Tea culture is one of the time-honored and profound cultural treasures in China. In the sunny March, it is the spring tea picking season. Picking, frying, observing, and tasting tea, one can better feel the spring with a cup of spring tea. There are a great variety of teas in China, and different types of tea are often suitable for different groups of people. There is much knowledge about how to choose and drink tea. Today, let’s follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to learn about the different varieties of tea, their properties, and the suitable groups of people.
1. What are the types of tea? There are many varieties of tea in China. At present, they are mainly divided into six categories, namely green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea, yellow tea, and dark tea. And the properties of these six categories of tea are different. 01 Green tea: Slightly cold in nature, can relieve restlessness Green tea is unfermented tea. Because the processing technology does not involve fermentation, it retains a large amount of natural substances in fresh leaves, such as vitamins, chlorophyll, tea polyphenols, and amino acids, which are the most among all tea categories. Therefore, it has the characteristics of “green leaves and clear soup, and strong astringency”. Green tea is slightly cold in nature and can clear heat and relieve restlessness. Therefore, it is relatively suitable for people with a hot constitution and a bad temper, as well as students, night owls, office workers, mental workers, and people who often need to face the computer. However, precisely because of its slightly cold nature, green tea is not very suitable for people with relatively weak spleens and stomachs. 02 Black tea: Mild in nature, can benefit the spleen and stomach Black tea is fermented tea. The fermentation process causes chemical reactions in the components of the tea leaves, presenting the characteristics of “dark and moist tea leaves, red and bright tea soup, and pleasant aroma”. Different from green tea, black tea has a relatively mild nature and is almost non-irritating, making it more suitable for people with poor stomachs or weak bodies. However, because of its warm nature, it is not very suitable for people with a hot constitution, those who are having a heatstroke, or those with a bad temper. 03 Oolong tea: Can relieve greasiness and reduce fat Oolong tea, also known as blue tea, is semi-fermented tea. Therefore, its quality is between that of green tea and black tea. It has both the richness and freshness of black tea and the freshness and fragrance of green tea. The pharmacological effects of oolong tea are prominently manifested in decomposing fat, assisting in weight loss and bodybuilding, etc. It also has good effects in reducing blood lipids, cholesterol, and aiding digestion. Therefore, it is suitable for obese people, as well as those with high blood lipids and high cholesterol. However, because of its fat-reducing effect, oolong tea should not be drunk on an empty stomach. Otherwise, it may enhance the sense of hunger and even cause dizziness and nausea, resulting in the phenomenon of “tea intoxication”. 04 White tea: Helps lower blood sugar, relieve heatstroke, and cool down White tea belongs to slightly fermented tea, with a fermentation degree between 10% and 20%. It gets its name because it is covered with white hairs and looks like silver and snow. It has the characteristics of yellowish-green and clear soup and a light and sweet aftertaste. Since white tea is not fried or kneaded during processing, the polysaccharide substances contained in the tea are basically not damaged, making it more suitable for people with diabetes and the elderly.Additionally, white tea has a cooling nature and can help to reduce internal heat and dryness, as well as alleviate constipation.
05 Yellow Tea: Can promote digestion and increase appetite. Yellow tea belongs to the lightly fermented tea category, with a fermentation degree between 20% and 30%. Its processing techniques are similar to green tea, but an additional step called ‘yellowing’ is added during the frying process. This causes partial oxidation of polyphenols and chlorophyll, resulting in the characteristic ‘yellow soup and yellow leaves’. Yellow tea requires stewing and is considered a ‘fermented tea’. During the fermentation process, a large amount of digestive enzymes are produced, which is beneficial for the spleen and stomach. Therefore, it is more suitable for people with poor digestion, lack of appetite, or obesity. 06 Dark Tea: Can remove grease and dampness. Dark tea is a post-fermented tea, and due to its long fermentation time, the fermentation degree reaches 100%, resulting in the tea leaves being oily black or dark brown. Dark tea has a warm nature, and its effects in removing grease, reducing fat, lowering blood lipids, and resolving dampness are quite significant. It is more suitable for people who like to eat meat, those who are obese, those who consume cold food, and those with high blood lipid levels. II. Who Should Not Drink Tea Regularly? 1. All types of tea generally have the effect of refreshing and awakening the mind, so they are not suitable for people with insomnia, neurasthenia, and other conditions. 2. The tannin in tea may hinder the absorption and utilization of iron, so people with anemia are not suitable for regular tea consumption. 3. Tea contains components such as theine that can raise blood pressure, so patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, and other diseases are not suitable for regular tea drinking. 4. It is also not recommended for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers to drink tea regularly. III. Precautions for Drinking Tea 1. Timing is important. It is not advisable to drink tea before bedtime or immediately after eating, as it may affect sleep and increase the burden on the stomach and intestines. It is recommended to drink tea appropriately during the free time between meals. 2. Moderation is key. Drinking tea should not be too strong; if a large amount of strong tea is consumed in a short period, it may stimulate the stomach and intestines and the heart. 3. Temperature matters. Drinking tea that is too hot may irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract or the mouth, and over time, it can have a negative impact. Therefore, wait until the tea is not scalding before drinking it. 4. Do not drink tea with medication to avoid conflicts in efficacy; it is advisable to drink tea moderately one hour after taking medication.
