Tea: White Licorice Tea: India’s White Teas Compared to Ceylon White Teas

White Licorice tea is a delicious white tea blends made by combining the finest white tea with a licorice flavor, such as star anise or licorice root. White Licorice tea can be made from many different varieties of white tea, using different methods of adding licorice flavoring. Each will have its own unique flavor based on the type of white tea that is used for the base of the tea. Most white tea is grown in China and Japan, but India and Sri Lanka are quickly becoming significant contributors to the white tea market. White licorice tea from these regions will have a distinct flavor, different from that grown in China or Japan.

Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka

Ceylon is the colonial name for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is the third largest tea producing area in the world, but produces primarily black teas. In fact, tea production is Sri Lanka’s largest employer, providing work for more than one million residents. White Ceylon tea is grown just in the Nuwara Eliya region near Adam’s Peak, where the altitude is about 2200-2500 meters above sea level. Ceylon teas are popular because they are lighter and more mellow than other teas. Ceylon white teas are especially mild, with a light gold to copper color and the flavor of honey and pine.

Ceylon White Licorice tea will give you the nice combination of this honey flavor with the boldness of licorice. It will have a sweetness that comes from both the tea and the licorice. White licorice tea flavored with star anise will have a lighter and slightly sweeter flavor than white licorice tea flavored with licorice root.

Ceylon white teas are grown in a very small area of Sri Lanka, and they are harvested and prepared entirely by hand, making them one of the world’s most prized white teas. This also means they’re one of the most expensive white teas. Ceylon White Licorice tea, particularly if it is flavored using star anise, will be one of the most expensive white teas you can buy, but it will also be one of the sweetest and most soothing.

Darjeeling Tea from India

Darjeeling tea is one of the most well known tea varieties in the world. It is grown in the northeastern part of India, right in the foothills of the Himalayas between Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. The flavor of Darjeeling is distinct with a noticeable muscatel flavor that is derived from the combination of the cool moist climate, the soil and the terrain.

Darjeeling tea is well known because it produces a large quantity of tea each year. The region has more than 80 tea gardens over 19,000 hectares. Tea production is one of the areas largest employers, employing 52,000 people full time and another 15,000 people part time during the plucking season. However, most of the tea that the Darjeeling region is noted for is black tea.

Darjeeling white tea is very rare. It is mild and slightly sweet like other white teas, but with the muscatel flavor and astringency associated with all Darjeeling teas. When combined with licorice flavor, you get a bolder white tea than many others, with a sweetness and unusual flavor.

When you’re shopping for White Licorice Tea, it’s important to look at the variety of white tea used as the base for the tea. As you can see, each country’s white tea has unique characteristics, and will lend these characteristics to the White Licorice tea.

In addition, you should pay attention to the type of licorice flavoring added to the white tea. White Licorice tea flavored with whole pieces of star anise will be slightly sweeter and milder than tea flavored with licorice root.

When choosing your white licorice tea, you can choose your favorite variety of white tea as a starting point, or try something entirely new. Just keep in mind that each variety of white tea will taste subtly different than the others, based on the unique flavors from that growing region. So, each combination of white tea with licorice flavoring will give you a new taste treat.

Like other white teas, white licorice tea is rare, and you may not be able to find it from every region of the world that grows white tea. Some tea gardens will choose other flavors to blend with their white tea.

Whatever White Licorice you choose, it’s important to ensure that it’s made from be certain that it’s made from only the finest loose white tea combined with the best pieces of whole star anise. White tea is more expensive than other teas, which makes it even more important to choose the best tea. White tea of lesser quality will not likely be less expensive than good tea, it will just be of lesser quality. And, the best way to get really good white tea is to purchase it from a reputable company that offers a wide variety of good products with a money back guarantee on their purchases.

White licorice tea is a rare treat, whether it comes from China, Japan, India or Sri Lanka. Look for the best teas from one of the white tea growing regions in the world, and you’re sure to love the mild sweetness of white tea combined with the soothing flavor of licorice.

Jon Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, black tea and wholesale tea go to www.goldenmoontea.com