Two Common Misunderstandings About Drinking Tea

Although China can be called the "land of tea," discussions with friends and interviews show that people still have two major misunderstandings about drinking tea.

First, the belief that the more expensive the tea, the better

"Nowadays, more and more high-priced teas not only satisfy people's pursuit of taste but also serve as a symbol of status," said Zhao Yingli, a renowned Chinese tea scholar. The price of tea is determined by its quality and grade. Quality mainly refers to the origin and variety of the tea, for example, everyone knows that West Lake Longjing is good.

Grade is mainly related to the picking time and part of the plant. Tender buds, one bud and one leaf, one bud and two leaves all differ significantly in price. For the same Longjing, tea picked before Qingming Festival (Mingqian tea) is particularly expensive.

Wang Qing, vice president of the China Tea Marketing Association, believes: "Ordinary people don't need to buy such high-end tea. They can choose according to their personal financial situation and taste preferences."

Zhao Yingli suggests choosing tea priced between 100-300 yuan per jin (500g). "At this price, you can buy tea of very good quality. I recommend that when purchasing, you focus on quality rather than grade. Some high-grade teas are picked too early and too tender, and some of the tea's nutrients are actually in the stems. Some cheaper teas may even have better health benefits."

Second, only drinking tea without savoring it

There are two types of tea: one is the "daily necessities" tea (fuel, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea), and the other is the "cultural pursuits" tea (music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, tea).

The first type can satisfy people's "physical" needs, such as quenching thirst, refreshing, reducing internal heat, and aiding digestion. The second type can satisfy people's "mental" needs, such as expressing emotions, observing etiquette, and understanding the way.

Zhao Yingli said that for people, the greatest value of tea is primarily nourishing the mind, with physical nourishment as secondary. "Especially for middle-aged people who are busy with work and under pressure, they should give themselves some time to patiently brew and savor a pot of tea. When people are irritable, they are prone to making wrong decisions. At such times, it might be better to slowly enjoy a pot of tea before making any decisions."

How to Drink the Right Tea?

1. Drink According to Your Body Type

To benefit from drinking tea, you must understand it. Han Chi, a researcher at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, China CDC, said: "Each type of tea has different properties, so you must choose one that suits you.

For example, everyone says green tea has good antioxidant effects, but people with a cold body constitution may feel uncomfortable after drinking it." Jiang Heyuan, associate researcher at the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, added: "Drinking tea also depends on the season and environment. Many people drink the same type of tea all year round, which is not right. In winter, it's cold, so drink more warming teas; in spring and summer, when it's easy to get internal heat, drink more green tea or flower tea."

2. Match the Tea to Its Properties

Zhao Yingli explained that Chinese tea is divided into six categories: green tea, black tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, and dark tea. These six categories have different properties and different effects on the human body.

For example:

Green tea is cold in nature, suitable for people with a hot constitution, strong stomach fire, and abundant energy. It has good anti-radiation effects and is ideal for people who work in front of computers.

White tea is cool in nature, suitable for similar groups as green tea. However, "old green tea is like grass, while aged white tea is a treasure." Aged white tea (Silver Needle, White Peony, Tribute Eyebrow, etc.) has the effect of dispelling pathogens and strengthening the body's resistance.

Yellow tea is cold in nature, with effects roughly similar to green tea, but different in taste: green tea is refreshing, while yellow tea is mellow.

Oolong tea is neutral in nature, suitable for a wide range of people.

Black tea is warm in nature, suitable for people with cold stomachs, cold hands and feet, weak constitutions, or the elderly. It tastes even better with milk or honey.

Dark tea (Pu'er) is warm in nature. It can help digest greasy food, detoxify meat, and lower blood lipids. Its taste and efficacy are better after proper aging.

3. Drink According to the Season

Spring: Drink flower tea and Phoenix Dan Cong. Spring focuses on soothing liver qi. Aromatic substances help open the senses, so drink more Phoenix Dan Cong and jasmine tea. However, fresh green tea in spring still has too much cold energy, so do not drink too much, especially for those with a cold constitution.

Summer: Drink green tea and Tieguanyin. The best choice for cooling down and quenching thirst in summer is green tea. In addition, Tieguanyin and Taiwan high-mountain tea are also good options. People with strong constitutions can also drink Sheng Pu'er that has been stored for 3-5 years.

Autumn: Oolong tea is suitable for autumn. The nature and taste of oolong tea fall between green tea and black tea, neither cold nor hot. It can clear residual internal heat and generate body fluids to nourish yin. The best choices for autumn are Tieguanyin from last spring and Wuyi rock tea from last year.

Winter: Drink black tea and ripe Pu'er. Drinking black tea in winter can nourish yang qi and bring a feeling of warmth. Ripe Pu'er can warm the stomach, dispel cold, and aid digestion.

4. What Tea is Best for Men and Women?

Drink tea according to the person.

Tea for the elderly: Zhao Yingli said many elderly people worry that drinking tea may cause calcium deficiency. As long as they don't drink too much or too strong tea and consume enough milk and tofu, the lost calcium can be compensated. Older people can drink more black tea.

Tea for children: Children can also drink some light tea, which is beneficial for growth and development.

Tea for men: Men are suitable for drinking green tea, Sheng Pu'er aged over three years, and oolong tea, especially Wuyi rock tea, which is called "men's tea."

Tea for women: Women can drink some good green tea for its beauty and skincare benefits, but should control tea intake during menstruation and pregnancy. During menopause, they can drink more flower tea and Dan Cong.

5. Incorrect Drinking Methods Waste Nutrients

Regarding the biggest "mistake" in modern tea drinking, Zhao Yingli warned that using a large teacup with a handful of tea leaves steeped all day is the worst approach. This way, you cannot taste the true flavor of the tea, and prolonged steeping can cause heavy metals to leach into the tea, which is unhealthy.

"You must separate the tea leaves from the water when drinking tea. Even if you don't have professional tea utensils, prepare a teapot or cup with a filter."

In addition, common mistakes include "not rinsing new tea, leaving leftover tea leaves, and not cleaning tea stains." Whether it's tender new tea or precious aged tea, there may be pesticide residues and dust contamination on the surface, so it's best to "rinse" the tea and discard the first infusion.

Some people are reluctant to wash off the tea stains inside their teapots, thinking it helps season the pot. In fact, tea stains are not only harmful to health but also affect the taste of the tea.

Zhao Yingli reminded everyone that another common misconception is that drinking tea causes sleep problems. "Many highly fermented teas, such as black tea and ripe Pu'er, contain very little caffeine. Not only do they not affect sleep, but drinking a cup of tea an hour after dinner can help with digestion and even promote sleep."