In general, if the tea leaves are green in the water, the tea is Yin tea. If the tea leaves are dark red or slightly black, the tea is Yang tea. Among the six major teas, green tea, yellow tea, and white tea are Yin teas, and
Teas that cool your body
Low oxidation teas, or green teas, (such as a green tea or lightly oxidized oolongs) have a cooling character, therefore they are more fitting for warm body types (often signified by inflammation).
Sugar, alcohol, chocolate, coffee and black tea are classed as yang. 'Neutral' foodstuffs bring balanced energy, structure and stability.
Matcha has been trendy for ages now, and everyone from supermodels to hipsters drink it. In tea class we learned that matcha has a very strong yin, because you are drinking the entire leaf.
Bringing balance to this body constitution requires cooling essences to counteract excess heat commonly found within a Yin Deficient body. Your new best friends are green teas, especially matcha, and also mint and the cooling florals of hibiscus.
People used green tea in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health, and regulate body temperature. Studies suggest that green tea may have positive effects on weight loss, liver disorders, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and more.
People with heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver problems, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders, particularly anxiety, should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid green tea.
As the benefits of matcha become more widely recognized it became the basis for the sophisticated art of Japanese Tea Ceremony or “chado.” Drinking matcha not only aided the meditation efforts of Zen monks but also became a means in attaining enlightenment itself.
According to TCM, jasmine belongs to the “yang'' food group, which helps balance out the “yin” of green tea beautifully.
With a unique bergamot orange flavour and a distinct warming effect, Earl Grey tea is a British favourite.
Yang types are more active, extroverted and ambitious, while Yin types are peaceful, relaxed, and easygoing. Yang people are more about radical change, dramatics, and standing out from the crowd. Yin personalities are more hesitant, emotional, and read into things.
Generally speaking, foods that have a higher water content are considered cool, or yin, whereas foods that have a higher energy content, particularly from fat, are considered warm, or yang.
In traditional Chinese medicine, practiced for thousands of years, all things—both substances as well as processes—have yin and yang qualities. Yin is feminine, yang is masculine.
Avocado. Avocados are a yummy food to have when you are looking to cool down. Avocados contain mono-saturated fatty acids, which can help to remove excess heat and toxins from your blood. You can make a quick avocado toast or add avocado to a salad when you're craving a cool and relaxed meal.
Green tea is often touted as the healthiest tea. It is chock full of polyphenols and antioxidants that help to boost brain and heart health. Green tea is considered one of the least processed true teas as it does not undergo oxidation. Leaves are harvested and immediately dried and rolled.
Is green tea OK to drink every day? The National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, notes that when green tea is consumed as a beverage, it's "believed to be safe when used in amounts up to 8 cups per day."
Raw vegetables, fruits, juices, sugars, alcohol and drugs are all more yin. Soups, smoothies, and all watery foods are also yin. The most yang foods are salt, meat, eggs, poultry, fish and cooked vegetables.
This herb also have some other benefits and side effects that you might want to know more about. Rooibos tea is more warming, but it's not aggressively warming. It's fairly neutral herbal tea. The benefit of this is that it's hard to over-consume.
It is a refreshing, honey sweet and caffeine free drink with a cooling quality. Rooibos is rich in a variety of compounds that make it a very healthy drink.
For Japanese people, green tea is the drink of choice in the morning. They also drink it during the afternoon break or serve it to guests in a show of hospitality. Several times a day, they will fill a small teapot with tea leaves, pour in hot water, and let it brew for a few minutes.
Many people don't know that it is a tradition in Japanese culture to enjoy a cup of tea after the sushi meal to help cleanse the palate and aid in digestion. This after meal tea is known as “agari,” which is still followed in Japanese restaurants around the world.
Nutritional differences
The contrasts in farming techniques give Japanese Matcha a nutritional advantage. The shading process ensures chlorophyll and other nutrients are concentrated in the leaves. This includes an abundance of the natural antioxidant polyphenols.
Compounds in green tea decrease levels of fibrinogen, a protein that helps clot blood. Green tea also prevents the oxidation of fatty acids, which can lead to thinner blood consistency. If you suffer from a blood clotting disorder, avoid drinking green tea.
Green tea can cause side effects due to caffeine. These can include anxiety, tremors, irritability, and sleeping problems. This is more likely if you're sensitive to caffeine or take large doses. Side effects are less common with green tea than with other drinks that have caffeine.