Since the Song Dynasty (420 BC), this special tea had been reserved for the Emperors of China. If any lesser mortal tried to get hold of a little white tea they paid for it with their life.
Even today it is a scarce commodity. It is only harvested one or two days a year, usually in springtime and only when some rather special circumstances prevail. They choose a day with a shady light, a temperature of 18� C (64� F) and they pick only the most tender buds on the youngest shoots. These buds are covered with fine white hairs, which are what give the tea its name.

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Then a final selection of the buds is made in which as little as 3 kilos of every 25 kilos harvested may be used. The drying period may last as long as three days, and that is all the processing the buds undergo. It is this minimal processing which makes white tea so different from other types of teas and preserves its natural benefits so well.

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A multitude of benefits:
Chinese emperors believed that, as well having the power to relieve tiredness, delight the mind and strengthen the will, white tea was the elixir of immortality.
It is a great aid to combat water retention, it stimulates blood circulation, oxygenates your skin, and lifts your spirits.

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Here�s a tip: keep a cupful of white tea to use as a facial tonic. Applied after a peeling it closes the pores, leaving the skin velvet smooth and radiant. And not only that, you can use it after a tanning session, either natural or artificial, as a tanning enhancer to bring out the colour of your tan. However, don�t forget to use a sun screen too.
Perhaps this tea�s most important property is its unusually high concentrations of polyphenols, three times more than green tea, which help our bodies� defence mechanisms and inhibit oxidisation caused by free radicals. One American research institute is even studying white tea as a potential agent to prevent cancer. Experts claim it has the anti-oxidising properties of 12 glasses of orange juice.

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Dosage, preparation and price
You should have a cup of this light coloured, slightly fruity tea three times a day. One at breakfast time, another before or after lunch and the last one just before you go to bed, recommends Jos� Merino, tea expert and owner of the specialised shop BOMEC (Tel. 915 31 16 15). He goes on to assure, Don�t worry about it keeping you awake since it has a very low caffeine content.

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The way to prepare it is quite straightforward. Put two spoonfuls of tea per cup in a teapot, heat up some water and, just before it comes to the boil, pour it onto the tea. Let it stand for five to ten minutes before serving. You can sweeten it with almond milk or honey, but the best way to enjoy its subtle flavour is by having it by itself. Beware of imitations! BOMEC imports genuine Yin Zhen white tea and will send it to any city in Spain. But quality comes at a price: a kilo costs 697.17 euros (116,000 ptas.), 100 grams comes out at 69.72 euros (11,600 ptas.). Though there is also a more affordable variety, Bai Mu Dan white tea which costs 63.11 euros (10,500 ptas.) a kilo.

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In cosmetics too:
Since this January it has also been possible to enjoy white tea as a facial lotion, thanks to the Est�e Lauder laboratories. A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian, by Origins, is a silky light emulsion which creates an impenetrable protective barrier over your skin, keeping it safe from stress, pollution and other damaging environmental factors. Its price is 36 euros (5,990 ptas.). You can find it on Est�e Lauder stands in the El Corte Ingl�s stores of Diagonal (Barcelona), Preciados (Madrid), Princesa (Madrid) and Castellana (Madrid). Don�t be surprised to see white tea (for drinking) among the cosmetic products on display, since Origins is marketing it at the same outlets. A 35 gram box of Silver Tip White Tea costs 22.00 euros (3,660 ptas.). And it's the genuine article.

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