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Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on Tea
Q: How many categories of teas are there?
A: There are six main categories of tea leaves:
Green Tea: The freshest, least manipulated, non-oxidized tea. It is therefore the healthiest with
highest concentration of antioxidants. Most studies, if not all, were done on green tea which has
proven to be the best with many health benefits.
Oolong Tea : Semi-oxidized. More aromas, more free caffeine, excellent on weight loss. It contains
slightly less antioxidants than green tea. It also has many health benefits.
White Teas: Very similar to green teas, some are mildly oxidized.
Yellow and Red Teas: Somewhere between green and Oolong tea, mildly oxidized. Only a few from
certain areas in China are available.
Black Teas: Most famous is Pu Er Teas (loose or bricks). It is very popular in China and now in the
world. It is fully oxidized and contains less antioxidants than green and Oolong. Very strong aroma,
alkaline in nature, extremely good for soothing stomach, indigestion and for weight loss!
Q: How long can I store tea leaves?
A: Green tea has a shortest shelf life of only 6 months if stored unsealed at room temperature. Green
tea can be stored up to one year or a little longer if sealed air-tight and placed in the refrigerator. All
other teas have about 2 year’s shelf life and a little longer if sealed and refrigerated. One exception:
Pu Er tea gets better with each year passing by if stored at a dry and ventilated area.
Q: Who can drink tea? Why is it good for us?
A: Everyone can drink tea: children, women, men, any age! Many studies have shown that tea has
preventive and healing measures on coronary disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer
and many other diseases. The main beneficial component in tea is its abundant antioxidants. The
fresher the tea is, the more antioxidants it has, the better for you! The green tea is the best!
Q: How many cups (4oz) of green tea should I drink daily to gain health benefits?
A: Studies have shown that as little as one cup (4oz) per day cuts risk of certain diseases. A
Japanese study showed that 6 cups of green tea per day lower risks of cancers, heart disease,
stroke, and other diseases significantly. Habitual, daily, long term tea drinking is key to health benefits.
Q: Can I use sugar or milk with tea made from loose leaves?
A: Sugar is not recommended for green or white teas as it overpowers the delicate taste of tea.
Rock candy can be used with jasmine tea, black tea or Oolong tea. Milk is not recommended for any
Chinese tea made from tea leaves.
Q: Are there precautions with tea-drinking?
A: Yes, Here are a few:
1. Do not drink tea immediately before or after a meal. Wait for 20-30 minutes to avoid dilution of
gastric juice for digestion.
2. Do not take your pills with tea; wait for 30 minutes. Tea may slow down absorption of certain
medications.
3. Do not take your iron pills or vitamins with tea; wait for at least 2 hours. Tea, particularly black tea,
can inhibit Iron and vitamin absorptions.
4. If you have insomnia, avoid green tea late in the evening as the caffeine in green tea is released
slowly over many hours.
5. Do not drink strong tea if you are extremely anxious. The caffeine will make you even more anxious.
Q: What should I know for a perfect cup of tea made from tea leaves?
A: It depends on the type of tea
For Green tea:
1. Use porcelain or glass teapots and cups for the pleasure of observing the colors and shapes of the
tea brew and tea leaves. Never use Yixing or clay pots and cups as the porous material will obsorb
and emit old tea flavor to confuse the aroma of the fresh tea.
2. Never use boiling water. Best water temperature is around 80-95⁰C.
3. Use ONLY high quality and fresh green teas. Expired green tea is not worth drinking and has lost all
of its health benefits due to the loss of rich nutrients and antioxidants. Old tea has a bitter and
unpleasant taste.
4. Freshly made green tea should be enjoyed right away. Do not "save" it for later or let sit overnight.
Only freshly made tea has aboundant antioxidants and tastes good.
5. Go to "How to make green tea".
For Oolng tea and black tea:
1. Yixing teapots and cups are the best choice. Read "The Magic Teapot".
2. Never use boiling water. Best water temperature is around 95⁰C.
3. Use ONLY high quality and fresh tea leaves. Expired Oolong or black teas are not worth drinking.
4. Enjoy tea fresh. Do not store or let sit for longer than few minutes.
5. Go to "How to make Oolong tea".
Q: How to care for the teapots and cups after tea?
A: Remove used tea leaves from teapot, rinse with hot water, and polish with tea towel and let air dry.
Do NOT use any soap, detergent, baking soda or dishwasher for Yixing tea wares. You may use
baking soda to remove tea stains on porcelain or glass. Clean tea ware after each use.
Q: How to prepare a new Yixing teapot for tea:
A: Place 2 tsp tea in pot, place pot and little cups in a deep container, pour just boiled hot water to
overflow and until pot and cups are submerged in tea, let it sit overnight. Rinse with hot water next
morning, you are good to go.
Q: What do I need for tea enjoyment?
A: Here is what you need:
Time for yourself: At least 20-30 minutes, make it a “special” tea time for yourself.
Place: Where you feel comfortable at home or at work.
Tea: High quality tea leaves.
Tea necessities:
Tea Pot: A porcelain or glass pot for green tea.
A Yixing pot for Oolong or black tea.
Tea Cups: Small cups to match your pot.
Tea Plate: Place your pot and cups on it and catches spills.
Tea Towel: Small dark-colored towel for drips and wetness.
Tea Pet: Your favorite tea figuring.
Tea Jar: Store small amount of tea for daily uses.
Kettle to boil water:
Another medium sized teapot for transferring hot water from kettle and pouring hot water for tea
making.
A: There are six main categories of tea leaves:
Green Tea: The freshest, least manipulated, non-oxidized tea. It is therefore the healthiest with
highest concentration of antioxidants. Most studies, if not all, were done on green tea which has
proven to be the best with many health benefits.
Oolong Tea : Semi-oxidized. More aromas, more free caffeine, excellent on weight loss. It contains
slightly less antioxidants than green tea. It also has many health benefits.
White Teas: Very similar to green teas, some are mildly oxidized.
Yellow and Red Teas: Somewhere between green and Oolong tea, mildly oxidized. Only a few from
certain areas in China are available.
Black Teas: Most famous is Pu Er Teas (loose or bricks). It is very popular in China and now in the
world. It is fully oxidized and contains less antioxidants than green and Oolong. Very strong aroma,
alkaline in nature, extremely good for soothing stomach, indigestion and for weight loss!
Q: How long can I store tea leaves?
A: Green tea has a shortest shelf life of only 6 months if stored unsealed at room temperature. Green
tea can be stored up to one year or a little longer if sealed air-tight and placed in the refrigerator. All
other teas have about 2 year’s shelf life and a little longer if sealed and refrigerated. One exception:
Pu Er tea gets better with each year passing by if stored at a dry and ventilated area.
Q: Who can drink tea? Why is it good for us?
A: Everyone can drink tea: children, women, men, any age! Many studies have shown that tea has
preventive and healing measures on coronary disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer
and many other diseases. The main beneficial component in tea is its abundant antioxidants. The
fresher the tea is, the more antioxidants it has, the better for you! The green tea is the best!
Q: How many cups (4oz) of green tea should I drink daily to gain health benefits?
A: Studies have shown that as little as one cup (4oz) per day cuts risk of certain diseases. A
Japanese study showed that 6 cups of green tea per day lower risks of cancers, heart disease,
stroke, and other diseases significantly. Habitual, daily, long term tea drinking is key to health benefits.
Q: Can I use sugar or milk with tea made from loose leaves?
A: Sugar is not recommended for green or white teas as it overpowers the delicate taste of tea.
Rock candy can be used with jasmine tea, black tea or Oolong tea. Milk is not recommended for any
Chinese tea made from tea leaves.
Q: Are there precautions with tea-drinking?
A: Yes, Here are a few:
1. Do not drink tea immediately before or after a meal. Wait for 20-30 minutes to avoid dilution of
gastric juice for digestion.
2. Do not take your pills with tea; wait for 30 minutes. Tea may slow down absorption of certain
medications.
3. Do not take your iron pills or vitamins with tea; wait for at least 2 hours. Tea, particularly black tea,
can inhibit Iron and vitamin absorptions.
4. If you have insomnia, avoid green tea late in the evening as the caffeine in green tea is released
slowly over many hours.
5. Do not drink strong tea if you are extremely anxious. The caffeine will make you even more anxious.
Q: What should I know for a perfect cup of tea made from tea leaves?
A: It depends on the type of tea
For Green tea:
1. Use porcelain or glass teapots and cups for the pleasure of observing the colors and shapes of the
tea brew and tea leaves. Never use Yixing or clay pots and cups as the porous material will obsorb
and emit old tea flavor to confuse the aroma of the fresh tea.
2. Never use boiling water. Best water temperature is around 80-95⁰C.
3. Use ONLY high quality and fresh green teas. Expired green tea is not worth drinking and has lost all
of its health benefits due to the loss of rich nutrients and antioxidants. Old tea has a bitter and
unpleasant taste.
4. Freshly made green tea should be enjoyed right away. Do not "save" it for later or let sit overnight.
Only freshly made tea has aboundant antioxidants and tastes good.
5. Go to "How to make green tea".
For Oolng tea and black tea:
1. Yixing teapots and cups are the best choice. Read "The Magic Teapot".
2. Never use boiling water. Best water temperature is around 95⁰C.
3. Use ONLY high quality and fresh tea leaves. Expired Oolong or black teas are not worth drinking.
4. Enjoy tea fresh. Do not store or let sit for longer than few minutes.
5. Go to "How to make Oolong tea".
Q: How to care for the teapots and cups after tea?
A: Remove used tea leaves from teapot, rinse with hot water, and polish with tea towel and let air dry.
Do NOT use any soap, detergent, baking soda or dishwasher for Yixing tea wares. You may use
baking soda to remove tea stains on porcelain or glass. Clean tea ware after each use.
Q: How to prepare a new Yixing teapot for tea:
A: Place 2 tsp tea in pot, place pot and little cups in a deep container, pour just boiled hot water to
overflow and until pot and cups are submerged in tea, let it sit overnight. Rinse with hot water next
morning, you are good to go.
Q: What do I need for tea enjoyment?
A: Here is what you need:
Time for yourself: At least 20-30 minutes, make it a “special” tea time for yourself.
Place: Where you feel comfortable at home or at work.
Tea: High quality tea leaves.
Tea necessities:
Tea Pot: A porcelain or glass pot for green tea.
A Yixing pot for Oolong or black tea.
Tea Cups: Small cups to match your pot.
Tea Plate: Place your pot and cups on it and catches spills.
Tea Towel: Small dark-colored towel for drips and wetness.
Tea Pet: Your favorite tea figuring.
Tea Jar: Store small amount of tea for daily uses.
Kettle to boil water:
Another medium sized teapot for transferring hot water from kettle and pouring hot water for tea
making.
TM
