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Header images courtesy of Sergey Norkov (via Unsplash)
Even if you fill your house with an armada of air purifiers and sanitise every surface you can reach, the best way to prevent yourself from getting sick is to have a strong and healthy body in the first place. While that sounds like an unattainable goal, there is one thing you could add to your diet to help improve your health: Chinese teas.
Rich in antioxidants, Chinese tea is known to have multiples health benefits, counting weight loss, muscle endurance, and lowering the risk of diabetes amongst them. You would want to drink cooling teas (green and white) in the summer and warming teas (dark oolong, red, and Pu’er) in the winter. Here’s our guide to different Chinese teas and what they are good for.
Green tea originated in China, but it is also commonly associated with many other cultures across Asia, most notably Japan, where matcha is a popular drink. Green tea leaves are put through a short fermentation process and it is considered the healthiest tea to drink, as it is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body.
Its benefits include improved brain function, the promotion of fat loss, and a lowered risk of cancer. Most types of green tea generally have less caffeine than coffee, but it’s still more than enough to keep you awake, so try not to drink it before bedtime.
Famous Chinese green teas: Longjing, Biluochun
White tea is made from steeping the dried and immature tea leaves from the same family as green tea. It is the least processed form of tea, using only the first tea buds produced from the bushes. Since the leaves are very delicate, the tea has to be prepared at the lowest temperatures to prevent overboiling and bitterness.
Its presumed health benefits as an anti-ageing agent, coupled with skin-smoothing properties, make white tea an easy choice for many. Out of the many different types of Chinese teas, it kills germs most effectively and it can also combat free radicals. Its ability to prevent cavities and promote good oral health—the tea’s lightness does not stain your pearly whites—and you have yourself an all-around winner.
Famous Chinese white teas: Shoumei, Baimudan, Gongmei
When making green tea, after the leaves are processed, kneaded, and twisted, they turn yellow if not dried properly. At first, people thought of the mistake as bad green tea, but they grew to enjoy the different flavour and it became one of the six major types of Chinese tea.
Yellow tea is unwilted and unoxidised, but the yellow colour comes from fermentation. It is a difficult process that takes many years to master, which is the reason why high-grade yellow tea is hard to find. Yellow tea is recommended for maintaining liver health, so all you weekend warriors better stock up! It can also reduce inflammation and help you with your digestion.
Famous Chinese yellow teas: Mengding Mountain Huangya, Jun Mountain Yinzhen
A unique process of withering the tea leaves as well as a special drying and oxidation process results in oolong tea. Oolong tea can help reduce the risk of heart diseases, lower the risk of high cholesterol, prevent diabetes, decrease inflammation, support a healthy brain, and prevent bone loss. However, oolong tea is said to obstruct the body’s iron absorption, so it is better to drink tea outside of meals to limit its impact on that front.
Famous Chinese oolong teas: Da Hong Pao, Tieguanyin
Not to be confused with the English kind of black tea, Chinese black tea is what the English refer to as “red tea.” Black tea leaves are put through an oxidation process similar to several other types of tea, but for a longer period of time, resulting in a brew that is much darker in colour. For example, the gongfu tea preparation process typically favours using black tea.
Furthermore, the polyphenols found in black tea can help maintain a healthy gut by promoting the growth of good bacteria and inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria. What it means is that black teas can also act as a diuretic and help remove the excess water in your body, which might help you shed away a few pounds if you’re in a pinch!
Famous Chinese black teas: Gongfu-style black tea, Yunnan black tea
Post-fermented teas are any of the darker tea varieties made from leaves that have gone through a unique process. Freshly-picked tea leaves are exposed to humidity and oxygen for an extended period of time, even longer than that of black teas. Pu’er is the perfect example of dark teas, with fermentation ranging from one year up to 20 years.
Because it is fully oxidised, pu’er tea has a lower antioxidant content, but the caffeine, vitamin, amino acid, and phospholipids in dark tea are helpful in promoting healthy digestion, regulating fat metabolism, stimulating gastric juice secretion, and increasing appetite.
Dark tea also has strong functions in cutting grease and digesting, which is great during or after a meal. However, the fermented pu’er tea is rich in tea pigment, so make sure to drink this tea in reserved amounts, as it may stain your teeth over time.
Next to tea leaves, China also has a renowned reputation for its flower teas. Flowers are believed to have a lot of different health properties and are used in Chinese medicine as well. Many people may be familiar with the “flowering tea,” where a bundle of dried tea leaves are wrapped around dried flowers and when dropped in a glass of hot water, the bundle bursts open into bloom. Here are some of the more popular flower teas and their benefits:
Jasmine: Controls stress levels, aids digestion, and relieves menstrual pain.
Chrysanthemum flower: Lowers blood pressure, removes toxins, and enhances eyesight. People who are catching a cold should avoid it, though.
Osmanthus flower: Enhances overall lung health, dispelling cold and dampness in the body, and eases stomach pain. However, pregnant women should avoid it.
Hibiscus: Great for lowering high blood pressure.
Rose: Improves blood circulation, but it means that females on their period should avoid it.
Honeysuckle: Detoxifies the body and relieves heat—perfect for the summer months.
Lily: Moistens your lungs, cures coughs and dizziness, and helps with clearing the stomach.
Having lived in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London sure is a fun fact whenever people try to guess Ching’s accent. She loves switching between all these language channels and her “mother tongue” is just determined by how many drinks she’s had for the night! She loves movies, travelling, and exploring cities, from hidden alleys to gourmet dining, so feel free to hit her up if you need any suggestions for dinner!
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