What Scents Go Well With White Tea?
Introducing White Tea
White tea has a long and storied history, with origins tracing back thousands of years to the tea plantations of China’s Fujian province. According to Wikipedia, white tea may have first been produced during the Song Dynasty between 960–1279 AD. The name “white tea” comes from the fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives the dry tea a whitish appearance.
In terms of flavor, white tea is known for its subtle, delicate taste. It lacks the grassy vegetal notes of green tea and the rich, bold flavor of black tea. Instead, white tea offers a smooth, lightly sweet flavor with floral and fruity notes. Common tasting notes include honey, melon, peach, apricot, vanilla, and jasmine. The flavors are often described as clean, pure, and refreshing.
Drinking white tea has been associated with numerous health benefits. Studies have shown that white tea contains antioxidants and polyphenols that may help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and promote heart health. The antioxidants in white tea may also have anti-aging effects by protecting cells from damage. Overall, white tea offers a light, pleasant drink that allows one to enjoy both flavor and potential wellness benefits.
Floral Scents
White tea is often paired with floral essences like jasmine, rose, lavender and chrysanthemum to gently highlight the floral notes in the tea’s natural scent profile. The delicate, aromatic taste of white tea beautifully complements these light floral flavors.
Jasmine is one of the most popular scents used in white tea blends due to its sweet, yet exotic fragrance. The delicate jasmine blossoms are layered with the white tea leaves during processing, allowing their aromas to intermingle (source).
Roses also make an excellent pairing for white tea. Their sweet, floral essence blends harmoniously with white tea’s inherent sweetness and light character. Rose petals can be added to white tea either loose or in sachets to gently infuse the tea with their lovely fragrance.
Lavender’s soft, soothing floral scent combines beautifully with white tea as well. Its calming aromatherapy qualities complement white tea’s inherent relaxing properties. Together they create an herbal tea blend ideal for unwinding anytime of day.
Chrysanthemum is another popular floral pairing that blends especially well with white peony tea. Its slightly grassy, mellow floral notes marry perfectly with white tea’s natural sweetness and subtle floral character (source).
Citrus Scents
Citrus flavors pair wonderfully with the delicate flavor of white tea. The brightness of citrus complements the subtle sweetness and mellow flavor profile of white tea. Popular citrus fruits to mix with white tea include: [1]
Lemon – The tartness of lemon matches well with white tea’s mild flavor. Adding lemon can accentuate the sweetness of white tea. Try adding some lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice to your cup of white tea. You can also make a lemon white tea blend by mixing dried lemon peel with white tea leaves.
Orange – Like lemon, orange offers a nice burst of acidity to balance white tea’s mellow profile. Sweet oranges like navel or cara cara pair especially nicely. Add orange zest, orange peel, or orange blossoms to white tea for a lovely citrus aroma. An Earl Grey white tea blend uses bergamot orange oil for its distinctive citrus character.
Grapefruit – The characteristic bittersweet flavor of grapefruit goes well with white tea’s inherent sweetness. The tart grapefruit flavor helps cut through white tea’s delicate nature. Try adding some grapefruit zest or a few drops of grapefruit essential oil to your white tea. For a grapefruit white tea blend, combine white tea with dried grapefruit rind. [2]
Fruity Scents
The subtle flavor of white tea pairs well with light, fresh fruits like berries, peaches, and apricots. According to the Wild Foods article “What to Mix With White Tea“, white tea works well with any fresh fruit, but peaches, raspberries, and pears are some excellent choices.
Berries, with their tart sweetness, complement the delicate flavor of white tea. Try pairing white tea with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries for a refreshing fruit-infused cup. The light astringency of the berries balances the smooth, mild taste of white tea.
Sweet peach also goes nicely with white tea’s mellow profile. Peach white tea can be made by simply adding some sliced peaches to a pot of hot white tea, letting it steep for a few minutes to infuse the flavor. For stronger peach taste, use peach juice or puree instead of sliced fruit.
Apricots have a similar sweet-tart flavor that pairs nicely with white tea. Dried apricots can be simmered in hot water to make an apricot-infused tea, or fresh apricots can be sliced and added directly to a cup of white tea.
Minty Scents
Two of the most popular minty scents to pair with white tea are peppermint and spearmint. The fresh, cooling flavor of mint beautifully complements the delicate, floral notes of white tea. According to one study published in BioMed Research International, the combination of white tea and peppermint demonstrated enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33058206/). Peppermint and white tea is an energizing and uplifting blend, while spearmint lends a sweetness that rounds out white tea’s subtle flavors.
Peppermint and spearmint contain menthol, which provides a cooling, tingling sensation. This works well with white tea’s inherent mildness. The mint adds an extra dimension to the tea while allowing the delicate white tea flavor to still shine through. Fresh mint leaves can be muddled directly in hot white tea for maximum flavor and aroma. Dried mint leaves or a few drops of mint extract also pair nicely with white tea.
Mint is also commonly blended with white tea in desserts and baked goods. Think white chocolate mint cookies or white tea cakes with mint frosting. The possibilities are endless when pairing white tea’s floral finesse with mint’s refreshing zest.
Spicy Scents
White tea pairs exceptionally well with warming and vibrant spices like ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. The delicacy of white tea allows the spices to shine through without being overpowered. According to https://whiteliontea.com/pages/tea-pairings, the sweet flavor of white tea helps balance out spicy notes. The teas work together to create a beautiful harmony of flavors.
Ginger is one of the most popular spice pairings with white tea. The zesty, pungent taste of ginger root complements the gentle grassy taste of white tea. Add freshly grated ginger or a ginger syrup to white tea for a refreshing and soothing beverage. Ginger also aids digestion, making it a wise choice for drinking white tea after meals.
Cardamom is another excellent choice for spicing up white tea. The complex flavor profile of cardamom features spicy, smoky, and sweet notes that intermingle beautifully with white tea’s delicate body. Lightly crushed cardamom pods can be simmered along with the tea leaves to infuse the brew. According to https://www.wildfoods.co/blogs/wild-blog/what-to-mix-with-white-tea, a dash of cardamom enhances the flavor of white tea latte recipes as well.
No list of white tea spices would be complete without cinnamon. This warm, aromatic spice adds subtle sweetness and a touch of heat. Cinnamon sticks can be combined with white tea leaves in the brewing process. Cinnamon powder also works nicely sprinkled on top of lattes made with white tea. The soft, mellow character of white tea allows the sweet cinnamon notes to take center stage.
Herbal Scents
White tea pairs wonderfully with many herbal scents that complement its delicate flavor profile. Some popular herbal additions include:
Chamomile – The sweet, apple-like flavor of chamomile blends seamlessly with white tea’s inherent sweetness. Chamomile also has calming properties that make it perfect for unwinding. One great combination is white tea with chamomile flowers steeped together to create a relaxing, comforting drink. Citadelle’s Yin Yang white tea blended with chamomile is a delicious example.
Lavender – The floral aroma of lavender accentuates the delicate flavor notes in white tea. Lavender also promotes relaxation, just like chamomile. Many tea companies offer white tea blends with lavender like La Republica’s White Lavender organic tea. The combination makes for a soothing cup any time of day.
Rosemary – Rosemary adds a refreshing herbal quality to white tea. Its piney fragrance and hints of citrus highlight white tea’s fruity notes. White tea drinkers enjoy rosemary for its stimulating properties as well. The Republic of Tea’s Honey Ginseng White Tea with Rosemary is an energizing blend perfect for mornings.
Woody Scents
White tea pairs exceptionally well with woody scents like cedar, sandalwood, and pine. The subtle, delicate flavor of white tea allows the warming, earthy notes of woody scents to shine through. According to whiteliontea.com, greener oolongs complement foods with woody flavors like scallops and lobster.
Sandalwood is a perfect pairing with white tea. The sweet, milky notes of white tea complement the rich, creamy aroma of sandalwood. Together they create a smooth, soothing sensory experience. Cedar also goes well with white tea, as its bright, piney fragrance balances the mellow character of white tea. Finally, the sharp resinous aroma of pine adds an invigorating accent to the gentle white tea.
Overall, woody scents like cedar, sandalwood and pine make excellent complements to the delicate, subtle flavor of white tea. Their earthy, warming tones pair beautifully with white tea’s mellow, sweet character.
Nutty Scents
White tea naturally pairs well with nutty flavors and aromas due to its delicate, smooth taste. Certain nuts like almonds and hazelnuts complement white tea particularly well. The nuttiness rounds out the tea’s flavor profile while the tea’s subtle astringency balances the richness of nuts.
Almonds are an especially delightful pairing with white tea. The sweet fragrance of almonds melds beautifully with white tea’s gentle grassy aroma. Add some slivered almonds to your cup of white tea for a satisfying crunch and nutty essence. You can also enjoy white tea with almond cookies, almond croissants, almond butter on toast, or a fruit and nut trail mix featuring almonds. The milkiness of almonds softens the tea’s subtle astringency. According to Elevation Tea Co, the nutty notes in white tea make it a perfect pairing with almonds.
Hazelnuts also complement the smooth, delicate flavor of white tea. The rich, warm taste of hazelnuts balances the tea’s light grassy notes. Try pairing white tea with chocolate hazelnut spreads, hazelnut biscotti, or simply toss some roasted hazelnuts into your cup for an extra crunch. The tea’s subtle sweetness brings out the natural sweetness in hazelnuts. As with almonds, the nutty quality of hazelnuts rounds out white tea’s flavor profile.
Conclusion
In summary, some of the best pairings with white tea are floral scents like jasmine, citrus scents like bergamot, fruity scents like peach, minty scents like peppermint, spicy scents like cinnamon, herbal scents like chamomile, woody scents like cedar, and nutty scents like almond. Pairing white tea with complementary scents can enhance the tasting experience.
When brewing white tea, use 2 teaspoons of tea leaves per 8 oz cup of water. Steep for 1-5 minutes depending on your taste preference. White tea can be steeped multiple times. Use water around 175°F for the best flavor.
For more tips on brewing the perfect cup of white tea, check out these resources:
