Teas of Plenty
Photo courtesy of Kathleen Daunhauer
Kathleen has recently accepted the role of Provocateur of the Tea Cabinet at Plenty and will be coordinating a carefully edited selection of fine teas that are unique to Plenty, are appealing, and are of premium quality yet not beyond the means of the majority of our customers. This is her first instalment of a new series of articles about the teas of Plenty:
White Teas at Plenty
This month at Plenty we are featuring the lesser known White Teas. We encourage you to sip a cup of tea (preferably white) as you discover why these teas are so rare and the amazing health benefits they provide plus tips on how to brew white tea for your maximum pleasure.
White tea is made from immature tea leaves that are picked shortly before the buds have fully opened in the Spring. The tea takes its name from the silver fuzz that still covers the buds, which turns white when the tea is dried. The exact proportion of buds to leaves varies depending on the variety of white tea. For example, White Peony contains one bud for every two leaves, while Silver Needles, the crème de la crème of white teas, is made entirely from downy buds picked within a two day period in early Spring. After the buds are plucked they are spread on large racks for 2-3 days. The grower watches over the tea as it is a delicate balance between too much and not enough humidity. It is the least processed tea and the most tricky to produce as it is so vulnerable to the weather conditions.
Silver Needle photo courtesy of Kathleen Daunhauer
White teas taste light and delicate with a slightly sweet flavor. White tea lacks the “grassy” aftertaste so often associated with green tea. Studies indicate that white tea is better for you. Undergoing little processing and no fermentation, white tea contains more nutrients and the highest level of antioxidants compared to black or green teas. It has less caffeine then black or green tea, making it a great choice for people wanting to reduce their caffeine intake.
The list of health benefits for white tea is extensive proving what the people of China have long know: tea is good for you. White tea is a free radical scavenger, helping to protect the skin, reverse damage and promote healthy, radiant skin. The antioxidants are so abundant in white tea it tones the entire immune system, protecting against colds, flues and other invaders. White tea also lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol and reduces blood sugar.
Now that we know how rare and how good white tea is for us, lets make sure we prepare it to bring out its best features. White tea leaves are much less dense and compact than other types, which means that you’ll probably want to increase the amount of tea leaves that you normally use. Start by using 2 teaspoons of white tea leaves for every cup (8 ounces) of water. Do a taste test and then add or subtract more leaves as desired. Boiling water can ruin the delicate flavor of white tea. Most experts agree that the ideal water temperature for white tea is between 170 – 185 degrees Fahrenheit (76 to 85 degrees Celsius). For best results, bring the water to a rolling boil and let it sit for up to one minute, then pour the water over the leaves. Steep five to eight minutes. Many tea graders, choose to brew this tea for much longer, as long as 10 minutes, to allow the delicate aromas to develop. Finer teas such as ‘Silver Needle’ will produce more flavor and complexity with no bitterness from a longer steeping time.
Plenty carries the finest of the white teas ‘Silver Needle’ which only contains the buds picked in Spring. We also offer the popular ‘White Peony’ which contains leaves and buds.
- By Kathleen Daunhauer
Last August Plenty’s front display windows featured several paintings by Kathleen Daunhauer. Kathleen is at Plenty on Sundays and Mondays and brings a wonderful creative sense to the store. Her paintings, such as The Bug Lady (below), are evocative and surreal. We are pleased to carry a series of her prints at Plenty.
Kathleen Daunhauer is an artist based out of Victoria, British Columbia. She was born in Victoria and grew up on Quadra Island, British Columbia. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria, where she graduated with honors. Her paintings tell a direct and simple story through an image, while in some of the paintings, the story is composed of fragments and is only really complete in the mind of the viewer. Kathleen currently lives and works from her home in Victoria, B.C.
Bug Lady, by Kathleen Daunhauer