Although green tea ranks first in both production and sales in China, with no other tea able to match it, there are also many who prefer dark tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea. In China, there are six major tea types, each differing not only in appearance but also in taste. Moreover, not every tea type is suitable for everyone. Let’s see which cup of tea suits you and your family better.
Green Tea: The Top Tea for Clearing Heat and Irritability
Green tea is unfermented, well preserving the natural substances in tea leaves. It contains the highest amounts of nutrients such as vitamins, chlorophyll, tea polyphenols, and amino acids among all tea types. Green tea can clear internal heat, relieve irritability, enhance thinking ability, and boost immunity.
Suitable for: Busy middle-aged and young people, mental workers, and those who frequently face computer screens.
Caution: Green tea is cool in nature. Although it can clear heat and relieve irritability, it may irritate the stomach. People with weak spleen and stomach should drink less, or reduce the amount of tea leaves when brewing to minimize irritation.
Black Tea: Warm and Sweet, Regulates the Spleen and Stomach
In China, black tea is the second most popular tea type after green tea. Both the dry leaves and the brewed tea liquid appear red, hence the name black tea (in Chinese context, "hong cha" means red tea).
Black tea is a fermented tea with a mild nature, and it helps regulate the spleen and stomach. Abroad, it is common to add milk and sugar to black tea, which can supplement nutrition and increase body heat.
Suitable for: People with poor stomach or weak constitution who should avoid green tea may find black tea more suitable.
Caution: Black tea is warm in nature, so it is not ideal for those who are experiencing internal heat or who tend to have a hot constitution.
Yellow Tea: Junshan Yinzhen as a Representative
Yellow tea is not as famous as green tea or black tea, but if we mention Junshan Yinzhen, Huoshan Huangya, etc., many people will recognize them. Yes, they belong to yellow tea.
Suitable for: Yellow tea requires a sealing process, classified as "stewed tea." During the stewing process, it produces a large amount of digestive enzymes that benefit the spleen and stomach. Therefore, it is most suitable for people with indigestion, loss of appetite, or obesity.
Caution: Yellow tea contains relatively high amounts of caffeine and tea polyphenols, which can cause excitement and increase urination. Therefore, it is not recommended for pregnant women as it may affect fetal health and potentially cause pregnancy complications.
White Tea: A Rare Treasure That Can Lower Blood Sugar
Although white tea is not as widely popular as green or black tea, and its production is limited, it is a rare treasure among teas.
Suitable for: White tea is most suitable for diabetic patients. During processing, white tea is not stir-fried or kneaded, so its polysaccharide content remains largely intact. Tea polysaccharides have certain effects on treating diabetes. Additionally, white tea is cool in nature, helping to reduce internal heat and treat constipation.
Caution: Diabetic patients should brew white tea with water at a lower temperature, around 80°C, and steep for 4 to 6 hours. It is best consumed in the early morning or evening. Boiling water should be avoided to prevent damaging the tea polysaccharides.
Oolong Tea: The Slimming and Beauty Tea
Suitable for: Oolong tea is best for people who are overweight. Due to its good effects on lowering blood lipids, cholesterol, and aiding digestion, it is called "beauty and slimming tea" in Japan. Oolong tea also helps refresh the mind, making it suitable for students studying late at night or overtime workers.
Caution: Everyone drinking oolong tea should avoid consuming it on an empty stomach, as it may cause sudden hunger pangs or even dizziness and nausea, known as "tea intoxication." Pregnant women should also avoid it, as the theophylline in oolong tea can have a stimulating effect, increasing fetal movement and potentially harming the fetus.
Dark Tea: Underweight People Should Avoid It
Dark tea is also a unique tea type in China, widely popular among ethnic minorities in border regions. Dark tea undergoes 100% fermentation and belongs to the post-fermented tea category, such as the highly regarded Pu'er tea in recent years.
Suitable for: Dark tea is most suitable for people who frequently eat meat. Its nature is warm and moist, and it has significant effects in removing greasiness, reducing fat, and lowering blood lipids.
Caution: First and foremost, pregnant women should avoid dark tea, as it contains large amounts of tea polyphenols and caffeine, which are harmful to fetal development. Secondly, underweight individuals, those with malnutrition, or protein deficiency should stay away from dark tea, as it can remove fat and hinder the absorption of protein. Thirdly, vegetarians should also be cautious, as drinking dark tea may lead to deficiencies in vitamin B, iron, calcium, and other nutrients, which vegetarians may already lack. People with severe arteriosclerosis or high blood pressure should also avoid dark tea, as the theophylline and caffeine in tea pose potential risks and may contribute to cerebral thrombosis. Additionally, anemic individuals should not drink dark tea, as the tannic acid in it can combine with iron to form insoluble compounds, blocking the body's iron source.