How to choose the tea that suits oneself
Chinese tea is typically classified by degree of fermentation into six major categories, plus reprocessed teas (such as scented teas). Different tea types have different natures and suit different groups of people.
I. The Six Major Tea Categories and Suitable Groups
1. Green Tea (Unfermented)
Representative teas: West Lake Longjing, Biluochun, Xinyang Maojian, Huangshan Maofeng
Characteristics: Cool in nature, high in tea polyphenols, clear liquor and green leaves, refreshing and invigorating, clears heat and detoxifies.
Suitable for:
Young and middle-aged adults, office workers who use their brains a lot
People with a hot constitution who are prone to internal heat
Those who need to stay alert and want antioxidants
Not suitable for: People with cold stomachs, stomach ulcers, pregnant women, and those with insomnia.
2. White Tea (Lightly Fermented)
Representative teas: Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle), Bai Mudan (White Peony), Shoumei
Characteristics: Cool in nature (aged white tea turns warm), light and sweet, with heat-clearing and fire-reducing effects.
Suitable for:
People with internal heat or throat discomfort
Those with a hot constitution
Aged white tea suits people with weaker spleens and stomachs who want gentle nourishment
Not suitable for: Fresh white tea is cool in nature, so those with cold stomachs should drink less.
3. Yellow Tea (Lightly Fermented)
Representative teas: Junshan Yinzhen, Mengding Huangya, Huoshan Huangya
Characteristics: Cool but milder than green tea, with a mellow taste.
Suitable for:
People with weaker spleens and stomachs who still want a lightly fermented tea
Those with indigestion or poor appetite
Not suitable for: Those with severe cold stomachs should still be cautious.
4. Oolong Tea / Qing Tea (Semi-Fermented)
Representative teas: Tieguanyin, Dahongpao, Phoenix Dancong, Dongding Oolong
Characteristics: Neutral in nature, highly aromatic, falling between green and black tea.
Suitable for:
Most people
Those who want to lose weight, burn fat, or cut through greasiness
People who need help digesting after meals or who socialize and dine out often
Not suitable for: Not ideal on an empty stomach; those with stomach ulcers should drink less strong tea.
5. Black Tea (Fully Fermented)
Representative teas: Lapsang Souchong, Keemun Black Tea, Dianhong, Jinjunmei
Characteristics: Warm in nature, red liquor and red leaves, sweet and mellow, warms the stomach and dispels cold.
Suitable for:
People with weak cold spleens and stomachs, or cold hands and feet
The elderly and women (especially after menstruation)
Winter drinking, people with a cold constitution
Not suitable for: Those with internal heat or insomnia should drink less.
6. Dark Tea (Post-Fermented)
Representative teas: Pu'er (ripe), Anhua Dark Tea, Liubao Tea
Characteristics: Warm in nature, mellow in taste, aids digestion, reduces fat and cuts greasiness.
Suitable for:
People with the "three highs" (high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol) — helps lower lipids and blood sugar
Those who eat a lot of meat, socialize often, or have indigestion
The elderly and those with weak stomachs and intestines
Not suitable for: Fresh ripe Pu'er has a drying heat; those with an extremely hot constitution should drink less.
II. Reprocessed Teas
Scented Tea (e.g., Jasmine Tea)
Characteristics: Usually made with a green tea base, cool in nature, with a pleasant fragrance.
Suitable for:
People feeling down or under a lot of stress
Those who enjoy floral scents and want to soothe their mood
Not suitable for: Those with cold stomachs should drink less.
III. Quick Summary Table
IV. Selection Tips
By constitution: Cold constitutions should choose black tea or dark tea; hot constitutions should choose green tea or white tea.
By season: Scented tea in spring, green tea in summer, oolong in autumn, black tea/dark tea in winter.
By time of day: Green tea in the morning to wake up, oolong in the afternoon to aid digestion, dark tea or aged white tea in the evening for a gentler option.
By need: Oolong for fat loss, black tea for warming the stomach, dark tea for lowering lipids.
In one sentence: Cold constitutions drink warm-natured tea (black, dark); hot constitutions drink cool-natured tea (green, white); most people do well with neutral oolong tea.
I. The Six Major Tea Categories and Suitable Groups
1. Green Tea (Unfermented)
Representative teas: West Lake Longjing, Biluochun, Xinyang Maojian, Huangshan Maofeng
Characteristics: Cool in nature, high in tea polyphenols, clear liquor and green leaves, refreshing and invigorating, clears heat and detoxifies.
Suitable for:
Young and middle-aged adults, office workers who use their brains a lot
People with a hot constitution who are prone to internal heat
Those who need to stay alert and want antioxidants
Not suitable for: People with cold stomachs, stomach ulcers, pregnant women, and those with insomnia.
2. White Tea (Lightly Fermented)
Representative teas: Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle), Bai Mudan (White Peony), Shoumei
Characteristics: Cool in nature (aged white tea turns warm), light and sweet, with heat-clearing and fire-reducing effects.
Suitable for:
People with internal heat or throat discomfort
Those with a hot constitution
Aged white tea suits people with weaker spleens and stomachs who want gentle nourishment
Not suitable for: Fresh white tea is cool in nature, so those with cold stomachs should drink less.
3. Yellow Tea (Lightly Fermented)
Representative teas: Junshan Yinzhen, Mengding Huangya, Huoshan Huangya
Characteristics: Cool but milder than green tea, with a mellow taste.
Suitable for:
People with weaker spleens and stomachs who still want a lightly fermented tea
Those with indigestion or poor appetite
Not suitable for: Those with severe cold stomachs should still be cautious.
4. Oolong Tea / Qing Tea (Semi-Fermented)
Representative teas: Tieguanyin, Dahongpao, Phoenix Dancong, Dongding Oolong
Characteristics: Neutral in nature, highly aromatic, falling between green and black tea.
Suitable for:
Most people
Those who want to lose weight, burn fat, or cut through greasiness
People who need help digesting after meals or who socialize and dine out often
Not suitable for: Not ideal on an empty stomach; those with stomach ulcers should drink less strong tea.
5. Black Tea (Fully Fermented)
Representative teas: Lapsang Souchong, Keemun Black Tea, Dianhong, Jinjunmei
Characteristics: Warm in nature, red liquor and red leaves, sweet and mellow, warms the stomach and dispels cold.
Suitable for:
People with weak cold spleens and stomachs, or cold hands and feet
The elderly and women (especially after menstruation)
Winter drinking, people with a cold constitution
Not suitable for: Those with internal heat or insomnia should drink less.
6. Dark Tea (Post-Fermented)
Representative teas: Pu'er (ripe), Anhua Dark Tea, Liubao Tea
Characteristics: Warm in nature, mellow in taste, aids digestion, reduces fat and cuts greasiness.
Suitable for:
People with the "three highs" (high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol) — helps lower lipids and blood sugar
Those who eat a lot of meat, socialize often, or have indigestion
The elderly and those with weak stomachs and intestines
Not suitable for: Fresh ripe Pu'er has a drying heat; those with an extremely hot constitution should drink less.
II. Reprocessed Teas
Scented Tea (e.g., Jasmine Tea)
Characteristics: Usually made with a green tea base, cool in nature, with a pleasant fragrance.
Suitable for:
People feeling down or under a lot of stress
Those who enjoy floral scents and want to soothe their mood
Not suitable for: Those with cold stomachs should drink less.
III. Quick Summary Table
|
Tea Type |
Nature |
Suitable Groups |
Caution Groups |
|
Green Tea |
Cool |
Young adults, those with internal heat |
Cold stomach, pregnant women |
|
White Tea |
Cool/Warm |
Those with internal heat, health-conscious people |
Cold stomach (fresh tea) |
|
Yellow Tea |
Cool, mildly warm |
Those with weak spleens and stomachs |
Those with severe cold stomachs |
|
Oolong Tea |
Neutral |
General public, those reducing fat |
Empty stomach, stomach ulcers |
|
Black Tea |
Warm |
Cold stomach, elderly, women |
Internal heat, insomnia |
|
Dark Tea |
Warm |
"Three highs," indigestion |
Extremely hot constitution |
|
Scented Tea |
Mildly cool |
Stressed, low mood |
Cold stomach |
IV. Selection Tips
By constitution: Cold constitutions should choose black tea or dark tea; hot constitutions should choose green tea or white tea.
By season: Scented tea in spring, green tea in summer, oolong in autumn, black tea/dark tea in winter.
By time of day: Green tea in the morning to wake up, oolong in the afternoon to aid digestion, dark tea or aged white tea in the evening for a gentler option.
By need: Oolong for fat loss, black tea for warming the stomach, dark tea for lowering lipids.
In one sentence: Cold constitutions drink warm-natured tea (black, dark); hot constitutions drink cool-natured tea (green, white); most people do well with neutral oolong tea.