White Tea vs Green Tea vs Black Tea: Differences in Taste, Processing & Caffeine

The Main Difference: Processing (Oxidation)

White, green, and black tea can all come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis). The biggest difference is how the leaves are processed after picking.

• White tea: minimally processed. Leaves are typically withered and dried.

• Green tea: heated (pan-fired or steamed) to reduce oxidation, then rolled and dried.

• Black tea: more fully oxidized before drying, which changes aroma, color, and body.

This processing is why these teas can taste very different even when they come from similar regions.

White vs Green vs Black Tea: Taste Differences

Taste depends on origin, cultivar, harvest, and brewing, but these are common patterns:

• White tea often tastes soft, gentle, and lightly sweet, sometimes with floral or honey-like notes.

• Green tea often tastes fresh and bright, sometimes grassy, nutty, or vegetal.

• Black tea often tastes richer and deeper, with more body and a longer finish.

If you are new to tea, think of it like this: white is usually the most subtle, green is the most “fresh,” and black is the most “bold.”

Caffeine in White vs Green vs Black Tea (Very Practical, Very Cautious)

Caffeine in tea is highly variable. It depends on:

• the specific tea and leaf material (buds vs mature leaves)

• how much tea you use (grams)

• water temperature

• steeping time

• how many infusions you do

That said, many tea education sources give a broad, general range for a typical cup. A commonly cited guideline is:

• White tea: about 15–30 mg caffeine per 8 oz / ~240 ml

• Green tea: about 20–45 mg per 8 oz / ~240 ml

• Black tea: about 40–70 mg per 8 oz / ~240 ml

Treat these numbers as rough orientation, not a guarantee.

Brewing Basics (Temperature & Time)

Brewing has a huge impact on taste. Use these as starting points, and always follow the instructions on your tea label first.

For a full step-by-step brewing guide, link to your post here:https://www.lum-tea.com/blogs/teawisdom/perfect-preparation-vietnamese-tea

Which Tea Should You Choose?

Here is a simple way to decide:

• Choose white tea if you want something gentle, smooth, and subtle.

• Choose green tea if you like fresh, bright flavors and a lighter cup.

• Choose black tea if you want more body, deeper aroma, and a stronger taste.

If you are unsure, start with the tea style you already enjoy in other drinks (light vs bold), then adjust brewing to taste.

Try Vietnamese Single-Origin Tea (Optional Examples)

If you want to explore these tea types with clear origin and careful processing, you can start with our Vietnamese teas:

• Suong Mai (White Tea) 

• Tinh Loc (Green Tea) 

• Binh Son (Black Tea)