While Pu-erh tea is beneficial, there are certain precautions to be taken when consuming it. Some specific groups should pay particular attention when drinking it.
Avoid drinking new tea: As new tea has been stored for a short time, it contains a higher amount of unoxidized substances such as polyphenols, aldehydes, and alcohols. These can strongly irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and easily trigger stomach ailments. Therefore, it is advisable to drink new tea in moderation, and one should especially avoid drinking tea that has been stored for less than half a month.
Drinking tea on an empty stomach: Drinking tea on an empty stomach can dilute gastric acid, reduce digestive function, and lead to a high rate of water absorption. This causes the undesirable components in the tea to enter the bloodstream in large quantities, leading to symptoms of "tea intoxication" such as dizziness, palpitations, and weakness in the limbs.
Drinking tea when you have a fever: Tea contains theophylline, which can raise body temperature. For a person with a fever, drinking tea is like "adding fuel to the fire."
Drinking tea during menstruation: Drinking tea during menstruation, especially strong tea, can induce or worsen premenstrual syndrome (PMS). 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 4 cups a day, the risk increases threefold.
Patients with liver disease should avoid drinking tea: The majority of substances in tea, such as caffeine, are metabolized by the liver. If the liver is diseased, excessive tea consumption can exceed the liver's metabolic capacity and damage liver tissue.
Pregnant women should avoid drinking tea, especially strong tea: Tea contains large amounts of tea polyphenols and caffeine, which have many adverse effects on the development of the fetus in the womb. To ensure the normal intellectual development of the fetus and to avoid excessive stimulation from caffeine, pregnant women should drink little to no tea.
Those with insomnia: Because Pu-erh tea has an invigorating and mind-sharpening effect, patients with insomnia should avoid drinking it before bedtime.