Nowadays, drinking Tea has gradually become a daily habit. Tea is certainly beneficial to our physical and mental health, but failing to observe certain precautions can have the opposite effect.

Six Common Sense Tips for Drinking Tea

I. Tea Seasons:

Spring: Flower-scented teas; Summer: Green and white teas; Autumn: Oolong teas; Winter: Black and dark teas. Teas with a mild nature, such as ripe Pu'er or aged white tea, are suitable year-round.

II. Appropriate Amount of Tea:

The concentration of tea should be moderate, avoiding strong tea. For adults, 5-15 grams of dry tea is recommended, with about 8-10 cups being ideal. Special regions and groups may require adjustments (I've written a specific article on this topic).

III. Suitable Drinking Temperature:

Avoid drinking scalding hot tea, which can burn the mouth, throat, and esophageal mucosa. Long-term exposure to high temperatures can be a contributing factor to oral and esophageal tumors. It's recommended to drink tea at around 60 degrees Celsius.

IV. Special Populations Drinking Tea:

For those with anemia, nervous exhaustion, or hyperthyroidism, it's best to drink very light teas or avoid tea altogether. Those with stomach issues can drink black tea, dark tea, or aged white tea. Smokers, drinkers, and people working in environments with high radiation levels can benefit from green and white teas.

V. Warming Rinse:

A warming rinse involves briefly soaking the tea leaves in boiling water before the first infusion, which we can also call washing or awakening the tea. Green and white teas made from tender leaves don't necessarily need a warming rinse and can be directly infused. For teas that are rolled or pressed into cakes, a warming rinse helps enhance the flavor of the first infusion.

VI. The Dual Nature of Caffeine in Tea:

Caffeine is the primary alkaloid in tea and has stimulating effects such as boosting alertness, reducing fatigue, and promoting diuresis. However, excessive consumption can cause insomnia and irritate the digestive system. Therefore, if you're sensitive to caffeine, avoid drinking tea before sleeping, don't drink strong tea, and don't take medication with tea.

When Not to Drink Tea?

1. Avoid drinking tea on an empty stomach, drinking strong tea while drunk, drinking strong tea during menstruation, drinking strong tea, drinking tea immediately after meals, taking medicine with tea, drinking tea left overnight, drinking tea before bed, and drinking fresh tea.

2. Avoid Drinking Tea on an Empty Stomach: Tannins and caffeine in tea can irritate the stomach lining when consumed on an empty stomach, exacerbating hunger and potentially causing symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, and chest tightness.

3. Avoid Drinking Strong Tea While Drunk: Tea stimulates the central nervous system, which can further burden the heart when drunk. Drinking tea also increases diuresis, causing toxic aldehydes to be excreted by the kidneys before they are broken down, harming health.

4. Avoid Drinking Strong Tea During Menstruation: Strong tea contains a large amount of caffeine, which strongly stimulates the nervous and cardiovascular systems, increasing anxiety and worsening menstrual pain and flow. Additionally, tannins in strong tea can interfere with iron absorption, leading to iron-deficiency anemia.

5. Avoid Drinking Strong Tea: Strong tea contains more caffeine, which is highly stimulating and can lead to insomnia, faster gastrointestinal movement and irritation of the stomach lining, increased heart rate due to sympathetic nerve stimulation, increased kidney workload, accelerated calcium loss, and impaired iron absorption.

6. Avoid Drinking Tea Immediately After Meals: The substances in tea dilute gastric juices, affecting digestion and potentially causing indigestion.

7. Avoid Taking Medicine with Tea: Drinking tea with medicine can reduce its effectiveness and impact treatment. Furthermore, combining tea and medicine might produce harmful substances. It's best to wait two hours after taking medicine before drinking tea.

8. Avoid Drinking Tea Left Overnight: Tea contains nutrients like proteins and sugars, which serve as effective nutrients for bacterial and mold growth. Leaving tea out for a long time can promote the growth of harmful microorganisms, causing symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea due to gastrointestinal infections.

9. Avoid Drinking Tea Before Bed: Alkaloids like caffeine in tea can stimulate the central nervous system, especially in newly harvested green tea. Tea also promotes urination, which can disrupt sleep, particularly in older individuals.

10. Avoid Drinking Fresh Tea: Freshly processed tea hasn't undergone sufficient transformation, making it unstable. Drinking it can easily cause heatiness. It's best to let it rest for at least half a month to a month, allowing active components to stabilize. This results in a purer taste and a milder nature.