— Chinese Tea Guide (茶)

Explore Chinese tea varieties across six categories. Each with health properties matched to TCM body types, proper brewing parameters, and flavor profiles.

Green (2)Dark (2)Oolong (2)White (2)Green (Scented) (1)Black (2)Herbal/Flower (1)

Dragon Well (Longjing)

Cool

龙井 (Lóng Jǐng) · Green

Hangzhou, Zhejiang

China's most famous green tea. Pan-fired in a wok to stop oxidation, producing flat, smooth leaves with a distinctive chestnut aroma. Best enjoyed fresh within a year of harvest.

Flavor: Nutty, chestnut-like, sweet, fresh

  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Clears heat
  • Aids digestion

Brewing Guide

Temp: 75-80°C (167-176°F)Amount: 3g per 150mlTime: 1-2 min first steepSteeps: 3-4 steeps
Caffeine: Medium
damp heatyin deficiency

Pu-erh (Ripe/Shou)

Warm

普洱熟茶 (Pǔ Ěr Shú Chá) · Dark

Yunnan

Artificially fermented pu-erh with a dark, smooth, earthy character. Improves with short aging. Excellent for digestion after heavy meals — this is why Chinese restaurants serve it with dim sum.

Flavor: Earthy, smooth, woody, slightly sweet

  • Aids digestion and fat metabolism
  • Warms the stomach
  • Lowers cholesterol

Brewing Guide

Temp: 95-100°C (203-212°F)Amount: 5-7g per 150mlTime: 10-15 sec first steepSteeps: 10-20+ steeps
Caffeine: Medium-High
phlegm dampnessqi deficiency

Pu-erh (Raw/Sheng)

Cool (young) to Neutral (aged)

普洱生茶 (Pǔ Ěr Shēng Chá) · Dark

Yunnan

Naturally aged pu-erh that transforms over decades. Young sheng is vibrant and bitter; aged sheng (15+ years) becomes smooth, complex, and highly prized. A tea for collectors and connoisseurs.

Flavor: Young: bitter, astringent, floral. Aged: mellow, complex, dried fruit

  • Clears heat (young)
  • Aids digestion
  • Antioxidant-rich

Brewing Guide

Temp: 90-95°C (194-203°F)Amount: 5-7g per 150mlTime: 5-10 sec first steepSteeps: 15-30+ steeps
Caffeine: High
damp heatbalanced

Tieguanyin (Iron Goddess)

Neutral to Cool

铁观音 (Tiě Guān Yīn) · Oolong

Anxi, Fujian

One of China's most celebrated oolongs. Rolled into tight balls that unfurl during brewing, releasing waves of floral aroma across many steeps. The name refers to the Buddhist deity Guanyin.

Flavor: Floral, orchid-like, creamy, lingering sweetness

  • Aids digestion
  • Promotes relaxation
  • Rich in polyphenols

Brewing Guide

Temp: 90-95°C (194-203°F)Amount: 5-7g per 100mlTime: 30-60 sec first steepSteeps: 7-10 steeps
Caffeine: Medium
balancedqi stagnation

Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe)

Warm

大红袍 (Dà Hóng Páo) · Oolong

Wuyi Mountains, Fujian

The king of Wuyi rock oolongs (岩茶). Heavily roasted with deep mineral character from the rocky cliffs where it grows. Original mother bushes are centuries old and priceless.

Flavor: Roasted, mineral, dark fruit, long aftertaste

  • Warms the stomach
  • Promotes circulation
  • Aids digestion

Brewing Guide

Temp: 95-100°C (203-212°F)Amount: 5-8g per 100mlTime: 20-30 sec first steepSteeps: 8-12 steeps
Caffeine: Medium-High
qi stagnationqi deficiency

White Peony (Bai Mu Dan)

Cool

白牡丹 (Bái Mǔ Dān) · White

Fuding, Fujian

Minimally processed white tea made from a bud and two leaves. Gentle, approachable, and lightly sweet. Ages beautifully over years, developing honey and dried fruit notes.

Flavor: Gentle, hay-like, slightly sweet, fresh

  • Clears heat gently
  • Antioxidant-rich
  • Nourishes yin

Brewing Guide

Temp: 80-85°C (176-185°F)Amount: 3-5g per 150mlTime: 2-3 min first steepSteeps: 3-5 steeps
Caffeine: Low-Medium
yin deficiencydamp heat

Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen)

Cool

白毫银针 (Bái Háo Yín Zhēn) · White

Fuding, Fujian

The most premium white tea — made only from unopened buds covered in fine silver-white hairs. Extremely delicate and subtly sweet. One of the most antioxidant-rich teas in existence.

Flavor: Delicate, sweet, melon-like, silky

  • Very high in antioxidants
  • Gently clears heat
  • Benefits the skin

Brewing Guide

Temp: 75-80°C (167-176°F)Amount: 3-5g per 150mlTime: 3-4 min first steepSteeps: 3-4 steeps
Caffeine: Low
yin deficiency

Jasmine Pearl

Warm

茉莉龙珠 (Mò Lì Lóng Zhū) · Green (Scented)

Fujian / Guangxi

Hand-rolled green tea pearls scented with fresh jasmine flowers over multiple nights. The pearls unfurl beautifully in water, releasing wave after wave of jasmine fragrance. A mood-lifter.

Flavor: Intensely floral, sweet, jasmine perfume, smooth green tea base

  • Moves qi (relieves stress)
  • Calms anxiety
  • Aids digestion

Brewing Guide

Temp: 80-85°C (176-185°F)Amount: 3-5g per 150mlTime: 2-3 min first steepSteeps: 3-4 steeps
Caffeine: Medium
qi stagnationbalanced

Keemun (Qimen Black Tea)

Warm

祁门红茶 (Qí Mén Hóng Chá) · Black

Qimen, Anhui

One of China's top black teas and a traditional component of English Breakfast blends. Smooth, low-astringency, with wine-like complexity. Often called the 'Burgundy of teas.'

Flavor: Wine-like, fruity, smooth, slightly smoky, cocoa notes

  • Warms the stomach
  • Promotes circulation
  • Aids digestion

Brewing Guide

Temp: 90-95°C (194-203°F)Amount: 3-5g per 150mlTime: 2-3 min first steepSteeps: 2-3 steeps
Caffeine: Medium-High
qi deficiencyyang deficiency

Lapsang Souchong

Warm

正山小种 (Zhèng Shān Xiǎo Zhǒng) · Black

Wuyi Mountains, Fujian

The world's first black tea, smoked over pine fires. Bold smoky character (traditional version) or elegant longan sweetness (modern unsmoked). A warming winter companion.

Flavor: Smoky, pine, dried longan, slightly sweet

  • Strongly warms the body
  • Aids digestion
  • Promotes circulation

Brewing Guide

Temp: 90-95°C (194-203°F)Amount: 3-5g per 150mlTime: 2-3 min first steepSteeps: 3-5 steeps
Caffeine: Medium
yang deficiencyqi deficiency

Gyokuro

Cool

玉露 (Yù Lù) · Green

Japan (originally Chinese method)

Japan's most premium green tea, shade-grown for 20+ days before harvest. Intensely sweet and umami-rich. Originally Chinese method (玉露) exported to Japan centuries ago.

Flavor: Intensely sweet, umami, seaweed-like, creamy

  • Very high in L-theanine (calm focus)
  • Rich in chlorophyll
  • Antioxidant-dense

Brewing Guide

Temp: 50-60°C (122-140°F)Amount: 5g per 100mlTime: 2-3 minSteeps: 3 steeps
Caffeine: High
yin deficiencybalanced

Chrysanthemum Tea

Cool

菊花茶 (Jú Huā Chá) · Herbal/Flower

Various regions

The quintessential Chinese office tea. Pairs beautifully with goji berries. Particularly good for people who work at computers (clears liver fire that rises to the eyes).

Flavor: Floral, honey-like, slightly sweet, refreshing

  • Clears liver heat
  • Brightens eyes (great for screen fatigue)
  • Relieves headache

Brewing Guide

Temp: 90-100°C (194-212°F)Amount: 5-8 flowers per cupTime: 3-5 minSteeps: 2-3 steeps
Caffeine: None
yin deficiencydamp heat

12 teas.