Recommended Teas:
- Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess)
- Green Tea
- Jasmine
Many people like to start a new day with a cup of coffee. Coffee is a good source of caffeine, which is a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant. But according to recent research, coffee is actually a very complex beverage with hundreds and hundreds of different compounds in it. Since coffee contains so many different compounds, drinking coffee can lead to very diverse health outcomes. And for pregnant women, there has been still quite a bit of controversy over whether high intake of coffee or caffeine may increase the risk of miscarriage. So here we will recommend a couple types of teas that can keep you awake for a long day of work, and are good for your health.
Tie Guan Yin Tea
Tie Guan Yin Tea is a very refreshing tea, mostly thanks to the caffeine(also called theine) in the tea leaves. It excites the central nervous system, and produces faster and clearer flow of thought. Drinking Tie Guan Yin Tea can dispel daytime sleepiness, increase wakefulness, reduce physical fatigue and restore alertness.
Green Tea
According to the Daily Mail, recent research conducted by University of Basel finds out that green tea extract increases the brain’s effective connectivity, improves significantly in an area of the brain associated with working memory, which you need for problem solving and focus. And compared to coffee, drinking green tea is less stimulating to the nerves system in that the caffeine it contains is less than that in coffee. Green tea can also protect against cancer as it contains a compound called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which helps inhibit blood vessel growth, and many other benefits to our body. The results of this study are published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
In spite of all the benefits of green tea, physicians of traditional Chines medicine warn us of drinking too much green tea. Because green tea have other effects on removing body heat, and calming the nerves, drinking too much of it will actually helps you to fall asleep.
We can never say exactly what kind of tea has the most caffeine, or is most refreshing for our body. It really depends on the type of tea, the environment the tea tree is planted, the picking season of the tea, how the tea is processed, and etc. As for the same type of tea, we are safe to say that the young leaves contain more caffeine than the old ones, and so does the tea processed in summer than in spring. And 60% to 70% of the caffeine will go into the tea within the first one and a half minute during the first brew. There is no doubt to drink the first brew if you do need to wake yourself up. Yet, for women during menstruation, pregnancy, child birth and baby nursing period, or people with gout, they should get rid of the first brew and wait for the second brew in order not to take in too much caffeine. At the same time, however, most of the antioxidants have lost then as well.
Jasmine Tea
Some people like to take a nap on their desk at noon. But when they wake up, they have a feeling of pins and needles and light-headed most of the time. That is a result of the inappropriate sleep position. If you don’t get rid of this bad habit, as time passes, it will cause the problem of depression and energy stagnation of liver. And jasmine tea is a good choice to solve this problem. It can regulate the energy, alleviate the depression, and calm the spirit. When your pressure is relieved, you can devote yourself better to your work.
How to make jasmine tea?
Add 2 tablespoons of jasmine tea to your tea pot (preferably a glass one). Pour water at 80 degrees Celsius to your pot. Wait for 3 to 5 minutes for the tea to infuse. And you can infuse the tea 3 or 4 times if the tea retains its flavor very well.
Lemon Mint (Iced) Tea
Preparation: rinse the mint and steep it with warm water for 1 hour. Rinse and cut the lemon into slices. Put lemon slices into the mint water when it is ready. Add as much honey as you like. Stir until honey totally dissolves. And you can serve it over ice if desired. This lemon mint iced tea will refresh you in a crowded busy office, or save you from the dizziness after the noon break. Mint not only clears your mind, but also freshen your breath in a natural way.
Huang Qi Tea
Do you often feel tired when you are at work? Then you had better try Huang Qi tea. Huang Qi is a precious herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It is well known for its effects on tonifying body energy, invigorating the blood, and strengthening the health.
Ingredients: Huang Qi 10-15, dried red dates 6, water 2-3 bowls
Preparation:
- Rinse and soak the dried red dates in warm water for 10 minutes. Remove the red date cores if your body constitution is hot, but keep it if it is cold.
- Soak Huang Qi and red dates in water for 20 to 30 minutes (so that the nutrient content in Huang Qi and red dates can come out completely when they are cooked).
- Cook Huang Qi with red dates and water in a pottery pot. When it is boiled, turn the heat down to low heat and cook for another 20 minutes.