As is well known, drinking tea is beneficial to health, especially when done consistently over the long term. The key to health preservation through tea lies in mastering the best times to drink it. Consuming the right tea at the right time can achieve twice the result with half the effort.

What is the best time to drink tea?

Morning tea

Drinking tea in the morning, after a full night's rest, the body has consumed a large amount of water, and the blood concentration increases. Drinking a cup of light tea can quickly replenish the body's needed water, 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 in the body while ensuring ample blood supply to the brain.

One important thing to remember: you can drink tea in the morning, but only one hour after breakfast. As the ancients said, "Do not drink tea on an empty stomach." This is because tea leaves contain alkaloids like caffeine. Drinking tea on an empty stomach can lead to excessive absorption of caffeine by the intestines, causing symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, weakness, and mental confusion in some people. It may not only cause gastrointestinal discomfort and reduced appetite but also harm the normal function of the nervous system. Drinking tea on an empty stomach allows its cold nature to enter the organs, chilling the spleen and stomach—like "inviting a wolf into the house." Hence, China has long had the saying, "Do not drink tea on an empty stomach."

Afternoon tea

Drinking tea around 3:00 PM can help regulate the body, strengthen immunity, and even prevent colds. This is the most important tea time of the day, commonly known as afternoon tea. For people with conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or 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. Generally, the liver is most active at noon, and drinking green or oolong tea can alleviate this. Oolong tea, such as Tieguanyin, has a cool nature and enters the liver meridian, clearing liver-gallbladder heat and detoxifying the liver. It is also rich in vitamin E, which has anti-aging effects.

Green tea, on the other hand, enters the kidney meridian, promoting diuresis and smoother urination. It contains the highest amount of 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 will affect sleep. In fact, this is the time when the immune system is most active. Drinking tea at this time helps the body repair and restore the immune system and regenerate cells.

However, avoid green tea, as it is unfermented and can be stimulating. Instead, choose black tea, especially ripe pu-erh. Ripe pu-erh is mild and will not disrupt sleep. Drinking black tea after dinner also helps break down accumulated fat, warming the stomach and aiding digestion.