An acidic constitution makes one prone to illness, while a slightly alkaline constitution helps prevent disease. Tea is the most common strongly alkaline food in our daily lives and, along with grapes and kelp, is considered one of the three strongest alkaline foods. Drinking tea can help regulate the body's acid-base balance. However, everyone's physical condition is different, so it is important to drink tea in moderation and choose the type that suits you best.

Black Tea (red tea in China) —– Warm Stomach and Protect Heart

Black tea (known as red tea in China) is a fully fermented tea. During the fermentation process, polyphenols are oxidized, polymerized, and condensed, forming the main components of black tea's color and taste: theaflavins, thearubigins, and theabrownins.

Theaflavins are the primary functional component in black tea. Based on numerous medical literature reports, drinking black tea helps regulate the content of low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein in the arteries, thus lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Compared to other types of tea, black tea generally has better effects in preventing cardiovascular diseases. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, black tea has a warm nature and can warm the stomach. People with a cold constitution and the elderly are suitable for drinking this type of warm tea.

Green Tea —- Fire-Reducing and Cancer-Preventive

Green tea is an unfermented tea that retains the natural substances found in fresh leaves. It contains a large amount of nutrients such as polyphenols, catechins, chlorophyll, caffeine, amino acids, and vitamins. The natural nutrients in green tea have special effects on anti-aging, cancer prevention, antitumor, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Catechins and other polyphenolic compounds are widely recognized as being beneficial to health in green tea.

Compared to other types of tea, green tea has better cancer-preventing effects. Based on multiple literature studies, green tea can reduce the risk of tumors in various parts of the body, including the breast and prostate. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, green tea is slightly cold and can help reduce internal heat. Those with a cold stomach should drink less, while those who are easily overheated or have a robust and hot constitution are suitable for drinking it.

Yellow Tea —- Suitable for Everyone

Yellow tea is a lightly fermented tea, typically divided into yellow bud tea, small yellow buds, and large yellow tea based on the maturity of the fresh leaves. The main characteristic of yellow tea is its yellow leaves and yellow infusion. Not only are the leaves yellow, but the infusion is also yellow, and the dry tea appears bright yellow, with a pleasant aroma and a thick, refreshing taste.

Yellow tea is made through a process called “damping,” and based on multiple literature studies, during this process, a large number of digestive enzymes are produced, which are good for the spleen and stomach. Yellow tea can benefit those with poor digestion, loss of appetite, and lazy obesity. Compared to the cooling nature of green tea and the warming nature of black tea, yellow tea has a nature that lies between these two extremes, making it suitable for almost everyone.

Dark Tea (Pu'er) —- Cold-Resistant and Lipid-Lowering

Dark tea (also known as Pu'er) is a post-fermented tea. Under the influence of microorganisms, a series of complex chemical reactions occur, generating beneficial components for the human body. The most significant of these are vitamins and minerals, along with proteins, amino acids, and polysaccharides.

Dark tea has strong functions in reducing greasy feelings and aiding digestion. It can improve the intestinal microbial environment and smooth the digestive system. Based on numerous clinical trials, teas that undergo microbial fermentation during the stacking process contain components that differ greatly from those found in green and black teas, exhibiting different functionalities. Dark tea is effective in lowering blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels and can aid in weight loss. Based on multiple studies, the unique Health benefits of dark tea are related to its rich content of tea polysaccharides.

White Tea —- Liver Protection

White tea is a mildly fermented tea and a special rarity among Chinese teas. It refers to a tea that, after being picked, is not subjected to the processes of fixing or rolling but is instead dried through exposure to sunlight or gentle heat.

Some literature indicates that white tea is rich in dihydrokaempferol and other flavonoid natural substances, which play a role in liver protection, significantly reducing damage caused by alcohol to the liver and rapidly restoring the liver to a normal state. White tea also has the effects of sobering up, clearing heat and moistening the lungs, tonifying the liver and enriching the blood, relieving inflammation and detoxifying, lowering blood pressure and reducing fat, and alleviating fatigue. It is particularly effective for symptoms such as excessive smoking and drinking, excessive oiliness, and liver fire, as well as digestive dysfunction.

Oolong Tea —- Moisturizing and Weight Loss

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea. Oolong tea is processed through the steps of fixing, withering, shaking, partial fermentation, and baking, resulting in a high-quality tea.

Oolong tea has a fat-dissolving effect that aids in weight loss, as the main component, tannic acid, has a close relationship with fat metabolism. Based on experimental results, oolong tea can lower cholesterol levels in the blood, making it a rare weight-loss tea. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, oolong tea is neutral in nature and can clear excess internal heat, making it especially suitable for consumption in autumn to alleviate dryness.

Drinking tea for one minute can quench thirst; drinking tea for one hour can bring joy to both body and mind; drinking tea for one month can cultivate the body and mind; drinking tea for a year can promote health; drinking tea for a lifetime can extend life.

Tea should be consumed regularly but not excessively, and its strength should be moderate.