Winter has arrived, and with it comes a significant drop in temperature, freezing cold, and the dormancy of all living things. The cold invades, causing human physiological functions to weaken, and the body's physiological activities are in a state of suppression, with yang energy gradually declining. Women, in particular, may notice their hands and feet turning icy cold and their resistance decreasing. Drinking tea can help keep the cold at bay during winter. So, what kind of tea is best for winter? A dark tea, such as Liubao Tea, which is one of the warm-natured teas suitable for this season.
Liubao Tea is produced in Liubao Town, Cangwu County, Wuzhou City, Guangxi. Just like Longjing Tea, Liubao Tea gets its name from its place of origin. Wuzhou City has a unique terrain, often described as “eight parts mountain, one part water, and one part field.” The warm and humid climate makes it an ideal environment for tea trees to thrive. What specific nourishing effects does Liubao Tea grown in such a favorable environment offer?
Nourishing Effects of Liubao Tea
1. Warm the Stomach
Winter is the coldest season of the year, and human physiological functions decline due to the severe cold, leading to a decrease in the body's resistance. Liubao Tea is a post-fermented tea, and the caffeine that stimulates the stomach has been reduced during fermentation, so it will not irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, Liubao Tea is rich in theophylline and other warming substances, making it very effective for warming the stomach. Drinking Liubao Tea can help the body resist the cold and enhance immunity.
2. Regulate the Stomach
Compared to other seasons, winter is when people tend to move less and consume more meat. Drinking dark tea can aid digestion, break down meat and fat, and adjust the metabolism of sugar, fat, and water in the body, playing a crucial role in regulating the stomach.
3. Cleanse the Intestines
In winter, people's appetite increases significantly, and they store more substances in their bodies, making it easy to gain weight. For those who enjoy eating large amounts of meat, drinking dark tea can eliminate grease, cleanse the intestines, and help lower cholesterol levels and protect blood vessels. It can also prevent obesity. The fiber and other large molecules in the tea are broken down by enzymes secreted by beneficial bacteria, generating some low-molecular oligosaccharides. These are dietary fibers that help with weight loss, cleanse the intestines, and stimulate the growth of beneficial gut microorganisms. Drinking consistently over a period can lead to noticeable weight loss.
4. Beautify
For women, winter can bring cold hands and feet and a cold body. Regularly drinking dark tea can boost metabolism, promote blood circulation, and warm the body. Dark tea contains theophylline, theanine, and polysaccharides, especially complex flavonoids with strong activity, which can remove excess free radicals in the body, slow down cell aging, and have a beautifying effect.
5. Lower Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, and Cholesterol Levels
The theanine in dark tea can inhibit increases in blood pressure. Alkaloids and flavonoids can relax blood vessel walls, increasing their effective diameter. By relaxing blood vessels, blood pressure is lowered. Theaflavins can soften blood vessels and effectively clear plaque buildup, acting as a “cleaner” for the cardiovascular system. The unique polysaccharides in Anhua dark tea from Hunan have insulin-like effects, reducing blood sugar levels. The polyphenols and their oxidation products in dark tea can dissolve fat and promote the excretion of lipids, thereby lowering cholesterol levels in the blood, reducing the deposition of fats on arterial walls, and lowering the risk of arteriosclerosis. They can also activate protein kinases, accelerate fat breakdown, and reduce body fat content. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for elderly individuals and those with high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
6. Remove Dampness and Detoxify
Liubao Tea itself has the effect of nourishing the stomach and removing dampness from the spleen and stomach. In the humid and hot climate of Guangdong and Guangxi, drinking Liubao Tea in moderation can help remove dampness and relieve summer heat. Some tea enthusiasts report having loose stools after drinking Liubao Tea. This is a bodily response to removing dampness and not a pathological diarrhea, which typically leaves one feeling weak. Since dampness is heavy and sticky and tends to affect the lower body, someone with excessive dampness might feel as if their legs were filled with lead. After removing dampness through certain methods, one should feel lighter and healthier rather than weak. Therefore, it is suitable for those suffering from rheumatism or damp-heat in the body.
On the market, there are various types of Liubao Tea with different flavors. I've heard descriptions like the “six-six powder flavor,” “mud flavor,” “horse urine flavor,” “cockroach droppings flavor,” and so on, but these are all odd flavors. Traditionally processed raw Liubao Tea has aromas like betel nut, pine smoke, medicine, honey, and flowers. Modern processed ripe Liubao Tea has aromas like wood, dates, and ginseng.
Aroma Types of Liubao Tea
1. Betel Nut Aroma
The betel nut aroma is the top aroma of Liubao Tea, appearing when it is sufficiently aged. Some books refer to it as a betel nut taste. Liubao Tea became one of the 24 famous teas in the Qing Dynasty because good aged Liubao Tea always has a betel nut aroma. It can be replicated, experienced, communicated, and compared.
2. Pine Smoke Aroma
As mentioned in tea books, good Liubao Tea exhibits pine smoke and betel nut aromas, making pine smoke aroma a classic aroma of Liubao Tea. Some knowledgeable individuals might think that the pine smoke aroma comes from burning firewood, similar to how farmers smoke bacon or the smoking process used for Zhengshan Xiaozhong tea. However, this is not the case. The pine smoke aroma in Liubao Tea is not created by pine smoke; it is not the smell of pine smoke but a natural tea aroma. It is not the result of smoking or dyeing but a naturally occurring aroma type during aging. This is also a way to distinguish authentic original Liubao Tea materials.
3. Medicinal Aroma
As mentioned in tea books, good Liubao Tea exhibits pine smoke and betel nut aromas, making pine smoke aroma a classic aroma of Liubao Tea. Some knowledgeable individuals might think that the pine smoke aroma comes from burning firewood, similar to how farmers smoke bacon or the smoking process used for Zhengshan Xiaozhong tea. However, this is not the case. The pine smoke aroma in Liubao Tea is not created by pine smoke; it is not the smell of pine smoke but a natural tea aroma. It is not the result of smoking or dyeing but a naturally occurring aroma type during aging. This is also a way to distinguish authentic original Liubao Tea materials.
4. Honey Aroma
This is a relatively new aroma in original Liubao raw tea, a light honey aroma. If you've smelled the flowers of Liubao Tea, it's easier to appreciate the unique honey aroma of Liubao.
5. Date Aroma
A sweet date aroma, a common aroma in aged ripe tea, especially when brewed.
6. Wood Aroma
This is a type of aroma in the aged fragrance of Liubao Tea, smelling somewhat like wood and medicine, with pine resin and jujube wood being the most common. This is a common aroma in ripe