Chinese Food Health gives you the basic approaches on how to nourish and preserve health in the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) viewpoint, tea in general has both bitter and sweet flavors and possesses cooling properties, which is able to clear heat, disperse phlegm, regenerate body fluid, quench thirst, promote digestion, and facilitate urination. It helps people refresh the mind, increase concentration, and improve alertness.

Although they may come from the same variety of tea plant (Camellia sinensis plant), Chinese tea are classified into three categories according to the unique methods by which it is processed, namely black tea (fermented), Wu-long/Oolong tea (semi-fermented), and green tea (unfermented).

Green tea indeed has received more and more attention worldwide recently because its Catechin Polyphenols content, a powerful anti-oxidant that can fight cancer, lower bad cholesterol levels, and prevent heart attack and stroke. Black tea (a later variety developed on the basis of the green tea), however, also carries high medicinal values and should not be neglected.

According to TCM Practitioners, while unfermented green tea is slightly “cold in nature,” fermented black tea has a warm attribute that is able to warm stomach and nourish spleen. People who have a lower body temperature/are afraid of coldness in particular benefit from drinking it. Furthermore, black tea not only acts as a diuretic that can stimulate the flow of urine and promote better kidney function, it also enhances blood flow, increases kidney filtration and excretion, regular consumption may reduce the risk of calcium oxalate stones. In fact, in a study of more than 81,000 women aged between 40 and 65, it was concluded that the risk of developing kidney stones was 8% lower by drinking one cup of black tea everyday.

A popular Chinese proverb says, “A good cup of tea, someone you don’t need—a doctor!” So, let’s sip tea for your healthy mind and body. Not a big fan of hot beverage? You definitely will love this one: Apple Red-Bayberry Vinegar Ice Blended Tea.

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