Tea-making skills have been selected as intangible cultural heritage. Why is drinking tea good for your health?

In 2022, China's traditional tea-making techniques and related customs were officially included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making tea-making techniques the focus of attention.

Nowadays, brewing tea around the stove has become a new fashion, but do you really understand tea? How is this magical leaf made? What are the differences between different teas?

Tea in the traditional sense is made from new leaves and buds picked from evergreen shrubs of the Theaceae family. The six types of tea we are familiar with, namely black tea, green tea, oolong tea, yellow tea, dark tea and white tea, all use the same raw materials - the new shoots of tea trees. However, there are some differences between different tea tree varieties. The raw materials of some varieties are suitable for processing into green tea, while others are suitable for processing into black tea. The maturity of the raw materials selected for processing different tea products is also different.

The quality of tea produced in different seasons is also different. The so-called "spring water and autumn fragrance" means that the taste of spring tea is excellent, while the aroma of autumn processed tea is particularly prominent.

The picture comes from Tuchong.com

Different teas have different processing techniques, but they can be roughly divided into steps such as rolling and drying. Rolling is the use of equipment to press the tea leaves, which has two purposes: one is to shape the tea leaves, and the other is to break the cell walls of some tea cells to accelerate the leaching of tea flavoring substances. Drying is usually the last processing step, which has the functions of removing excess water for easy preservation and improving the quality of the aroma.

What are the characteristics of my country's traditional tea-making techniques, and what scientific principles do they contain? The first is to pay attention to the overall perspective. The quality of tea is closely related to the growing environment. The variety of tea trees, soil, climate and other factors will have an impact on the quality of tea. Therefore, in the production process, the quality of tea will be guaranteed by comprehensively coordinating time, space, ecology and other factors.

The second is the unique production process. my country's traditional tea-making techniques focus on precision operations. Each process must be carried out in accordance with certain specifications. Links such as rolling, fermentation, and drying require exquisite skills and experience. During the processing, the temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, etc. must also be controlled to ensure the quality of the tea.

Third, the cultural heritage is very profound. The traditional Chinese tea-making technique has been sublimated from a processing technology into a cultural symbol, representing the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization. It has been extended to poetry, painting, calligraphy, religion, medicine and other levels.

Fourth, the regional characteristics are particularly obvious. The tea-making techniques in different regions are unique. Furthermore, they have strong local characteristics and national style, reflecting the local people's production and living styles and aesthetic concepts.

So what are the benefits of drinking tea, and how to drink tea correctly? Tea is a healthy drink, and daily drinking has certain health benefits. First, it can stimulate our brain and refresh our mind. Caffeine, theophylline and other substances in tea can stimulate the central nervous system, improve thinking ability, and make people feel refreshed.

Second, it can promote digestion. Tea is rich in nutrients such as fiber and vitamin C, which helps promote intestinal peristalsis, improve intestinal microecology, and relieve symptoms such as constipation.

Third, it helps regulate blood lipids. The tea polyphenols in tea can inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol, reduce the cholesterol level in the blood, and help prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

Fourth, it protects teeth. The fluoride in tea can enhance the hardness and corrosion resistance of teeth, and prevent the occurrence of caries and periodontal disease.

Fifth, it improves mood. Theanine in tea can regulate the balance of the body's hormone levels, reduce stress and anxiety, and make people feel happy and relaxed.

In addition, tea also has the effect of beautifying and nourishing the skin. For example, the catechins and flavonoids in tea have antioxidant effects, which can remove free radicals, delay aging, and maintain skin health.

The following is to say that "drinking tea is beneficial, and the best is the one that suits you". When choosing tea, don't just follow the crowd, but choose the tea that suits you. Consumers have different preferences, and there are many kinds of tea in our country. It is a good way to compare and choose by brewing at the same time. In short, the tea that can make people feel happy physically and mentally is a good tea.

The amount of tea leaves used in brewing tea should also vary from person to person. If you brew too much at one time, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

In addition, try not to drink tea on an empty stomach, as it can easily cause stomach discomfort and even gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea.

This article is a work supported by Science Popularization China Starry Sky Project

Author: Zhang Yu

Review: Liu Xu

Produced by: China Association for Science and Technology Department of Science Popularization

Producer: China Science and Technology Press Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongke Xinghe Culture Media Co., Ltd.