After the Major Snow solar term, temperatures drop and the weather turns colder. Black tea has a gentle nature and a smooth taste, making it perfect for winter consumption. Drinking black tea in winter moisturizes the throat and promotes saliva production, hydrating the body while also reducing greasy feelings and soothing the stomach.
Black tea has a long history, dating back to the times of the Ancient Tea Horse Road, when it was a daily Drink for nomadic people on the borders, offering functions such as fat breakdown, digestive comfort, and vitamin supplementation. Drinking black tea in winter brings many benefits and there are numerous ways to prepare it. Here are some ideas:
01
Traditional Drinking Methods
① brewing
Use a pot and stove, adding an appropriate amount of tea leaves according to the capacity of the pot. Rinse the black tea with boiling water before placing it into the pot to brew over low heat. Once boiling, continue cooking for about 5 minutes before drinking. The tea broth is rich and the taste is soft and glutinous, filling the room with fragrance.
② Steeping
You can use a lidded bowl or a clay teapot. First, rinse the utensil with boiling water and then discard the water. Add around 5 grams of dry tea (the amount can be adjusted according to personal preference) and pour in boiling water. Filter out the tea broth and enjoy its bright red color that is pleasing to the eye.
02
Mixed Drinking Methods
① Citron Peel + Goji Berries + Black Tea
Citron peel helps regulate qi and strengthen the spleen, aiding digestion and reducing greasiness. Goji berries can clear heat and nourish the liver, enhancing immunity. Combining these two ingredients with black tea makes for a superior health drink.
The preparation method is simple: use the lidded bowl brewing method, steep 8 grams of black tea in boiling water, filter the broth, and then add two pieces of citron peel and approximately 10 grams of goji berries. This “health tea” is now ready.
② Chrysanthemum + Black Tea
Chrysanthemum is slightly cold in nature, while black tea is gentle. Together, they complement each other well. The fresh aroma of chrysanthemum combined with the mellow taste of black tea provides a delightful experience. Simply place two chrysanthemum flowers in the black tea broth.
It's worth noting that both chrysanthemum and black tea have heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, which are especially suitable for those with a hot constitution.
③ Honey + Black Tea
In ancient times, black tea was traded extensively in Tibet and Xinjiang. At that time, people in the northwest would add milk, salt, honey, and other condiments to their tea. The modern way of drinking honey and black tea involves letting the brewed black tea cool slightly, then adding honey and stirring evenly.
Honey is known for its ability to treat various ailments and harmonize with other herbs. When paired with the gentle nature and stomach-soothing effects of black tea, it reduces the potential irritative effect of honey on cold constitutions. Long-term consumption aids intestinal detoxification and prevents colds.
It is important to note that boiling water can destroy the nutrients in honey, so wait until the black tea cools to 50-60°C before adding the honey for optimal nutritional benefit.
④ Milk Tea + Black Tea
Black tea is renowned for its sweet aftertaste, leaving a lingering sweetness in the mouth after swallowing. The unique milky aroma of milk complements the tea aroma and sweetness, creating a lingering and enjoyable taste.
“Milk tea + black tea” is more suitable for urban white-collar workers who have the habit of afternoon tea. Pair it with delicious snacks for a stronger sense of fashion and better flavor.
⑤ Flower and Fruit Tea + Black Tea
Flower and fruit tea, also known as fruit granule tea, can theoretically be made from various dried fruits and edible dried flowers. When mixed with black tea, it significantly increases the content of fruit acids, vitamins, and minerals, helping to harmonize the spleen and stomach, detoxify, and beautify, making it particularly suitable for beauty-conscious and romantically inclined women.
The above suggestions are for reference only. Black tea is not afraid of the passage of time, and its character is calm and steady. Its charm cannot be fully expressed in words.