[A cup of flower tea at 9 a.m.]
It is best to drink three cups of tea a day. The first cup is morning tea, suitable for drinking between 9-10 a.m. after breakfast. It can help refresh, detoxify, and fight fatigue, making it the most important of the three cups.
The best choice for morning tea is flower tea. After secondary processing, flower tea combines the rich fragrance of fresh flowers with the fresh aroma of new tea, which can awaken the mind and boost your spirit throughout the day. However, it should be noted that people with insomnia should not drink flower tea, as it may cause more serious sleep disorders. People with allergies should also avoid flower tea.
Flower tea is best brewed in a lidded porcelain cup, focusing not on appreciating the leaves but on tasting the aroma. It can be brewed with water that has just come to a boil. Cover the cup and let it steep for a while before opening the lid to enjoy the refreshing fragrance of the flower tea, which can lift your spirits.
[A cup of green tea at 1 p.m.]
The second cup is afternoon tea, best consumed between 1-3 p.m. after lunch or a nap. Afternoon tea can be brewed a bit stronger to help lower blood lipids and protect blood vessels.
The reason green tea has health benefits such as antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and antiviral properties is mainly due to the polyphenols in the tea leaves. Therefore, green tea is best brewed and consumed immediately. If the water temperature is too high or the steeping time is too long, the polyphenols will be destroyed.
Generally, the brewing temperature for green tea should be around 85°C, just when the water begins to boil. The steeping time should be 2-3 minutes. The ratio of green tea to water should be appropriate, typically 1:50. Commonly, 3 grams of tea leaves are steeped in 150 ml of water to achieve a balanced strength.
For teaware, you can use a porcelain cup or a transparent glass cup.
[A cup of black tea at 6 p.m.]
The third cup is evening tea, suitable for drinking between 6-7 p.m. after dinner. It helps lower blood lipids and aids digestion. Experts say that black tea is the best choice for evening consumption because fermented tea has a lower caffeine content, which has less impact on sleep. People with cold constitutions can drink more black tea, as it warms the stomach and dispels cold, making it beneficial for those with stomach cold, cold hands and feet, weak constitution, or frequent diarrhea.
When brewing black tea, unlike green tea, a higher water temperature can better extract the flavonoid health compounds, enhancing both the flavor and aroma while maximizing health benefits. Therefore, black tea is best brewed with boiling water, and the steeping time can be relatively longer.
Generally, 5 minutes is optimal. The amount of water used for brewing black tea is similar to that for green tea. Traditional black tea can be steeped 3-4 times, while broken black tea can be steeped 1-2 times. Additionally, it is best to avoid drinking tea after 8 p.m.