White Tea vs Green Tea

White tea and green tea are close relatives. Both are made from the Camellia sinensis plant, as are black and oolong tea. What sets them apart is how the leaves are handled after picking, plus the kind of leaf used.

How are white tea and green tea made?

Green tea leaves are heated soon after harvest, by steaming (the Japanese method) or pan-firing (the Chinese method). A 2026 review explains that this deactivates enzymes that would otherwise change the leaf.

White tea gets the lightest touch. A 2023 review says it is made from fresh shoots and young leaves, with minimal processing by simple drying. The downy white hairs on those leaves give white tea its name.

	Green tea	White tea
Plant	Camellia sinensis	Camellia sinensis
Early heating step	Yes, steaming or pan-firing	Not in the usual method
Leaf	Varies by style	Mostly buds and young leaves

Sources describe white tea’s oxidation differently. Washington State University Extension calls it non-oxidized. A 2021 study of Azorean teas says its long drying leads to slight oxidation, because the usual white tea method skips the enzyme-stopping step. Either way, the sources agree it is among the least processed teas.

Which has more caffeine, white or green tea?

There’s no reliable rule here. A 2023 review notes that some studies report less caffeine in white tea than in green. But the Azorean study found the opposite in its own samples. Per gram of dry tea, the white teas had more caffeine than the green teas. Its white and green teas also came from different plant varieties, which is one more reason not to generalize.

So don’t assume white tea is the lower-caffeine choice. The study’s authors point out that tea composition shifts with the plant variety, leaf age, origin, season, processing and storage.

For a reference point, the Mayo Clinic lists about 29 mg of caffeine in 8 oz of brewed green tea. We didn’t find an equally reliable per-cup figure for white tea, so we don’t give one. If you want less caffeine, look at decaf green tea.

Is white tea healthier than green tea?

We can’t say, and the research doesn’t either.

A 2010 lab study compared eight commercial white teas with green teas. Total catechins varied more than 10-fold within each type, and some white teas matched some green teas. The authors warned against claiming one tea type always has more. The same study found lower antioxidant capacity in certain white teas, which is a lab measurement and not a health result.

In the Azorean study, the green teas had higher levels of epicatechin-type catechins, including EGCG, than the white teas. Results depend on which teas you test. For more on one catechin, see which green tea has the most EGCG.

NCCIH says definite conclusions can’t yet be reached for most uses of green tea. A 2023 review adds that there is no conclusive evidence linking green or white tea consumption to cancer risk. The two studies above compared the teas’ chemistry in the lab, not their effects in people.

Is either one safe to drink?

NCCIH reports no safety concerns for green tea as a beverage for adults, but it does contain caffeine, and it advises moderate caffeine during pregnancy. The 2023 review notes that Brazilian fetal cardiology guidelines advise pregnant women to eat and drink fewer polyphenol-rich products, such as tea, in the last trimester. Ask your healthcare provider.

How do you choose?

Pick the one you enjoy. White tea is described as soft and aromatic with floral and fruit notes, while green tea’s flavor depends on the style. Salada suggests water around 170°F to 180°F for green tea, and our green and black tea guide uses the same range. Follow the label for white tea. The types of green tea hub covers more styles.