Before the Qingming Festival is the season for new spring tea to hit the market. Many people like to buy freshly fried tea leaves. In fact, new tea should not be consumed right away. The idea that "the fresher the tea, the better" is a misconception. Not all teas are better when they are fresh. Pu-erh tea and dark tea, for example, get better with age. Teas that are meant to be fresh are green teas, but even green teas do not need to be consumed immediately after picking.
The nutritional content of the freshest tea is not necessarily the best. Because tea leaves picked less than a month ago have not been allowed to rest for a period of time, substances that have an adverse effect on the body, such as polyphenols, alcohols, and aldehydes, have not been fully oxidized. If you drink new tea for a long time, it may lead to adverse reactions such as diarrhea and bloating.
For patients, new tea is even less suitable. For instance, elderly patients with conditions like hypochlorhydria or chronic gastric ulcers are particularly unsuited for drinking new tea. New tea can irritate their gastric mucosa, causing gastrointestinal discomfort and even worsening their condition. Experts believe that for the average consumer, new tea bought home should be stored for at least half a month before it can be consumed.