Which season is best for drinking white tea?
Generally speaking, white tea can be consumed during all four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and drinking white tea in different seasons provides varying health benefits. The detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Spring
White tea is tender, sweet-tasting, and highly aromatic. Drinking white tea in spring can refresh the mind, help eliminate dampness accumulated during winter, promote metabolism, relieve springtime fatigue, and revitalize the body.
2. Summer
In summer, high temperatures cause excessive perspiration and rapid fluid loss. The amino acids contained in white tea have effects of reducing fever, relieving heatstroke, and detoxification; regular consumption of white tea can help prevent heatstroke. Meanwhile, components such as tea polyphenols and vitamin C in white tea assist in antioxidant activity and combat fatigue, helping the body cope with high summer temperatures.
3. Autumn
In autumn, the climate is dry, and the body may easily experience thirst and fatigue. Drinking white tea during this season can help regulate the endocrine system, enhance immunity, and prevent illnesses such as the common cold. In early autumn, one may choose cooler-natured white teas such as Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) and White Peony (Bai Mu Dan). Once autumn progresses and temperatures drop, aged white tea with a more neutral nature can be selected to aid digestion, eliminate greasiness, stimulate the appetite, and strengthen the spleen and stomach.
4. Winter
Winter brings low temperatures, and the body requires additional heat to resist the cold. Components such as theanine in white tea help boost immunity and strengthen the body's resistance. Drinking aged white tea in winter, which has a more balanced nature, can warm the body and support health maintenance, especially for those who are physically weak and sensitive to cold.
Drinking tea on an empty stomach in the morning may irritate the gastric mucosa, while drinking tea at night may affect sleep quality. It is recommended to drink tea approximately half an hour to an hour after meals, which can aid digestion and refresh the mind.