"Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world" (T'ien Yiheng)
~ Care to join me?" ~
[The following article taken from China Daily, 3rd March 2007]
Tea drinking is probably one of the easiest and most pleasant ways to keep fit. In fact, drinking tea has been recognised as a great way to combat weight gain.
Scientific research shows that tea contains polyphenol and dannin, which are good for the body. Polyphenol is a natural antioxidant. It can delay the aging process, and help the body prevent harm from cancer-causing substances such as nitrosamine. Dannin can lower blood fat, prevent the hardening of blood vessels, and help maintain smooth blood circulation, therefore keeping cardiovascular functions normal. Polyphenol can also alleviate symptoms of diabetes, lower blood fat and blood pressure.
One of the most popular teas in China, pu'er, has been proven to lower blood fat significantly. A French doctor once did an experiment, in which he had 20 of his patients with excessive blood fat drink three bowls of pu'er a day. A month later, the patient's blood fat reduced by a quarter.
Green tea is said to prevent cancer, which makes it a wonderful drink for modern people, who sit looking at TV and computer screens all the time. Green tea and oolong tea can moisten the intestines and help replenish vitamins. Black tea and pu'er can warm the stomach, dispel cold, and help with digestion of meat.
But people should drink the right tea, at the right time. Otherwise tea drinking could be harmful.
"Everybody can find his own cup of tea, but if it is not the right tea for him or her, there could be side-effects," said Zhao Yingli, a tea expert based in Beijing.
For example, polyphenol and theine, contained in tea, are beneficial to most people, but not to women during menstruation or pregnancy.
The Chinese consider green tea and oolong cold in nature. Therefore green tea is not suitable for people who have an aversion to the cold, or who are weak in the yin factor of the body, a symptom of which is more than average level of perspiration in hot weather, or after physical exercise. Because of that nature, green tea might cause stomach pain for women during menstruation.
Old people should not drink too much strong green tea either. That is because too much strong green tea could lead to the loss of calcium and cause osteoporosis. Elderly people should drink some black tea, pu'er, or teas with milk.
For people who have insomnia, anxiety, and neurasthenic problems, it is not a good idea to drink green tea or oolong after noon, because it might worsen the problems. A cup of pu'er instead would help with your sleep.
Generally speaking, green tea and oolong are good for summer and autumn. Black tea and pu'er are better choices for winter.
Finally, wash your tea, i.e., tip out your first cup of tea water. This helps to clean the tea and the hot water will dissolve any pesticides. Besides, the first cup is usually tasteless and not a pity to discard.
- among other things, I shopped for green tea. I dropped by at one of the Chinese tea shop in Petaling Jaya and end up buying 2 sets tea pot and also the most expensive green tea I ever bought in my life 
. After testing 2 types of green tea suggested by the owner of tea shop, I end up buying Mao Jian Green Tea.
