For Tea lovers, drinking tea is undoubtedly a great pleasure. Hot water falls into the pot, and you watch as the leaves gradually unfurl along their curled patterns, with wisps of tea smoke rising from the cup. The tea soup fills the mouth with fragrance; initially slightly bitter, it leaves a sweet aftertaste, truly a marvel of nature. “I would rather never drink alcohol than go without tea for three meals.” China's Tea culture has a long history, and drinking tea has always been an important way to maintain health. However, there are proper ways to drink tea, and if not done correctly, it can harm your stomach.
How Many of These Stomach-Harming Tea Drinking Habits Do You Have?
01 Habit of Drinking on an Empty Stomach
Drinking tea on an empty stomach is one of the most stomach-damaging tea-drinking habits! On an empty stomach, some active substances in tea combine with proteins in the stomach, stimulating it and potentially causing damage. In addition to irritating the gastrointestinal tract, drinking tea on an empty stomach dilutes digestive juices, affecting digestion. Symptoms may include palpitations, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, and more. People who do not frequently drink tea, especially those who drink strong tea first thing in the morning, are more likely to experience these symptoms. This is medically referred to as “tea drunkenness,” and eating 1-2 pieces of candy or drinking some water can help alleviate the symptoms.
02 Habit of Drinking Strong Tea
Strong tea contains excessive amounts of caffeine and theine, which can irritate the stomach lining and cause excess stomach acid over time. Gradually, the gastric mucosa becomes damaged, leading to symptoms such as congestion, inflammation, and even stomach ulcers. Severe cases can slow down stomach contractions and bowel movements, affecting food digestion and absorption, and may lead to constipation, impacting gut health. Especially for beginners, it's best to take it easy and drink moderately. While strong tea can be satisfying, health is the real capital.
03 Drinking Tea After Alcohol
Using tea to sober up is not only unscientific but also harmful to your health. The interaction between caffeine in tea and alcohol can irritate the stomach lining, causing gastritis and even stomach ulcers, without actually helping to sober up. Besides harming the stomach, it can also damage the kidneys. As early as the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia medica clearly recorded the dangers of drinking tea after alcohol: “Drinking tea after alcohol harms the kidneys, causes heaviness in the waist and legs, cold pain in the bladder, and can lead to diseases such as edema, diabetes, and cramping pain.” Drinking tea, especially strong tea, after alcohol consumption can indeed harm the kidneys.
04 Drinking Excessive Amounts of Tea
Tea contains abundant nutrients such as polyphenols and amino acids that are beneficial to human health. However, everything should be done in moderation. If consumed excessively, tea can have the opposite effect. Overdrinking tea can easily stimulate the stomach lining, exacerbate calcium and iron loss, and increase the burden on the kidneys. Particularly, excessive consumption of green tea and raw Pu'er can severely irritate the stomach and intestines. Although Black Tea and aged Pu'er are fully fermented and have a warmer nature, drinking too much can still affect the stomach. Generally, healthy adults can safely consume about 12 grams of tea daily, ideally divided into 3 or 4 brews. No matter how much you enjoy it, don't drink tea like water.
05 Drinking Freshly Picked Tea
Many people believe that tea is best when fresh, but this is not always the case. Fresh Spring Tea is sought after for its refreshing taste and intense aroma, but overly fresh tea does not necessarily aid health and may even cause illness. Tea picked recently lacks sufficient time to allow for the natural volatilization of its polyphenols, alcohols, aldehydes, and other compounds. This can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, bloating, and exacerbate conditions in people with pre-existing gastrointestinal diseases.
Therefore, freshly picked spring tea should not be consumed too soon. While green teas are generally suitable for fresh consumption, drinking them too fresh can still lead to related illnesses. Freshly picked spring tea should be stored for at least half a month to allow for the natural oxidation of various compounds before consumption. For example, tea harvested and processed during Qingming should be drunk after Guyu. Black tea and Oolong tea, despite their warming properties, should also be stored for a period before consumption.