White tea history goes back several hundred years (around 960 AD). Back then, in China's Song Dynasty, white tea was a beverage of the royal court. It would be a real bummer for today's tea drinkers to travel back to that period since white tea was only given to the Emperor as an expression of gratitude.
I guess it was considered a wonderful beverage! And guess what, they were right. Even back then people knew white tea was special, but in a different way as we know it today.
Instead of the loose leaf variety of present time, back in the year 960 the leaves and buds were grinded into powder. It wasn't until around 1885 that this method was abandoned for the more common whole leaf.
Silver Needle white tea was one of the first varieties of white to make an appearance. Soon after different kinds like White Peony were also born. Both these teas are considered the best!
White tea destroyed an Empire!
One Song Emperor, Hui Zong, became so attached of finding the perfect white tea, he lost most of his Empire. This Emperor however was known for his love of this beverage...but would you give up an Empire for it?
White tea history moves forward...
White tea, for many hundreds of years, was only known to people in China where it was grown and remained invisible to the outside world for quite a long time. It wasn't until the early 1900's that the British learned of this tea type, and started producing it in India, giving birth to the Darjeeling and Assam varieties.
Over the years white tea history would catch up to it as more and more discoveries about its health benefits started to emerge. Like green tea, white tea is loaded with these remarkable benefits, and that helped publish it to the world.
Today white tea is found in tea bags at local supermarkets (which I recommend against!), in bottles as a cold refreshment, and of course sold as loose leaf (the true way to enjoy!) at many online and offline outlets.
So as you sip that cup of white tea, think to yourself that at one time this beverage was fit for only an Emperor! Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy it that much more :)
