Stash Mutan White Tea
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Stash Mutan White Tea

It seems that green tea isn't the only tea with powerful health benefits. According to researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, white tea might have the strongest potential of all teas for fighting cancer, especially colon cancer.

White tea is a very rare, expensive connoisseurs tea that is only produced in China, mainly Fukien (Fujian) province, famous for its prized white teas. It is difficult to obtain as production is xtremely limited.

White tea comes from a rare strain of the tea plant and is harvested only a few days of the year. Once harvested, white tea is not oxidized or rolled, but simply withered and dried by steaming.

Researchers speculate that the processing of tea determines its cancer fighting potential. Because white tea goes through the least amount of processing, it theoretically has the most polyphenols (as some polyphenols are oxidized or destroyed during processing). These polyphenols have been linked to cancer prevention. While experiments have been conducted on laboratory rats, more studies are needed in order to determine whether white tea protects humans against cancer.

Mutan White or White Peony is made from the leaves of the "Dai Bai" or "Big White" bush and mixed with buds from the "Shui Hsien" or "Water Sprite" tea plant. The leaves have silver tips and are predominantly greenish-brown in color and very flat. The buds are lustrous, soft and ilvery. Its name, a literal translation from the Chinese, probably comes from the very pale color of its liquor.

In the Song dynasty, Tea Emperor Hui Zong wrote that "white tea has the rarest and most delicate flavor and is different from all others".

The taste of Stash Mutan White tea requires an experienced palate already initiated into the subtle, exquisite flavors of green and oolong teas. This tea has a flowery aroma and brews to a pale golden cup with a mellow taste and a hint of sweetness.

Tip: When brewing Mutan White, be sure to add a little extra to your infuser as it is very fluffy and light. However, do not fill the infuser more than half full, as the tea needs room to infuse properly.