Selecting the right tea for the right reason can improve the effects tea has on the body. Discovered over two thousand years ago, tea has been used for medicinal purposes for several hundreds years. Guided by both traditional and modern medical theories, four basic principles are summarized: Flower tea in the spring; green tea in the summer; Oolong tea in the autumn; black tea in the winter.
Flower tea in the spring
The weather is getting warmer in the spring. In the winter, people participate in less physiological activities, just like other mammals, which hibernate in cold days. The spring is the transition between the summer and the winter; therefore, waking up your sleepy body is important.
Flower teas have very pleasant aromas, which stimulate your senses and wake your body up. Jasmine tea is a nice choice. Many people wonder how Jasmine tea has its fresh flower smell. The secret lays in its unique processing technique. Plucked in midsummer, when the jasmine starts to blossom, the fresh flower buds are stored with tealeaves, which are picked in the early spring. This procedure is called storing. During this process, the tea leaves can absorb the wonderful scents of the flowers. The entire process will continue for weeks until the end of summer.
Green tea in the summer
In the summer, people are more likely to get exhausted because of the loss of energy and water. Therefore, a cool beverage which helps prevent dehydration is ideal. With a slight bitter taste and a fresh flavor, green tea can cool down your body.
Green tea is an unfermented tea, which is rich in vitamins, tea polyphenols, and caffeine–stimulating your mouth to salivate. Some people may experience a loss of appetite while in the heat. Served with honey or lemon, green tea can stimulate your appetite and improve digestion. If you don’t like the bitter taste of green tea, adding a fruit such as grapes or watermelon can improve the flavor.
Oolong tea in the autumn
In the autumn, the weather cools down and becomes dry. Oolong tea is a half fermented tea; therefore, it has the advantages of both green and black tea. It helps salivation, stimulates appetite and improves blood circulation. Without the bitter flavor, Oolong has a more mild taste, generally appealing to older people.
After being exposed to the sun for the entire summer, our skin becomes extremely sensitive; Oolong tea helps repair the skin. First, it helps relieve the symptoms of allergic dermatitis and prevents it from getting worse. Also, the tea polyphenols help decompose active oxygen, prevent wrinkles and other skin problems. Our bodies from exposure to ultraviolet light, smoking, stress and/or fatty foods internally create the active oxygen. It reacts to fat and creates oxidized fat, which otherwise may result in a series of skin problems. Moreover, Oolong is rich in Vitamin C, which can brighten the skin and improve its elasticity.
Black tea in the winter
In the cold weather, nothing is better than a cup of a hot beverage. In order to keep warm, we need to absorb extra energy. If you are tired of coffee, or don’t want to gain weight from hot chocolate, black tea is what you’re looking for.
Black tea is well fermented and rich in protein and sugar. Serviced with milk, honey or sugar, black tea can refuel your energy and warm you up. A cup of black tea on a winter’s afternoon can prove to be extremely therapeutic. Moreover, a cup pure tea after a meal can help cleanse the digestive system. You can also make some flavored tea too. A cup of the ginger tea in the morning can wake your body up. The lemon tea helps improve peristalsis and reduce fat.