Drinking tea should be based on one's constitution. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that people have different constitutions, such as "heaty" or "cold-deficient," and different tea processing methods result in "cooling" or "warming" properties. Therefore, the way one drinks tea should vary according to their constitution. Individuals with a "heaty" constitution should drink cooling teas, while those with a "cold-deficient" constitution should drink warming teas.
It is best to drink black tea in the evening. Because green tea is unfermented, it has a high content of tea polyphenols and retains its original properties, making it relatively stimulating. Black tea is fully fermented; although it has less tea polyphenols, they undergo a "maturation" process that makes it less stimulating and milder, making it suitable for evening consumption. For those with a weak spleen and stomach, adding milk to black tea can have a certain warming effect on the stomach.
However, for people who are emotionally excitable, sensitive, have poor sleep, or are in a weak physical condition, it is advisable to drink less or no tea in the evening. Additionally, use less tea when brewing in the evening and do not make it too strong. The best time to drink tea is after dinner, as drinking tea on an empty stomach can be harmful to the body. For those not accustomed to drinking tea, it can inhibit gastric acid secretion, hinder digestion, and in severe cases, cause "tea intoxication" symptoms such as palpitations and headaches.
Eight Mistakes in Drinking Tea
1. Liking to drink new tea
Since new tea has been stored for a short time, it contains a higher amount of unoxidized substances like polyphenols, aldehydes, and alcohols, which can strongly irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and easily induce stomach problems. Therefore, it is best to drink less new tea, and new tea stored for less than half a month should be avoided.
2. Drinking the first infusion
Due to contamination from pesticides and other harmful substances during cultivation and processing, there are always residues on the tea surface. The first infusion acts as a wash and should be discarded.
3. Drinking tea on an empty stomach
Drinking tea on an empty stomach can dilute gastric acid, reduce digestive function, and lead to high absorption of water, causing a large amount of undesirable tea components to enter the bloodstream, triggering symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, and weakness.
4. Drinking tea after meals
Tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which can react with iron in food to form difficult-to-dissolve substances. Over time, this can lead to iron deficiency in the body and even induce anemia. The correct method is to drink tea one hour after a meal.
5. Drinking tea when feverish
Tea contains theophylline, which can raise body temperature. For a person with a fever, drinking tea is like "adding fuel to the fire."
6. Drinking tea for ulcer patients
The caffeine in tea can promote gastric acid secretion, increase its concentration, and induce or even cause perforation of ulcers.
7. Drinking tea during menstruation
Drinking tea, especially strong tea, during menstruation can induce or worsen premenstrual syndrome. Medical research has found that compared to non-tea drinkers, those who habitually drink tea have a 2.4 times higher chance of experiencing menstrual tension, and for those who drink more than four cups a day, the risk increases threefold.
8. Drinking the same tea year-round
The climate changes with the seasons, so the type of tea should be adjusted accordingly. In spring, it is best to drink scented tea, which can dispel the cold accumulated in the body over winter and promote the generation of yang energy. In summer, green tea is ideal; its bitter and cold nature can clear heat, relieve summer heat, detoxify, enhance gastrointestinal function, promote digestion, prevent diarrhea, and protect against skin infections. In autumn, oolong tea is suitable; it is neither cold nor hot and can thoroughly eliminate excess internal heat, restoring a sweet and warm nature to refresh the mind. In winter, black tea is best; it is sweet and warm, rich in protein, and has certain nourishing properties.
Correct Way to Brew Green Tea
1. When brewing green tea, control the water temperature at around 80°C to 90°C. If brewing green tea powder, use warm water at around 40°C to 60°C. The ratio is 2 grams of green tea powder to 450cc of water.
2. Do not drink the first infusion. After pouring hot water, just swirl it and then discard it.
3. Brewed tea should be consumed within 30 to 60 minutes; otherwise, the nutrients in the tea will become unstable.
4. Green tea powder should not be brewed too strongly, as it can affect gastric acid secretion. It is best not to drink it on an empty stomach.