As we all know, drinking tea is good for health, especially when done consistently over time. The key to tea-based health preservation lies in knowing the optimal times to drink tea. Consuming the right tea at the right time can yield twice the result with half the effort.
What is the best time to drink tea?
Morning tea
Drinking tea in the morning, after a whole night's rest, the body has consumed a lot of water, and the blood concentration increases. A cup of light tea can quickly replenish the body's needed fluids, cleanse the stomach, lower blood pressure, dilute the blood, and benefit health. It can also prevent and treat constipation. However, note that morning tea should never be strong; it should be lighter than usual.
What tea to drink in the morning
It is better to drink black tea in the morning because it promotes blood circulation and dispels cold from the body, ensuring ample blood supply to the brain. A cup of black tea after breakfast, possibly with milk, is ideal. Note that morning tea must be consumed after breakfast, as tea contains caffeine. Drinking it on an empty stomach may lead to excessive caffeine absorption, causing discomfort like palpitations and frequent urination.
Afternoon tea
Drinking tea around 3:00 PM helps regulate the body, boosts immunity, and prevents colds. This is the most important tea time of the day, often called "afternoon tea." For people with "three highs" (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar), sticking to afternoon tea can achieve effects that even medication cannot.
What tea to drink in the afternoon
In the afternoon, it is best to drink oolong tea or green tea. Typically, the liver is more active around noon, and green or oolong tea can alleviate this. Oolong tea, such as tieguanyin, has a cool nature and enters the liver meridian, clearing liver heat and detoxifying the liver. It is also rich in vitamin E, which has anti-aging properties.
Green tea enters the kidney meridian, promoting diuresis and smoother urination. It is also rich in tea polyphenols, which have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Evening tea
Drinking tea around 8:30 PM. Many people misunderstand evening tea, fearing it may disrupt sleep. In fact, this is when the immune system is most active. A cup of tea can help repair and restore the immune system and regenerate cells.
However, avoid green tea as it is unfermented and may stimulate the body. Instead, choose dark tea, especially ripe pu-erh. Ripe pu-erh is mild and won’t affect sleep. Drinking it after dinner helps break down accumulated fat, warming the stomach and aiding digestion.
Some say: Drinking tea is not about the water but the flavor. Over time, it’s not even the tea’s flavor but the taste of life and the heart. Different seasons or times of the day correspond to different teas, much like the warm or cool moments in life. The difference is that most of life is平淡 (ordinary), but when the mind settles, tea always offers flavor.
Drinking tea requires respecting each type of tea wholeheartedly, like a destined friend. No matter their status, you can always find something to appreciate. To understand tea, one must engage with it sincerely, like a friend. Knowing its story deepens your understanding of its uniqueness and how to interact with it.