Green tea and black tea have different properties and should be chosen accordingly.
West Lake Longjing is a type of green tea, and other teas such as Dongting Biluochun, Huangshan Maofeng, and Tiantai Yunwu are also green teas. The processing of these teas involves withering, rolling, and drying, which preserves the original fragrance and elegance of the tea leaves, as well as their high aroma, mellow taste, and beautiful appearance. In contrast, black tea is not withered during processing, but instead undergoes withering to remove some moisture from the fresh leaves, followed by rolling and fermentation to oxidize the tea polyphenols, resulting in the formation of red compounds. Some of these compounds dissolve in water, while others accumulate in the leaves, giving the tea its red color. Dianhong Gongfu and Qimen Gongfu black teas belong to this category.
Different types of tea contain amino acids, sugars, caffeine, chlorophyll, carotenes, and aromatic volatile substances, all of which have beneficial effects on the circulatory, nervous, and urinary systems.
In terms of medicinal properties, green tea is cooling and has a cooling effect, making it suitable for relieving heat and reducing internal fire. Black tea, on the other hand, is warming in nature and can help warm the stomach and stimulate appetite. Due to its rich flavor and strong aroma, black tea also aids digestion and can be used to treat diarrhea. It is important to note that some people may experience stomach pain when drinking green tea, which indicates a cold stomach that is not compatible with the cooling nature of green tea. Similarly, if drinking black tea causes discomfort or dryness in the throat, it may be due to excessive internal heat and intolerance to the warming nature of black tea.