The Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the coldest part of winter.
This day sees the sun at its southernmost point, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year.
“The energy of hibernation reaches its peak.”
After this day, nights gradually shorten and days grow longer, but surface heat continues to decrease.
It takes eighty-one days until spring returns to the land.
The Winter Solstice is as grand as the New Year. Ancient people believed that the Winter Solstice marked the height of yin and the start of yang, making it a “lucky day.” Different regions in China have various customs, such as eating dumplings in the north, drinking mutton soup in the west, and eating rice balls in the south.
After a hearty meal with nothing else to do, in the freezing cold, one's thoughts turn to Tea. In this special season, after enjoying traditional delicacies, savoring a cup of fragrant tea is not just about the subtle aroma of the tea but also about health and warmth.
The tea of the Winter Solstice is a tea for rest and recuperation.
The Winter Solstice is also the most leisurely time of the year for tea growers, who tend to their tea gardens casually, fertilize the tea trees, and let them breathe, photosynthesize, and transpire freely to store energy for the next spring harvest.
During the winter, the most elegant tea-related activity is perhaps boiling snow for tea, as described in the phrase “delighted when my servant tries out new tea, sweeping fresh snow to brew it in time.” Burn half an incense burner, savor a cup of tea, read several volumes of books, and let the years pass like water, living a calm life.
Or invite three or five fellow tea enthusiasts to gather around a table, discussing storage conditions, vintage years, raw materials, the taste and nuances of tea, and the vicissitudes of life.
The tea of the Winter Solstice is a tea for digestion and reducing greasiness.
As the saying goes: “If you nourish yourself properly during the Winter Solstice, you'll be strong enough to fight tigers come spring.” According to Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), “all things are born in spring, grow in summer, mature in autumn, and hibernate in winter, and humans follow this pattern.” Therefore, nourishing oneself during the Winter Solstice aligns with natural laws.
Tea is rich in substances beneficial to the human body, such as polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acids, vitamins, Pectin, and organic acids. Its ability to cleanse, neutralize fishy smells, and remove greasiness is stronger than plain water. After a feast, especially after consuming meat and drinking fine wine, slowly savoring a cup of light tea can help clean the palate and remove odors and greasiness.
The tea of the Winter Solstice is a tea for reducing internal heat and replenishing moisture.
Every Winter Solstice, temperatures are low. The lower the temperature, the less moisture there is in the air due to evaporation. Our bodies can feel dry skin and a parched mouth in such an environment.
In particular, in northern regions, indoor heating increases the loss of body moisture. Li Shizhen's “Compendium of Materia Medica” records: “Tea is bitter and cold, the yin within yin, sinking and descending, it is best for reducing internal heat. Heat causes all diseases, and when heat is reduced, the upper body becomes clear.” Therefore, Drinking Tea can both replenish moisture and reduce dryness. When yin and yang are in balance and the organs are warm and moist, this is the essence of health preservation and the foundation of good health.
The tea of the Winter Solstice is a tea for dispelling cold and warming the heart.
Deep into winter, the north may be covered in frost and snow, while the south may be overcast with cold winds howling. Even on sunny days, the sunlight is bright yet not warm, and the chill remains.
On such chilly days, a cup of hot tea in hand can add a steady stream of warmth to the heart. As the tea slides down the throat, the cold outside seems distant. When the tea is warm, the heart warms up too; when the heart warms up, winter itself feels warmer.
When drinking tea during the Winter Solstice, focus on “warmth,” “smoothness,” and “moisture.”
The extreme yin marks the start of yang. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the Winter Solstice is a great opportunity for health preservation, primarily because “qi begins at the Winter Solstice.” This means that yang qi starts to grow.
“Warmth” refers both to temperature and the nature of the tea, meaning that tea should be drunk hot, avoiding cold or chilled tea. The nature of the tea should also be mild and warm, which is particularly important for those with a constitution prone to cold.
Consider choosing teas like black tea, dark tea, aged white tea, aged Wuyi rock tea, traditionally aged Tieguanyin, or aged sheng Pu'er, which are mild and warm.
Avoid teas with a cooler nature, such as green tea, lightly fermented oolong tea, or new white tea.
“Smoothness” means choosing tea that suits your constitution. Choose tea that is enjoyable and comforting to drink, which your body will adapt well to, leaving you feeling relaxed and content after drinking it.
Those with a constitution prone to dryness should avoid drinking too much black tea and can choose tea with a more balanced nature, such as aged white tea or oolong tea.
“Moisture” suggests drinking more hot tea and warm water in winter to dispel cold and moisturize. It is advisable to drink teas with a warm and moist nature, which are beneficial to the body, such as aged white tea, dried tangerine peel, or ripe Pu'er. You can also make your own healthful tea blends, such as aged white tea with dried tangerine peel, ripe Pu'er with dried tangerine peel, or ginger with black tea.
In this quiet winter