When it comes to drinking tea, most Chinese people seem to think they know a lot about it, but in reality, that's not the case.

Many people drink the same tea all year round, which is actually incorrect. Many decide what tea to drink based on their personal taste, but it should be chosen according to their physical constitution; otherwise, the effects may be counterproductive. The recent issue of pesticide residues exceeding standards in tea leaves has led many to vigorously rinse their tea before drinking, which is also wrong. Many people use boiling water to brew any kind of tea, but this is not correct either—different teas require water at different temperatures. Additionally, quite a few people drink tea immediately after a meal. In fact, the correct time to drink tea is half an hour to one hour after a meal...

When to Drink Tea: Half an Hour to One Hour After a Meal Is Best

Regarding the best time to drink tea, Associate Professor Zhang Lingyun from the Department of Tea Science, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, provided the following answer. Drinking tea on an empty stomach before a meal, immediately after a meal, or while eating are all incorrect practices.

Drinking tea on an empty stomach can dilute gastric juices, reduce digestive function, and increase the absorption rate of water, causing harmful components in tea to enter the bloodstream in large quantities, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, and weakness in the limbs.

Drinking tea while eating can affect digestion. The tea polyphenols in tea can form complexes with iron and proteins in food, thereby affecting the body's absorption of iron and protein.

Drinking tea immediately after a meal can affect the digestion and absorption of food, increasing the burden on the stomach and liver.

The correct method is to wait at least half an hour to one hour after a meal before drinking tea. By this time, the food in the stomach is mostly digested, and drinking some tea can help reduce greasiness and soothe the stomach.

How to Brew Tea: Not All Teas Should Be Brewed with Boiling Water

Many people brew any tea as soon as the water boils, but this is not the case. Zhang Lingyun said that different teas have their own suitable temperatures. High-quality green tea is usually brewed with water at around 85°C. "Water that is too hot can give green tea a cooked taste," affecting its color, aroma, and flavor.

High-quality black tea (bud-shaped) should also not be brewed with boiling water; it should be brewed with water at 80–90°C to avoid damaging its aroma. On the other hand, Tieguanyin and other oolong teas, as well as small-leaf black tea (mountain tea), are best brewed with boiling water to enhance their aroma.

Whether the first brew of tea is drinkable depends on the type of tea you are drinking. For dark tea or oolong tea, you should first rinse it quickly with boiling water and then pour out the water. Professor Zhang explained that this is not to wash the tea but to warm it up, which helps release the tea's aroma (the first brew may have an uneven taste, but it is still drinkable). Green tea, black tea, etc., do not require this warming process.

Some people try to rinse the tea to remove pesticide residues. In fact, the pesticides used in tea cultivation are generally water-insoluble, so there is usually no pesticide residue in the brewed tea soup. Rinsing the tea is unnecessary.

Who Should Not Drink Tea: Patients with Gastric Ulcers, Malnourished Individuals, and Children

Professor Peng Kang emphasized that children should not be encouraged to drink tea, especially strong tea, as it is not conducive to their growth and development.

Individuals with iron-deficiency anemia: The tannic acid in tea can affect the body's absorption of iron, worsening anemia.

Those with neurasthenia and insomnia: The caffeine in tea can stimulate the nervous system, increase basal metabolism, and worsen insomnia.

Patients with gastric ulcers: Caffeine stimulates gastric acid secretion, aggravating the condition and affecting ulcer healing.

Malnourished individuals: Since tea polyphenols can break down fat, drinking tea is like adding frost to snow for malnourished people. Professor Peng said, "If a person is already thin and weak, drinking tea to eliminate fat and oil will only make them weaker."

Those with constipation: Tannic acid has an astringent effect, which can slow intestinal peristalsis and worsen constipation. Professor Zhang suggested that those who want to address constipation through tea can try drinking some blended teas, such as burdock tea or pine needle tea.

Women during menstruation: The caffeine in tea stimulates the nerves and cardiovascular system, increasing basal metabolism during menstruation and leading to symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, excessive menstrual bleeding, and prolonged periods. Breastfeeding women: Caffeine can affect milk secretion and enter the baby's body through breast milk, causing anemia and affecting the baby's sleep.

Individuals with heart disease: Drinking too much tea can increase heart rate and, in some cases, cause arrhythmia. Professor Peng suggested that heart disease patients should drink tea in moderation.

Women in menopause: Menopausal women already have unstable endocrine systems, and drinking tea can worsen symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, insomnia, and poor sleep quality.

Pregnant women: Drinking too much tea can affect the nutrition the mother provides to the baby, resulting in a thin and weak infant.

What Tea to Drink in Summer: Green Tea, But Those with a Cold Constitution Should Drink It in Moderation

In summer, high temperatures and excessive sweating lead to significant fluid loss in the body. Professor Peng Kang, a doctoral supervisor in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Southern Medical University, suggests that ordinary people can generally choose to drink green tea. However, he also reminds everyone that tea drinking should be based on one's constitution. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that people's constitutions can be either heat-biased or cold-biased, and teas, depending on their processing methods, can also be classified as cool or warm in nature. Green tea is a cool tea, so individuals with a cold constitution should not drink too much of it, even in summer. He suggests that people with qi deficiency or yang deficiency constitutions can choose some simple and mild teas to drink in summer, such as decoctions made from white茅根, reed根, dendrobium, patchouli, honeysuckle, or mint, which are heat-clearing but not overly bitter or cold.