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WELLNESSWEEK
Have you ever had this experience? A friend recommends a tea, saying it makes them feel refreshed and energised. You buy it excitedly, brew a cup, drink it—and end up with an upset stomach, or lying awake staring at the ceiling all night. You start to wonder: did I buy fake tea? Am I just drinking it wrong?
Probably neither.
The issue isn't the tea. It's you. The same cup of tea can affect different people completely differently. And this isn't mysticism—it's a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine: body constitution.
TCM classifies body constitutions into nine types—balanced, Yang-deficient, Yin-deficient, Qi-deficient, phlegm-dampness, damp-heat, blood-stasis, Qi-stagnation, and inherited-special. People with different constitutions react completely differently to the same tea. A cup of green tea might feel like "putting out a fire" to someone with excessive internal heat, but like "ice forming in the stomach" to someone with a weak, cold digestive system.
The degree of fermentation determines whether a tea is "cooling" or "warming." Green tea is unfermented and cooling; black tea is fully fermented and warming. When you choose the right tea for your constitution, it supports your health. Choose the wrong one, and it can actually do the opposite.
So before you drink tea, figure out what your body constitution is.
The "Cooling" and "Warming" Nature of the Six Tea Types
The six tea types, ranked by fermentation level from lowest to highest:
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Green tea (unfermented, 0%)
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White tea (lightly fermented, 5%–10%)
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Yellow tea (lightly fermented, 10%–20%)
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Oolong tea (semi-fermented, 15%–70%)
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Black tea (fully fermented, 70%–90%)
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Dark tea (post-fermented, 100%)
The lower the fermentation, the more "cooling" the tea nature. The higher the fermentation, the more "warming" the tea nature.
A quick reference table:
| Tea Type | Fermentation Level | Nature |
| Green | Unfermented | Cooling |
| White | Lightly fermented | Cool |
| Yellow | Lightly fermented | Slightly cool |
| Oolong | Semi-fermented | Neutral |
| Black | Fully fermented | Warming |
| Dark | Post-fermented | Warm |
The logic is simple: people with a warm constitution should drink cooling teas; people with a cold constitution should drink warming teas; people with a balanced constitution can drink almost anything.
Green Tea – For Those Prone to Heat or Spending Long Hours in Front of a Screen
Best for:
People with a warm constitution, those prone to internal heat, frequent breakouts, or dry mouth; office workers who spend long hours in front of a computer.
Why:
Green tea is cooling by nature—it is the most effective tea for clearing internal heat. If you often feel hot, have a dry mouth, break out in pimples, suffer from constipation, or have a sore throat, a cup of green tea feels like pouring cold water on a small fire inside your body.
The polyphenols in green tea are powerful natural antioxidants. Green tea also contains lipopolysaccharides, which are believed to help protect against the effects of radiation—making it a sensible daily drink for those sitting in front of a computer for eight hours or more.
Precautions:
Green tea can be quite irritating to the digestive system. People with a weak or cold stomach, or those with stomach ulcers, should not drink too much. Drinking green tea on an empty stomach can cause discomfort. And since green tea contains a fair amount of caffeine, anyone sensitive to caffeine might want to avoid it after mid-afternoon.
White Tea – For Those Under High Stress and in Need of Relaxation
Best for:
People under high work pressure, those who feel tense or anxious; particularly suitable for women.
Why:
White tea is lightly fermented—cooling in nature, but much gentler than green tea. Its processing is the simplest of all teas: no fixation, no rolling, just natural withering. Because it isn't subjected to high heat, white tea retains a high amount of L-theanine—an amino acid that promotes relaxation without drowsiness. L-theanine increases alpha brain wave activity, creating that calm-but-alert state.
White tea is also known for the saying: "One-year tea, three-year medicine, seven-year treasure." Fresh white tea is cooling and good for clearing heat; aged white tea becomes progressively warmer over time. Long-term white tea consumption may help protect the skin and slow signs of ageing—which is exactly why many women choose it as their daily brew.
Precautions:
White tea is still on the cool side, so people with a cold constitution should not overdo it. If you're sensitive to cold, consider aged white tea (three years or older), which has become much gentler.
Yellow Tea – For Those with Poor Digestion or a Weak Appetite
Best for:
People with poor digestion, low appetite, or frequent bloating after meals.
Why:
Yellow tea follows nearly the same production process as green tea, but with one extra step: sweltering. The leaves are wrapped or piled in a warm, humid environment for a period. During this process, subtle changes take place inside the leaves—some proteins are broken down into amino acids, and starches are converted into soluble sugars. More importantly, the sweltering process produces certain enzymes that aid digestion. These enzymes stimulate spleen and stomach function, helping break down proteins and fats in food. A cup of yellow tea after a meal can noticeably relieve that heavy, "stuck" feeling.
Precautions:
Yellow tea is the rarest of all six types and is not easy to find. Avoid drinking it on an empty stomach, as it may still irritate the stomach lining.
Oolong Tea – For Those Concerned About Blood Sugar and Lipid Levels
Best for:
People who need to manage their blood sugar or lipid levels; those focused on weight management.
Why:
Oolong tea is semi-fermented and neutral in nature—neither cooling nor warming. It works for almost everyone.
Oolong's standout feature is its ability to "intercept" fats and sugars. Studies have shown that the polyphenols in oolong effectively inhibit fat absorption, slow down carbohydrate digestion, and help control post-meal blood sugar levels. Regular oolong consumption may support healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels. This is why many people concerned about metabolic health keep oolong as their everyday tea.
Oolong also offers the most varied aroma of any tea—floral, fruity, honeyed, roasted—with different cultivars and processing methods producing completely different layers of scent.
Precautions:
Oolong is suitable for most people and does not conflict with any particular constitution.
Black Tea – For Those with Cold Hands and Feet, or Those Prone to Feeling Cold
Best for:
People with constantly cold hands and feet, pale complexion, or frequent fatigue; those with cold stomachs or who are sensitive to cold.
Why:
Black tea is fully fermented and warming in nature. If green tea is "ice," black tea is "fire." This warming quality comes from the fermentation process—polyphenols are largely converted into theaflavins and thearubigins, bitterness fades, and the tea becomes sweet, smooth, and mellow.
Black tea promotes peripheral circulation—meaning it helps warm up your hands and feet. This is why people who are always cold often notice their complexion improving after drinking black tea consistently.
Precautions:
Black tea is very gentle on the stomach and has very low irritant levels. Its caffeine content is notable, but theaflavins provide a buffering effect, making its stimulation more gradual and sustained than that of coffee.
Dark Tea – For Those with Weak Digestion or Dampness
Best for:
People with weak digestive function or frequent indigestion; those who often feel heavy and sluggish, or have a thick, greasy coating on the tongue.
Why:
Dark tea is post-fermented and has the highest fermentation level of all. But its "fermentation" is fundamentally different from the other five types—it doesn't rely on the tea leaves' own enzymes, but on microorganisms.
After fixation and rolling, the leaves are piled up, sprinkled with water, and covered. In the warm, humid environment, large numbers of microorganisms begin to multiply, creating what is essentially a "secondary processing" of the tea. This process is called piling. The microorganisms break down polyphenols into gentler substances and produce a wealth of beneficial metabolites. Dark tea is rich in probiotics (Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces, Lactobacillus, etc.), which help regulate gut flora and improve digestion.
Precautions:
Choose dark tea from reputable sources.
At a Glance: How to Choose
| Your Condition | Recommended Tea | Why |
| Prone to internal heat, long hours in front of a screen | Green tea | Cooling, helps clear heat |
| Stressed, in need of relaxation | White tea | Soothes nerves, supports skin health |
| Poor digestion, low appetite | Yellow tea | Contains digestive enzymes |
| Concerned about blood sugar or lipids | Oolong tea | Neutral nature, supports metabolic health |
| Cold hands and feet, sensitive to cold | Black tea | Warming, gentle on the stomach |
| Weak digestion, dampness | Dark tea | Contains probiotics, supports gut health |
The takeaway: drinking tea isn't about following trends—it's about making your body feel good. Choosing the right tea matters more than drinking expensive tea.
Where Do Our Teas Fit In?
After reading the above, you can probably judge for yourself:
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White Peach Oolong (oolong base) → Neutral in nature, suitable for almost everyone as an everyday tea. Neither cooling nor warming, it doesn't conflict with any body type. The gentle nature of oolong, combined with the sweet note of white peach, makes it a tea you can drink from morning to evening without worry.
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Lychee Rose Black Tea (black tea base) → Warming in nature, perfect for those with cold hands and feet, those who feel the cold easily, or anyone in need of something warming and comforting. Black tea's full fermentation makes it extremely stomach-friendly. The rose adds a soothing dimension beyond just flavour—it's a cup of calm as much as a cup of tea. Best for mornings, winter, or any time you need a little extra warmth.
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Ginger Black Tea (black tea base + ginger) → Warming in nature, and even more "warming" than plain black tea. Ginger's circulatory benefits and black tea's natural warmth combine for a double dose of heat. Perfect for those with a cold constitution, persistently cold hands and feet, or those cooler days when you need an extra layer of comfort. If you're the kind of person who can't live without a hot water bottle in winter, this might be your tea.