White tea gets its character from what doesn't happen to the leaf: minimal processing, a brief wither, then a quick halt to oxidation. That restraint is what gives Pomegranate White Iced Tea its pale, peachy liquor and its lightness in the cup. The base here is Pai Mu Tan, a classic Chinese white tea, joined by rose petals and cranberry pieces with natural pomegranate flavouring. Together they give a light, refreshing cup with rose and berry notes running through it — cranberry in particular, with a thread of honeyed sweetness and a touch of mint on the finish.
White tea carries a naturally high level of antioxidants, a result of that same light-touch processing, and it has long been valued for the fluoride it contains, which some say supports dental health. None of this asks you to think of it as medicine — it's simply part of what white tea has traditionally been drunk for, alongside its taste.
Serve it iced: use about 2 teaspoons of leaf per person, pour water at 80°C over the leaf so it's just covered, and steep for 2 minutes. Strain, then top up with cold water and ice. If you'd rather it sweeter, stir in sugar or honey while the leaf is still steeping in the hot water, before the ice goes in. Mint leaves and fresh raspberries make a good addition at the glass, both for flavour and for how they look floating in a peachy, berry-scented iced tea.
