Stash Darjeeling White Tea
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Stash Darjeeling White Tea

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. It is a very rare, expensive connoisseur's tea that until recently was only produced in China. Now a few of the finest tea estates in the Darjeeling region of India have begun production of this exquisite tea. However, it is still difficult to obtain as production is extremely limited.

Darjeeling is a small resort town situated in northwest Bengal, 400 miles due north of Calcutta in the small neck of Indian territory that separates Nepal and Bhutan. Its location at 6500 feet provides a temperate, if rainy climate, and breathtaking views that allow the eye to travel from the scorching plains below, upward over a succession of mountains that culminate with the mighty Kanchenjunga, almost as high as Everest.

Our White tea is produced at the Poobong Tea Estate, which is the pioneer in white tea production in India. The land here is covered with creeks and numerous forests with altitudes from 2000 to 5500 feet. For their Darjeeling White tea the top two leaves and bud are used in this unusually large leaf tea. Great care is taken with this precious White tea which is air freighted to the U.S. after its production.

Recent scientific studies have shown that white tea has many 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. 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.

The taste of Stash Darjeeling White tea requires an experienced palate already initiated into the subtle, exquisite flavors of green and oolong teas. The leaves have silver tips and are predominantly bright greenish - brown in color and quite large and flat. This tea has a delicate aroma and brews to a pale golden cup with a mellow taste and a hint of sweetness.

Tip: When brewing Darjeeling 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.