Although Pu-erh tea has many benefits, nothing is absolute—where there are advantages, there are also drawbacks. There are some situations where it is not suitable to drink Pu-erh tea. Moreover, tea enthusiasts often ask me on WeChat (dydy800) about precautions when drinking Pu-erh tea. Today, I will detail in which situations drinking Pu-erh tea may have the opposite effect.

1. Avoid new tea if you have stomach problems: Since new tea has a short storage time, it contains relatively high levels of unoxidized polyphenols, aldehydes, and alcohols, which can strongly irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and easily induce stomach issues. Therefore, new tea should be consumed sparingly, and tea stored for less than half a month should be avoided altogether.

2. Drinking tea on an empty stomach: Drinking tea on an empty stomach can dilute gastric juices, reduce digestive function, and increase absorption rates, leading to a large influx of undesirable components from the tea into the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, and weakness in the limbs.

3. Drinking tea while feverish: Tea contains theophylline, which can raise body temperature. Drinking tea while feverish is akin to "adding fuel to the fire."

4. Drinking tea during menstruation: Drinking tea, especially strong tea, during menstruation can trigger or worsen menstrual syndrome. Medical research has found that compared to non-tea drinkers, habitual tea drinkers are 2.4 times more likely to experience menstrual tension, and those who drink more than four cups a day are three times more likely.

5. People with liver diseases should avoid tea: Most of the caffeine and other substances in tea are metabolized by the liver. If the liver is diseased, excessive tea consumption beyond the liver’s metabolic capacity can damage liver tissue.

6. Pregnant women should avoid tea, especially strong tea: Tea contains large amounts of tea polyphenols, caffeine, and other components that can adversely affect fetal development in the womb. To ensure normal intellectual development of the fetus and avoid overstimulation from caffeine, pregnant women should drink little or no tea.

Tea enthusiasts with the above conditions should drink Pu-erh tea with caution. It is best to consult a doctor, follow medical advice, and avoid tea when necessary!

By Dong Yue (Founder of Nanming Jiaren, National Senior Tea Artist, Personal WeChat: dydy800)