Camillia sinensis
With the recent studies about how white tea may help with weight loss, let’s not forget the other potential benefits of the “white” version of the Camillia sinensis plant: fighter of infections and cancer.
White tea as infection fighter
Studies conducted at various institutions, including Pace University, have found that white tea extract can hinder the growth of and destroy organisms that cause disease. Some of the organisms include the bacteria that cause staph infections (Staphylococcus), Streptococcus infections, pneumonia, and dental cavities.
When compared with green tea, which is known to stimulate the immune system to help fight disease, research showed that white tea extract was more effective in stopping viruses and bacteria. Researchers also found that adding white tea extract to toothpastes enhanced the antimicrobial ability of the products to fight cavities.
Fungi also apparently cannot hide from white tea extract. Studies show that white tea extract fights two fungi in particular. Both Penicillium chrysogenum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were inactivated after being treated with the extract. Although both of these fungi are beneficial and do not cause disease, the fact that white tea extract disarmed these fungi suggests it can do a similar job on harmful fungi.
White tea extract and cancer
The idea that white tea extract could help in the fight against cancer was first presented at the 219th national meeting of the American Chemical Society nearly 10 years ago by researchers at Oregon State University. Their chemical analysis found that white tea has more polyphenols (catechins), which are beneficial plant nutrients, than other teas.
To test the cancer-fighting abilities of white tea, the researchers brewed four varieties of white tea and performed the Salmonella assay (test), which identifies whether a substance can cause or prevent DNA mutations, the earliest steps that result in cancer. White tea inhibited mutations more efficiently than green tea. Scientists theorized that the higher proportion of polyphenols in white tea may be the reason for its enhanced cancer-fighting potential.
A more recent study (2007) at Ohio University Southern found that white tea helped inhibit proliferation of early lesions in the colon.
More about white tea
White tea belongs to the same species as other tea plants, but it has a greater proportion of buds to leaves. The buds are covered with whitish hairs, which give the tea its name. White tea also differs from other teas in how it is processed. White tea is steamed and dried rapidly, resulting in leaves that are virtually “fresh.” Other teas undergo more and longer exposure to heat and processing.
You can buy white tea online or at the following locations in the Phoenix/Tucson area.
List of tea sources in the Phoenix area
Chakra4Herbs, in Phoenix
Gooseberries, in Phoenix
Mandala, in Scottsdale
Maya Tea Company, in Tucson
Seven Cups, in Tucson; also offers classes
Souvia, in Phoenix and Scottsdale; also offers classes
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