Regular consumption of black tea can help prevent influenza, stroke, and skin cancer. Drinking black tea aids in gastrointestinal digestion, reduces greasiness, stimulates appetite, promotes health preservation, acts as a diuretic, and alleviates edema. Drinking black tea can also strengthen heart function. It is advisable to add milk to black tea, as for those who drink tea without milk, the proportion of oxalic acid in the body is relatively high. Although oxalic acid is generally excreted through urine, for some individuals, a certain amount may accumulate in the body, eventually forming kidney stones. The calcium in milk can bind with oxalic acid, facilitating its smooth excretion. It is recommended to drink black tea in the evening.

How to drink black tea

Depending on the tea utensils used, drinking black tea can be divided into the cup method and the pot method.

Generally, Gongfu black tea, Souchong black tea, tea bags, and instant black tea are mostly consumed using the cup method. This involves placing the tea leaves in a white porcelain cup or glass cup, brewing with boiling water, and then drinking. Broken black tea and tea dust are often consumed using the pot method. This entails placing the tea leaves into a teapot, brewing them, and then slowly pouring out the tea liquor from the pot to separate it from the tea leaves, distributing it into small cups for convenient drinking. The tea leaves remain in the pot, allowing for re-brewing or discarding and starting anew, which is very convenient. This method is particularly suitable for serving guests in teahouses or restaurants, or for gatherings of a few friends to discuss matters. When receiving guests, careful consideration should be given to the drinking method chosen, as the same method may be interpreted differently in various places. For instance, in some regions, "sharing tea from the same pot" is seen as a sign of closeness, but in Hunan, serving guests by pouring tea directly from the pot is considered impolite. According to "Qing Bai Lei Chao": "People in Hunan not only drink the tea liquor but also chew the tea leaves. When guests visit, tea must be brewed. If tea is poured directly from the pot to serve guests, it is considered disrespectful. When the guests leave, if the lid of the tea bowl is lifted and nothing is found inside, it means the tea leaves have already been eaten." Perhaps this is the reason why the pot method is not used there.