Although everyone loves to drink tea, not everyone drinks it at the right time and season. It can be said that if you don't drink it properly, it will not only fail to have a health-preserving effect but may also lead to adverse effects such as cold stomach, diarrhea, and insomnia.
Drink tea at the best time
A cup of flower tea at 9 am.
The first cup is morning tea, suitable for drinking after breakfast between 9 and 10 am. It can help invigorate, detoxify, and relieve fatigue, making it the most important of the three cups of tea. Morning tea is best when chosen as flower tea. Flower tea, processed through secondary blending, combines the richness of flowers with the freshness of new tea, which can refresh the mind and improve one's spirit throughout the day. However, it should be noted that people with insomnia should not drink flower tea, as it could cause more severe sleep disorders. People with allergic constitutions should also avoid drinking flower tea. Flower tea is best brewed in a lidded porcelain cup without emphasizing the appreciation of the tea itself but rather focusing on its aroma. The tea can be brewed with water that has just boiled. After covering and letting it steep for a while, remove the lid to smell the refreshing fragrance of the flower tea, which can uplift your spirits.
A cup of green tea at 1 pm.
The second cup is afternoon tea, best drunk after lunch or a nap, between 1 and 3 pm. Afternoon tea can be brewed a bit stronger to lower blood lipids and protect blood vessels. The health benefits of tea, including antioxidant, free-radical scavenging, and antiviral properties, are mainly due to polyphenols in the tea. Therefore, green tea should be brewed and consumed immediately. If the brewing temperature is too high or the steeping time is too long, the polyphenols will be destroyed. Generally, the recommended water temperature for brewing green tea is 85°C, when the water has just begun to boil. The ideal steeping time is 2 to 3 minutes. The ratio of green tea to water should be appropriate, with 1:50 being ideal; typically, 3 grams of tea leaves are used for 150 milliliters of water, resulting in a tea with an appropriately balanced taste. For teaware, porcelain cups or transparent glass cups can be selected.
A cup of black tea at 6 pm.
The third cup is evening tea, suitable for drinking after dinner between 6 and 7 pm, which helps lower blood lipids and aids digestion. Black tea is best suited for evening consumption because fermented tea contains low levels of caffeine, having less impact on sleep. People with cold constitutions can drink more black tea, as it warms the middle and dispels cold, benefiting those with a cold stomach, cold hands and feet, weakness, or frequent diarrhea. In terms of brewing, unlike green tea, high-temperature soaking can promote the effective release of flavonoids, the beneficial components in black tea. This not only enhances the flavor and aroma but also better leverages the health benefits. Thus, the best way to brew black tea is with boiling water, and the steeping time can be longer. Generally, 5 minutes is optimal. The water-to-tea ratio for black tea is similar to that of green tea. Gongfu black strip tea can be steeped 3 to 4 times, while broken black tea can be steeped 1 to 2 times. Additionally, it is best to avoid drinking tea after 8 pm.
Drink more green tea during spring and summer.
In addition to timing, the choice of tea also depends on the season. Drinking green tea during spring and summer is most in line with the seasons. Spring is suitable for drinking Xinyang Maojian and Biluochun, both of which have stimulating effects and can alleviate spring drowsiness. Drinking green tea in summer can clear heat and toxins and lower blood lipids. People with a hot constitution should also drink more green tea since it is cooling. However, it is important to note that drinking green tea on an empty stomach is not advisable. Its abundant polyphenols have astringent properties that can irritate the stomach, and this irritation is stronger on an empty stomach.
Drink oolong tea in autumn.
Oolong tea, represented by Tieguanyin and Dongding Oolong, is the best choice in autumn. Oolong tea lies between green and black tea in terms of fermentation level and is moderate in nature, neither cold nor warm. It is very suitable for autumn consumption as it can invigorate the mind and leave one feeling refreshed and alert. When brewing oolong tea, a large amount of tea should be used, typically around 10 grams, filling about half the capacity of a purple clay pot. Boiling water is ideal for brewing. Oolong tea can be steeped 5 to 6 times, with the steeping time ranging from short to long, ideally 2 to 5 minutes.
Dark tea is best suited for winter.
Dark tea, especially ripe Pu'er tea, has a mild nature and is most suitable for winter consumption. Winter is characterized by coldness, and it is a season where yang energy is stored. Ripe Pu'er can generate warmth and nourish the stomach. Additionally, Pu'er tea has certain weight management effects. Replacing regular sugary drinks with low-calorie Pu'er tea can control calorie intake. Dark tea can be brewed using small tea bowls or purple clay pots, and it must be brewed with boiling water to fully release its nutritional components. The first steeping of dark tea should be a quick rinse of 10 seconds, where the tea leaves are placed in the cup, boiling water is added, and then the water is discarded after a short period. Boiling water is added again, and the cup is covered. This process not only filters out impurities in the tea but also makes it more fragrant.
The best brewing methods for different teas
Green tea: Brew with 80°C~85°C water, drink immediately after brewing. Green tea, a type of unfermented tea, includes common varieties like West Lake Longjing and Biluochun. This type of tea is relatively delicate and should not be brewed with water that has just boiled; instead, use water at 80°C~85°C. The ratio of tea to water is ideally 1:50, and the steeping time is 2 to 3 minutes. It is best to drink the tea immediately after brewing. If the brewing temperature is too high or the steeping time is too long, the polyphenols will be destroyed, causing the tea to turn yellow and its aromatic substances to evaporate and dissipate. Porcelain cups are best for brewing green tea. When brewing, first moisten the tea with 1/4 of the water, wait for 20 seconds or half a minute, and then add more water to drink. When brewing green tea, do not cover the cup, as doing so will cause the tea soup to turn yellow.
Black tea: First scald the cup with hot water, then brew with boiling water. Black tea is a fully fermented tea, with examples including high-quality gongfu red strip tea and broken black tea. Unlike green tea, high-temperature soaking promotes the release of beneficial components. Therefore, the best way to brew black tea is with freshly boiled water, using a similar volume of water as for green tea. The optimal steeping time is 3 to 5 minutes. High-quality gongfu red strip tea can be steeped 3 to 4 times, while broken black tea can be steeped 1 to 2 times. Glass cups are best for brewing black tea, allowing you to observe the tea leaves unfolding and swirling in the water. The specific method uses the intermediate pouring technique. First, pour about 1/10 of the hot water into the cup to scald it, then add 3 to 5 grams of tea leaves, and finally, pour water along the wall of the glass cup to brew. When brewing black tea, cover the cup to make the tea aroma more intense.
Oolong tea: Brew multiple times with boiling