Tea Types to Avoid: Spoiled, Burnt, Contaminated, and More

Tea is a beverage that we Chinese people love to drink. Drinking tea has many benefits for the body, and different types of tea have different effects. However, there are several types of tea that should not be consumed. Let's take a look.

Types of Tea You Shouldn't Drink

Spoiled Tea: Tea can easily become moldy if not stored properly. Some people, out of love for tea and a desire to save money, refuse to throw away spoiled tea. Spoiled tea contains harmful substances and bacteria, and should not be consumed. Even high-quality tea can spoil if left for too long, due to oxidation and the growth of microorganisms.

Burnt Tea: Over-roasted tea loses its nutritional value and taste.

Contaminated Tea: This refers to tea that has been stored with other items that have a strong odor. Some of these odors may be toxic, such as the smell of paint or camphor.

First Flush Tea: Modern tea production involves the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and dust, which can contaminate the tea leaves. The first flush of tea is actually the water used to rinse the tea leaves. It should be poured out as soon as possible and replaced with hot water to ensure the cleanliness of the tea. 80% of China's tea quality and safety issues are related to pesticide residue. Pesticide residue in tea leaves can not only cause chronic poisoning, but also acute poisoning, especially in children.

Over-steeped Tea: If tea is steeped for too long, the tea polyphenols, lipids, and aromatic substances in the tea leaves will oxidize. This results in a dark color, poor taste, and low aroma, and significantly reduces the nutritional value of the tea. Additionally, the longer the tea is left, the more bacteria and microorganisms it will contain, making it unhygienic for consumption.

Strong Tea: Strong tea contains a large amount of caffeine and theophylline, which can cause insomnia, headaches, tinnitus, and dizziness. It is also not good for the digestive system and can cause vomiting in some people.

Cold Tea: Tea is best consumed warm or hot, as cold tea can have a congealing and phlegm-producing effect on the body.

Hot Tea: Although tea is usually brewed with hot water, it should not be consumed when the water temperature is too hot. Drinking excessively hot tea can cause strong irritation to the throat, esophagus, and stomach. Prolonged consumption of excessively hot tea can lead to diseases in these organs.

Raw Tea: Raw tea refers to green tea that is dried without rolling after being withered. This type of tea has a natural green color and contains compounds similar to fresh leaves, with low boiling point aldehydes and alcohols that are not converted or volatilized. It has a strong stimulating effect on the stomach mucosa in the elderly, causing stomach pain. Young people may also feel discomfort in the stomach after consuming it, often referred to as "stomach scraping." If you accidentally purchase raw tea, it is best not to steep it directly. Instead, it can be placed in a non-greasy iron pan and slowly roasted over low heat to remove the raw green smell. It can be consumed when a slight chestnut fragrance is produced.