend white tea as a perfect fit for this job. Not only is the flavor delicate and refreshing, but white tea benefits our health in so many ways as well. Consider this list a shout out to all the good things white tea does for our bodies.

White tea benefits your brain

self aware tea green tea
Meredith Simmons

Finals season may feel like a non-stop rollercoaster ride of stress. Between all the intense library seshes and deadlines, your brain definitely needs to take a breather. What better way to do that than to go for a short tea break? A study on the how white tea benefits the nervous system found that it contained antioxidant properties that work to repair, regenerate and protect pathways in our brains. Every sip of white tea nourishes the hardworking neuro-networks inside our brains, making it the best study fuel ever.

It’s good for hair and teeth

white tea benefits girl smile
Julia Gilman

You are what you eat, ergo, you are what you drink as well. White tea benefits our skin by fighting free radicals that puts us at risk of developing skin cancer, wrinkles, and uneven spots. On top of that, naturally occurring fluoride in white tea benefits our oral health by lowering our chances of developing tooth decay and cavities.

It’s full of antioxidants

thanksgiving cocktails coffee chocolate
Rica Beltran

With looming deadlines and scary but important exams to prep for, the worst thing that could possibly happen now is for you to get sick. If you’re beginning to feel sniffly, a cup of white tea will definitely help. White tea contains antioxidants that attack bacteria and viruses. Still, you should pay attention to how your body is reacting. If your flu symptoms aren’t going away or worsen, then maybe it’s time to visit the doctor.

Side Effects of White Tea

In terms of posing risks to our health, white tea is coming up clean. I still don’t recommend you to drink swimming pools-worth of the stuff, though. On the other hand, something that you should think about when it comes to white tea is how it’s stored. When white tea is being processed, the leaves undergo less treatment compared to other varieties of tea. This means that white tea leaves won’t be able to stay fresh for as long as other types of tea.

If not cared for properly, the white tea leaves won’t exactly go “bad” but they will taste a lot more stale because of oxidization. Make sure you keep the leaves in an airtight container away from sunlight, moisture, heat and fragrant products (like coffee or cooking spices) that might affect their taste. 

Picture this: the scene in Forrest Gump where Bubba lists out ways to cook shrimp. Now replace shrimp with potato. Now replace Bubba with me.