Green Tea Reduces Internal Heat

Winter climate is dry, making it easy to develop internal heat (上火). This is when one can turn to green tea for winter health preservation. Green tea is unfermented and cooling in nature, so it's best for reducing internal heat, promoting saliva production, quenching thirst, aiding digestion, and resolving phlegm. It can also accelerate the healing of mild gastric ulcers, lower blood lipids, and prevent vascular sclerosis.

Therefore, people who are prone to internal heat, those who usually smoke and drink alcohol, and those who are overweight are more suitable for drinking green tea as a winter health tea; however, people with weak and cold stomachs should not consume green tea for winter health.

②Black Tea Prevents Flu

Drinking black tea is considered top-grade in winter. Black tea is sweet and warm, nourishing the body's阳气 (Yang Qi). It is rich in protein and sugar, generating heat and warming the abdomen, which enhances the body's ability to resist cold. It also aids digestion and removes greasiness. In some parts of China, there is a habit of drinking black tea with sugar, milk, or sesame, which not only warms the body but also adds nutrition and strengthens the constitution.

③Flower Tea Relieves Depression

Flower teas include Jasmine Tea, Magnolia Tea, Osmanthus Tea, and Rose Tea, etc. Generally speaking, flower teas can nourish the liver and benefit the gallbladder, strengthen the limbs, and dredge the meridians. Taking jasmine tea as an example, it can clear heat, relieve summer heat, strengthen the spleen, and calm the nerves. It has good effects on treating dysentery and preventing stomach pain. Therefore, it is appropriate to choose them in winter. Especially for women who are prone to depression and irritability around menopause and before and after their menstrual period, drinking flower tea can help dispel melancholy.

④Oolong Tea Relieves Dryness

There are many types of winter health teas, such as Oolong tea. It is a semi-fermented tea,介于 (between) green and black tea, with a bluish-brown color, hence also named "Green Tea" (Qingcha). In winter, indoor air is mostly dry, and people are prone to dry mouth and cracked lips. Brewing a cup of oolong tea at this time can alleviate the distress of dryness. Furthermore, oolong tea has a good decomposing effect on protein and fat, preventing fat accumulation in the liver. For those afraid of gaining weight in winter, oolong tea also has a certain weight loss effect. So, winter health tea is most important.

The Best Time to Drink Tea in Winter

Drink tea around 3:00 PM. Drinking tea at this time can help regulate the body, enhance resistance, nourish, and also prevent colds. This is the most important tea time of the day, commonly known as afternoon tea. For some people with the "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high blood lipids), persisting in drinking afternoon tea can achieve effects that medicine cannot.

Drink tea around 8:30 PM. Many people misunderstand drinking tea at night, fearing it will affect sleep. Actually, this is not the case. This time is when the human immune system is most active. If you can brew a pot of tea, the body can easily repair and restore the immune system, rebuild cells, etc. For some people with neurasthenia, they can choose to drink semi-fermented, warm-natured Tieguanyin. Never drink green tea because it is unfermented and has a certain stimulating effect on the body.