White tea comes from the same species of plant (Camellia sinensis) as green, black and oolong tea but is processed differently to give it a softer, smoother flavor. Although fewer studies have been done on white tea as compared to green tea, the studies on white tea have shown it to be more effective in preventing certain diseases as well as being an overall healthier choice.
Why White Tea May be Healthier than Green Tea
White tea is produced mainly in China from the Camellia sinensis plant but this particular species contains more buds than leaves. The buds and young leaves are picked, steamed immediately and dried, allowing for the freshest tea possible. The processing of green tea involves the picking of mature leaves that are then steamed or fried and then rolled. The extra processing of the green tea leaves is believed to take away from its health benefits. Researchers from Oregon State University who studied the health benefits of white tea for cancer prevention believe that it is the combination of the young buds and leaves of the white tea as well as the way it is processed that allows it to maintain a higher concentration of polyphenols (catechins) than green tea that protect against some diseases.White Tea and Cancer Prevention
In March, 2000, the first ever study of white tea for cancer prevention was presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society. In the wake of reports on the cancer-fighting ability of green tea, researchers at Oregon State University wanted to find out if white tea possessed the same antioxidant levels as green tea. They tested four different varieties of white tea and found that white tea inhibited DNA mutations, the earliest steps leading to cancer, more effectively than green tea. While white tea has the same types of polyphenols as green tea, it was found that it contained different proportions.Read more at Suite101: White Tea: Health Benefits May be More Effective than Green Tea http://www.suite101.com/content/white-tea-health-benefits-may-be-more-effective-than-green-tea-a245646#ixzz155bsASUF
