Drinking Tea is becoming a healthy lifestyle choice for many, and “tea tasting” is gradually becoming fashionable.

However, what are the characteristics and benefits of green tea, Black Tea, Oolong Tea, white tea, dark tea, and yellow tea? Do you know which type of tea is most suitable for different groups of people?

Green Tea: The Chief of Teas for Cooling Heat and Irritability

Green tea is one of the main types of tea in China. From a nutritional perspective, it has not undergone fermentation, thus retaining the natural substances and nutrients in the tea leaves well.

Vitamins, chlorophyll, polyphenols, amino acids, and other substances are present in higher quantities than in any other type of tea. Green tea can help clear heat and irritability, enhance cognitive abilities, and boost immunity.

Suitable for: Busy middle-aged and young adults, mental laborers, and those who frequently work on computers.

Caution: Green tea is cool in nature. Although it can clear heat and irritability, it can also stimulate the stomach and intestines. People with weak spleen and stomach should drink less or use fewer tea leaves when brewing to reduce stimulation.

Black Tea: Sweet and Mild for Regulating Spleen and Stomach

Black tea is a heavily fermented tea, and its properties are relatively mild, especially small-Leaf black teas like Zhengshan Xiaozhong, which have a sweet and mellow taste without being stimulating. It also has the function of regulating the spleen and stomach.

In foreign countries, there is a custom of adding milk and sugar to black tea, which can supplement nutrition and increase body warmth.

Suitable for: People with poor digestion or weak constitution should not drink green tea but can drink black tea instead.

Caution: Black tea is warm in nature and may not be suitable for those who are experiencing heatiness or who usually have excessive internal heat.

Yellow Tea: Ideal for Increasing Appetite

The name yellow tea may not be as well-known as green tea or black tea, but if we mention Junshan Silver Needle or Huoshan Yellow Bud, more people would recognize them. Indeed, they both belong to the category of yellow tea.

The distinctive feature of yellow tea is its “yellow leaves” and “yellow infusion,” which is actually a product evolved from the process of making green tea. By adding a step of yellowing during the process of making green tea, yellow tea is produced. Its fermentation degree is between 20-30%, classifying it as a slightly fermented tea.

Suitable for: Yellow tea needs to be yellowed, which is a process akin to “fermentation.” During this process, digestive enzymes are produced, benefiting the spleen and stomach. Therefore, it is best suited for people with poor digestion, loss of appetite, or obesity.

Caution: Yellow tea contains a higher amount of caffeine and polyphenols, which can easily cause excitement and increased urination. Therefore, it is not suitable for pregnant women as it may lead to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia.

White Tea: A Rare Delicacy that Can Help Lower Blood Sugar

White tea is a rare delicacy among teas, with a fermentation degree of 10-20%, classifying it as a lightly fermented tea. White tea has a full appearance covered in white down, with a fresh aroma of down. The infusion is clear yellow-green, with a light flavor that finishes with a pleasant aftertaste.

Suitable for: Diabetic patients should drink white tea because, during processing, it is not pan-fried or rolled, preserving most of the polysaccharides in the tea, which are effective in treating diabetes.

Additionally, white tea has a cool nature and can help reduce heat and dryness, as well as relieve constipation.

Caution: Diabetic patients should use water around 85°C to steep white tea for about 4-6 minutes and drink it in the morning and evening. They should not use boiling water to avoid destroying the tea polysaccharides due to high temperature.

Oolong Tea: A Slimming Beauty Tea

Oolong tea is unique among teas with its distinctive appearance known as “green leaves with red edges.” Its production method combines elements of both green and black tea processes, resulting in a quality that lies between the two, having both the freshness of black tea and the fragrance of green tea.

Suitable for: Oolong tea is best suited for overweight individuals, as it has good effects in lowering lipids, reducing cholesterol, and aiding digestion. In Japan, it is known as a “beauty and fitness tea.”

In addition, oolong tea can help refresh and invigorate, making it suitable for students who study late into the night or for those who work overtime.

Caution: All those who drink oolong tea should avoid drinking it on an empty stomach, as it can cause hunger, dizziness, and nausea, which is known as “tea drunkenness.” Pregnant women should also avoid drinking it, as the caffeine can increase fetal movement and be detrimental to the fetus.

Dark Tea: Most Effective for Removing Fat and Lowering Lipids

Dark tea is a unique tea variety in China, widely popular among ethnic minorities in border regions. Dark tea has a fermentation degree of 100%, classifying it as a post-fermented tea.

Suitable for: Dark tea is best suited for people who typically eat meat, as it has a warm nature and can effectively remove fat and lower lipids.

Caution: Pregnant women should avoid drinking dark tea, as it contains a large amount of polyphenols and caffeine, which can affect fetal development.