Benefits and Effects of Guyu Tea
Guyu Tea is a spring tea picked during the Guyu (Grain Rain) solar term, also known as the "Second Spring Tea." The spring season features moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall. After a half-year of rest during the winter, the tea trees produce plump spring shoots with a vibrant green color and soft leaves. Rich in various vitamins and amino acids, this tea offers a fresh taste and a pleasant aroma. Besides the tender buds, Guyu Tea can also consist of one bud with one leaf or one bud with two leaves. The one-bud-one-leaf variety, when steeped, resembles an ancient spear unfurling a banner and is called "Qiqiang" (Flag Spear). The one-bud-two-leaf variety resembles a bird's tongue and is called "Que She" (Sparrow Tongue). It is considered a premium tea of the year, alongside the Qingming Tea.
Benefits and Effects of Guyu Tea
1. Clearing Heat and Ailments
Guyu Tea is considered cool and mild in nature. Grown in the temperate spring, it possesses the characteristic of being gentle yet effective for clearing internal heat, making it suitable for therapeutic use as a tea remedy.
2. Strengthening Teeth and Protecting Gums
Tea picked around the Guyu period has a pale yellowish-green color, a fragrant aroma, and a taste that is slightly bitter with a cooling sensation when chewed. Such tea can be used to make "You Cha" (Oil Tea), which has a pure orange-yellow color, a fragrant aroma that fills the air, and a delightful taste that promotes saliva production. Therefore, Guyu Tea, unlike stronger teas, has a light, sweet flavor that leaves the mouth feeling fresh and clean, thereby contributing to dental health.
3. Bactericidal and Disinfectant
The spring shoots are plump and rich. Influenced by the spring temperature, the tea develops fully, resulting in fleshy leaves full of sap. This plumpness is a unique characteristic of Guyu Tea. It is rich in various vitamins, amino acids, and nutrients, making it a source of abundant minerals. Its bioactive components possess bactericidal and disinfectant properties. Professor Cao Jin of Hunan Medical University conducted an experiment using Guyu Tea's "Jian Chi Cha" (Health Tooth Tea) to test its ability to inhibit the adhesion of mutans streptococci and discovered that it has an effect of preventing the formation of dental plaque.