According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Book of Wu: Biography of Wei Yao, Sun Hao, the fourth ruler of the Wu Kingdom, was fond of drinking. At each banquet, guests were required to drink at least seven sheng of wine. However, his highly regarded court official Wei Yao had a low alcohol tolerance. Whenever Wei Yao was in a difficult situation, Sun Hao would "secretly bestow tea as a substitute for wine." This gave rise to the saying "using tea instead of wine," providing an excuse for tea lovers like Old Wu who are not good at drinking to decline alcohol at the dinner table.
Wine and tea are two essential beverages in Chinese dining etiquette for thousands of years. Since ancient times, literati and scholars have often accompanied their writing and painting with wine and tea. Wine can enhance excitement, while tea can clear the mind. One is bold and the other elegant, complementing each other with their own merits. Speaking of wine, there is often the saying "drowning sorrows in wine." Drinking some wine when feeling depressed is indeed a way to relieve worries and stress. At the same time, clinking glasses makes it easier to open up and strengthen communication. However, it is an undeniable fact that drinking harms the body. Aside from the various indiscretions after drunkenness, the main suffering comes from the effects of alcohol: headaches, palpitations, stomach pain, diarrhea, and all kinds of discomfort. Especially, long-term drinking causes damage to various organs such as the nerves, cardiovascular system, stomach, liver, and kidneys.
It is good to substitute tea for wine at the dining table, but for those with frequent work-related social engagements, avoiding alcohol is often difficult. How can we minimize the harm alcohol brings to the body? After getting drunk, one can drink strong tea, especially Anhua Dark Tea, to clear toxins and protect the liver. The tannic acid in tea leaves can counteract acute alcohol poisoning, and caffeine and theophylline are effective against respiratory depression and drowsiness. Particularly, the unique "golden flowers" in Anhua Dark Tea can accelerate the body's metabolism and have a special purifying function for internal organs. They can both adsorb toxic substances in the body (alcohol, heavy metals, waste) and expel them, while also inhibiting most bacteria, earning the reputation of "artificial liver."
After a hangover, drinking a cup of Anhua Dark Tea warms the stomach and calms the nerves, alleviating pain such as headaches and palpitations, while quickly replenishing the water lost from the body due to alcohol. Experts remind that two preparations should be made before drinking: first, choose the best beverage and try not to mix different types; second, eat something before drinking and drink slowly. Especially people with diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease should stay away from alcohol.