Q. What is white tea? Cris, R.

A. White teas are harvested and picked before the buds have opened fully and still have a fine white hair on them, hence the name. And just like green tea, white tea undergoes very little processing and no fermentation. Sometimes the buds are even shielded from sunlight to prevent the formation of chlorophyll. It contains the least amount of caffeine than the other teas and some studies show that it also has more active cancer fighting antioxidants than green tea. Because it is scarcer than the other traditional teas, this tea can be quite a bit more expensive. To enjoy white tea it is best steeped in water that is just below boiling point.