White tea is a young, minimally processed tea. It hails from the same plant as black and green tea, Camellia sinensis, and is also chock-full of polyphenols called catechins, which act as antioxidants, scavenging free radicals. To avoid bitter notes, steep the tea for only 2–3 minutes.
You’ll want to steep this tea at a lower temperature, around 180 degrees F. Heat 8 ounces of water in a stovetop pot on medium-high heat or in an electric tea kettle (which may have temperature settings). If you don’t have a thermometer, heat the water until just shy of boiling.
Add 2 tablespoons of pomegranate arils to the bottom of your mug.
Add 1 teaspoon of the white tea to your tea strainer and add the tea strainer to your mug.
When the water is ready, pour it over your tea strainer, filling up your mug. Steep the tea for 2–3 minutes.
Continue to allow the pomegranate arils to steep in the water as you sip the tea. The pomegranate flavor will be subtle, but continue to get stronger as it steeps.
Once you’re finished with the tea, enjoy the pomegranate arils as a snack or use them in a smoothie or on top of salads.