What are those tiny white hairs in my tea?

Drinkers of our tea may have noticed a dense flurry of tiny white hairs floating in their tea cup. These tiny hairs are called trichomes, and they are a good indication of a high-quality brew. If you haven’t noticed them before then we suggest you pour your brew into a glass mug and hold the mug up to the light to see them. It’s my favorite part of my morning ritual to hold my glass mug up to the morning light and see the beautiful and mesmerizing dance of these tiny white hairs.

Trichomes are the small, hair-like structures that grow on the surface of the tea leaves. They are responsible for producing the flavor, aroma, and health benefits of the tea. When you steep the tea leaves in hot water, the trichomes release their essential oils, which give the tea its distinct flavor and aroma. The trichomes indicate that the leaves were harvested young, when the essential oils were at their peak concentration. This results in a tea with a more complex and nuanced flavor profile. Trichomes are more prevalent on the tips and young leaves of the tea plant. These these two leaves and a bud are the most prized part of the tea plant, as they contain the highest concentration of trichomes. Thus, the density of trichomes is directly related to the quality of the tea itself.

The presence of the trichomes in tea depends on several factors, including the type of tea, the harvesting method, and the growing conditions.

TEA VARIETIES: Some tea varieties, such as white tea, are known for their high concentration of trichomes. White tea is made from young tea leaves and buds, which are covered in a fine, silvery-white hair. The trichomes on white tea leaves are often more visible than those on other tea types, such as black or green tea. This is why it’s called “white tea.”

LEAF HARVESTING & PROCESSING: The presence of trichomes in tea also depends on the harvesting method. When tea leaves are plucked by hand, the tea pluckers tend to focus on picking the most tender, young leaves and buds that are covered in trichomes. Machine-harvested tea that cut across the top of the tea row, on the other hand, may not be as selective and typically collect older leaves and some stems that are less likely to have trichomes. All are teas are plucked to ensure we select the finest leaves.

When tea is processed into tea bags, the leaves are typically crushed, chopped, or otherwise broken down into smaller pieces to fit into the bags. This processing can damage or remove many of the trichomes on the surface of the leaves, making them less visible to the naked eye. In addition, tea bags are often made from lower-quality tea leaves that have fewer trichomes to begin with as mentioned above. This can further reduce the visible presence of trichomes in tea bags. Our teas are minimally processed and only sold in loose leaf form to preserve the trichomes.

GROWING CONDITIONS: Growing conditions also play a role in the presence of trichomes in tea. Tea plants that are grown in cooler climates or at higher elevations tend to produce leaves with more trichomes. The slower growth of tea plants in cooler climates allows more time for trichomes to develop on the leaves. Our unique maritime influenced Mediterranean climate features cold nights and exceedingly hot days which slow the growth of the plant to ensure the dense accumulation of trichomes.

Lastly, in addition to indicating a high-quality tea, trichomes also have health benefits. They contain antioxidants, which can help to protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. They also have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce inflammation in the body.

So, the next time you notice tiny white hairs in our tea, don't be alarmed. Instead, savor the flavor and aroma of your high-quality brew, knowing that those tiny trichomes are an indicator of the tea's exceptional quality.