White tea is made from the camelia sinesis plant, which is the same as black and green teas. The leaves are picked when they first emerge and allowed to dry in the shade and the breeze. In time this may prove to be the most beneficial of teas because of the curing process which involves a minimum of heat and the emerging youth of the leaves. White tea is best brewed with water that has not yet boiled (around 185 degrees). This is not an exact science, just know that if your white tea or green teas are bitter, chances are your water was too hot.