all teas derive from the one plant camellia sinensis. white tea is the least processed of all teas. before the leaves are fully open and are still covered by fine white hair, the finest are picked and harvested from the bush. the leaves undergo very little processing and no fermentation, instead they are left to wither naturally and result in a light floral and sweet flavoured brew. historically white tea was picked for the exclusive use of the emperor and the royal family, as it’s the best of the tea plant. white tea has gained popularity in recent times for its high antioxidant qualities. its properties are significantly lower in caffeine and recent research has indicated that white tea retains the highest level of disease prevention antioxidants known as polyphenols. further studies have indicated that white tea contains more active cancer fighting antioxidants than green tea.