1. Preferring Fresh Tea

Since fresh tea has a short storage time, it contains higher levels of unoxidized polyphenols, aldehydes, and alcohols, which can strongly irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and potentially trigger stomach issues. Therefore, fresh tea should be consumed sparingly, and tea stored for less than half a month should be avoided.

2. Drinking the First Brew

Due to pesticide residues and other contaminants from cultivation and processing, the first brew of tea acts as a rinse and should be discarded.

3. Drinking Tea on an Empty Stomach

Drinking tea on an empty stomach dilutes gastric juices, reduces digestive function, and increases the absorption of harmful components in tea, potentially causing dizziness, palpitations, or weakness.

4. Drinking Tea After Meals

Tea contains tannic acid, which reacts with iron in food, forming insoluble compounds that may lead to iron deficiency or anemia over time. The correct approach is to wait an hour after eating before drinking tea.

5. Drinking Tea During Fever

Tea contains theophylline, which raises body temperature, making it counterproductive for fever patients.

6. Drinking Tea with Ulcers

Caffeine in tea stimulates gastric acid secretion, increasing acidity and potentially worsening ulcers or causing perforation.

7. Drinking Tea During Menstruation

Drinking tea, especially strong tea, during menstruation may trigger or worsen menstrual syndrome. Studies show that habitual tea drinkers are 2.4 times more likely to experience menstrual discomfort, with those consuming over four cups daily facing triple the risk.

Which tea is better for your health? Besides considering your constitution, experts recommend choosing based on your physical and mental state. For example, green tea is ideal for low moods, oolong tea aids digestion, and jasmine tea freshens breath.

For Cold Limbs

If you often experience cold limbs, it indicates poor circulation and slow metabolism. Warm teas like black tea or jasmine tea can improve blood flow and warm the body. Adding longan to black tea enhances its warming effect.

For Low Moods

If you frequently feel irritable or overheated, traditional Chinese medicine attributes this to "heart fire" or "deficiency fire," making cooling green tea a suitable choice.

For Indigestion

If prone to bloating, aged pu-erh tea (preferably over 5 years old) or oolong tea benefits digestion. Avoid drinking during or immediately after meals; wait at least half an hour.

For Weight Loss

Teas like Tieguanyin, green tea, raw pu-erh, and rock tea aid weight loss. Tieguanyin from Anxi, Fujian, particularly boosts fat metabolism by 14%, especially around the abdomen.