Green Tea vs. White Tea Antioxidants and Health Benefits

Many studies have shown that white tea leaves retain antioxidants in much higher concentrations than green tea does – in fact, studies have shown that white tea has a concentration of antioxidants that is three times higher than in green tea. For another comparison, one cup of white tea contains approximately twelve times as much antioxidants as fresh orange juice. Essentially, white tea contains nearly the same concentrations of antioxidants as the young and fresh tea leaf buds that are still attached to the bush. Overall, this makes white tea have the highest antioxidant content of any tea, and is the main reason many people have begun drinking white tea.

So we know that white tea trumps green tea in terms of antioxidant content, but what about other healthy properties? In 2004, a study at Pace University showed white tea had more anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities than green tea  – remarkably, it’s especially effective at killing the bacterium which causes tooth decay.

Moreover, one study examining the composition of brewed green and white teas found that white tea contained more gallic acid (a potent anti-oxidant with anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties) and theobromine (an alkaloid that causes vasodilatation, or blood vessel widening, which can help increase circulation).

Finally, as white tea is made out of young leaves and buds, it has a higher concentration of the amino acid theanine (which has relaxation-inducing and mood enhancing properties) than green and black teas which are made from older leaves.