Drinking tea is one of the methods for health preservation. How exactly can we make tea drinking achieve twice the result with half the effort?
Drink more green tea in spring and summer: Drinking green tea in spring and summer best aligns with the seasons. Spring is suitable for drinking Xinyang Maojian and Biluochun. Both of these green teas have a promoting effect, which can help alleviate spring fatigue. Drinking green tea in summer can clear heat, detoxify, and lower blood lipids. Additionally, people with a hot constitution should also drink more green tea because it is cooling in nature. It is important to note that green tea should not be consumed on an empty stomach. Its rich tea polyphenols have an astringent effect and can irritate the stomach, and this irritation is stronger on an empty stomach.
Three Cups of Tea a Day
A cup of flower tea at 9 a.m.: It is best consumed between 9 and 10 a.m. after breakfast, as it can help refresh, detoxify, and combat fatigue. Flower tea is the most suitable choice for morning tea. Being a secondary processed tea, it blends the rich fragrance of flowers with the fresh aroma of new tea, which can aromatically refresh the mind and boost energy throughout the day. However, it should be noted that people with insomnia are not suitable for drinking flower tea, as it may cause more severe sleep disorders. People with allergies should also avoid flower tea. Flower tea is best brewed in a lidded bowl or porcelain cup, emphasizing the appreciation of its fragrance rather than the appearance of the tea leaves. It can be brewed with recently boiled water. After covering and steeping for a while, lifting the lid allows one to smell the invigorating fragrance of the flower tea, which is mentally uplifting.
A cup of green tea at 1 p.m.: The second cup is afternoon tea, best consumed between 1 and 3 p.m., after lunch or a nap. Afternoon tea can be slightly stronger to help lower blood lipids and protect blood vessels. The main reason green tea has health functions such as antioxidant properties, free radical scavenging, and antiviral effects is primarily due to the polyphenolic substances in the tea leaves. Therefore, green tea is best brewed fresh and consumed immediately. If the brewing temperature is too high or the steeping time is too long, the polyphenolic substances will be destroyed.
Generally, the optimal water temperature for brewing green tea is 85°C, using water that has just reached boiling point. The brewing time should be 2-3 minutes. The ratio of green tea to water should be appropriate, ideally 1:50. A common practice is to use 150 ml of water for 3 grams of tea leaves, resulting in a moderately strong green tea brew. For tea ware, porcelain cups or transparent glass cups can be used.
A cup of black tea at 6 p.m.: The third cup is evening tea, suitable for consumption between 6 and 7 p.m. after dinner. It has the effects of lowering blood lipids and aiding digestion. Black tea is most suitable for drinking in the evening because fermented tea has low caffeine content, minimizing its impact on sleep. People with a cold constitution can drink more black tea, as it warms the middle and dispels cold, and is beneficial for those with stomach cold, cold hands and feet, weak constitution, or prone to diarrhea. Regarding brewing methods, unlike green tea, steeping black tea with high-temperature water can actually promote the effective dissolution of flavonoid health substances within the tea. This not only enhances the flavor and aroma but also allows for better exertion of its health functions.