According to Lu Yu's “Tea Classic: Chapter One – The Origin of Tea,” it is stated, “The use of tea, with its cool taste, is most suitable for those who are refined and practice frugality and virtue.” Due to its cooling nature, tea can help clear the mind and refresh one's spirit, as well as promote calmness and rationality. However, since people have different constitutions, they should choose different types of tea accordingly. So, how do you select the right tea for yourself?
How to Choose the Right Tea for Yourself
1. If you have a cold stomach and intestines, often experience bloating or an upset stomach, and generally have a weaker constitution, it is recommended that you choose warm-natured teas or hot-natured teas. Warm-natured teas include Pu'er tea, aged white tea, and old tieguanyin. Hot-natured teas include Black Tea and ripe Pu'er tea. These will be very beneficial for your health.
2. If you overwork your brain, have a cold spleen and stomach, and engage in less physical labor, you may want to drink floral teas. Floral teas tend to be warm-natured and can help alleviate depression and refresh the spirit. You can try rose tea, Chrysanthemum tea, jasmine tea, and others.
3. If you smoke and drink frequently, and have a constitution prone to heat and dryness, you should consider drinking cooling teas. For example, green tea, such as West Lake Longjing and Tieguanyin, can be good choices.
4. If you are experiencing suboptimal health, you can drink teas like Dahongpao, black tea, and Pu'er tea, which are warm-natured. During autumn and winter, drinking black tea and Pu'er tea can warm your stomach, boost your energy, and improve overall health.
5. If your immune system is weakened, you can choose green tea, as it can enhance the body's immunity and increase resistance to infections by up to five times.
6. If you suffer from constipation, you can opt for cassia seeds, which have a laxative effect. If you also have high cholesterol, cassia seeds can help lower your lipid levels.
How Different Constitutions Should Choose Their Tea
Yin-deficiency constitution: You may often feel heat and thirst and require more moisture. Yellow Tea and white tea, which are light and refreshing, can be suitable choices.
Qi-deficiency constitution: You may experience weakness, spontaneous sweating, shortness of breath, fatigue, and reduced resistance. Foods that benefit the spleen and stomach and teas with a gentle nature would be appropriate.
Phlegm-dampness constitution: Since you may have excess dampness, it is advisable to consume teas that help eliminate dampness and detoxify.
Damp-heat constitution: Oolong Tea, which has a neutral flavor, can be suitable.
Blood-stasis constitution: Green tea, white tea, and floral teas can all be appropriate.
Allergic constitution: Teas with higher fermentation and moderate roasting, such as fragrant Tieguanyin, Wuyi rock tea, and Oriental Beauty tea, can be good options.
Qi-stagnation constitution: Floral teas with a delicate aroma, such as Anji white tea and Phoenix Dancong with high floral fragrance, can be beneficial.
Balanced constitution: Similar to the approach at Tea Encyclopedia, you can enjoy a wide variety of teas without any restrictions. Spring floral teas, summer green teas, autumn oolongs, winter black teas, and year-round oolongs, along with dark teas used as condiments, can all be enjoyed in moderation.
It is important to note that individuals with certain medical conditions and women during special periods should avoid excessive tea consumption and opt for lighter teas instead.