Since the balsam pear is only a flavoring in balsam pear white tea, you will obtain the health benefits of this tea from the white tea itself. White tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, as black and green tea, but it is made from young leaves or buds that are only minimally oxidized. White tea has many potential health benefits, although more research is needed to confirm them.
Antioxidants
White tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG; epicatechin, or EC; epigallocatechin, or EGC; and epicatechin gallate, or ECG, which are all types of polyphenol antioxidants. These antioxidants are associated with blocking free radicals that might be responsible for DNA damage and cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. They also exhibit benefits against UVB radiation and for the immune system.
Research
A 2009 study by Kingston University in London found that small amounts of white tea had a significantly beneficial effect on numerous health conditions. In the study, the antioxidants in white tea showed the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. They fought enzymes that go after elastin and collagen and lead to aging of the skin. Further, white tea was associated with helping rheumatoid arthritis.
Caffeine
White tea has less caffeine than coffee and black tea. It contains about 32 to 37 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce serving size. In the same serving size, black tea contains 42 to 72 milligrams of caffeine and coffee contains 72 to 130 milligrams. Although caffeine is associated with certain health benefits, it can also cause heart palpitations, trouble sleeping, tremors, headaches, nausea and other symptoms.
Considerations
White tea might have more health benefits than black, oolong and green teas from the same plant, according to Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute. This is due to the fact that white tea is less oxidized and processed than the other forms of tea. In the Institute’s June 2000 study on this idea, it found that white tea had more antioxidant activity that fought off cancerous lesions in rats better than green tea. However, more research is needed on the subject.
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