White Tea

White tea undergoes minimal processing, so it’s better defined by what it is not.  The only deliberate action taken upon the tea leaves is a slow and methodical drying to reduce moisture and achieve a desired aroma and flavor.  It is not “fired” like green tea, so varying degrees of oxidation (the process that defines black tea) will happen incidentally.  It is also the only type of tea without any rolling or shaping of the leaf, so white tea leaves tend to be bulky and have the more rustic appearance of dried leaves (because that’s what it is).