The Art of Chinese Tea: More Than a Beverage — Medicine and Ritual

Tea in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Tea (茶) in China is not merely a beverage but a culture and a medicine. Every type has its own nature and benefit, and a suitable time.

The Six Types of Tea

🍵 Green Tea (绿茶) — Unfermented

• Nature: Cold
• Element: Wood (Liver)
• Benefit: Cools, removes toxins, moves qi
• Best time: Summer, after fatty meals
• Avoid: On an empty stomach, anemia, pregnancy

🍂 Black/Red Tea (红茶) — Fully Fermented

• Nature: Warm
• Element: Fire (Heart)
• Benefit: Warms the stomach, improves digestion, energizes
• Best time: Winter, morning
• Suitable for: Weak digestion, cold stomach

🌸 Oolong Tea (乌龙) — Partially Fermented

• Nature: Neutral
• Element: Earth (Spleen)
• Benefit: Digests fats, balances
• Best time: After heavy meals
• Suitable for: Obesity, cholesterol

🤍 White Tea (白茶) — Least Processed

• Nature: Cool
• Element: Metal (Lung)
• Benefit: Moistens, gently cools, antioxidant
• Best time: Spring/Autumn
• Suitable for: Dryness, mild heat

🫖 Pu'er Tea (普洱) — Aged Fermentation

• Nature: Warm
• Element: Earth (Spleen)
• Benefit: Digestion, reduces fats, warms the stomach
• Best time: After dinner, winter
• Suitable for: Weak digestion, obesity

🌺 Scented Tea (花茶) — With Flowers

• Nature: Neutral
• Examples: Jasmine, rose, hibiscus
• Benefit: Moves liver qi, improves mood
• Best time: Spring, stress
• Suitable for: Anger, anxiety, depression

The Chinese Brewing Method

Tools

• Small teapot (preferably Yixing clay)
• Small cups (not large mugs!)
• Clean water (spring or filtered)

Steps

1. 1Warm the tools with hot water
2. 2Add tea: 1 spoon per 150 ml
3. 3Water:

• Green: 75-80°C (not boiling!)
• Black/oolong: 90-95°C
• Pu'er: 95-100°C

1. 1Steeping:

• First: 30 seconds (a rinse — discard it!)
• Second: 30-60 seconds (the best)
• Third to fifth: add 15 seconds each time

The Golden Rule

Do not let the tea steep too long! Long steeping releases bitter tannins and harms the stomach. Steep briefly and repeat several times.

Tea and Ailments

🍵 Tip: Drink tea between meals, not with them. Tea with food hinders the absorption of iron and protein. Best time: one hour after eating.