Time falls like rain, pouring down.
It's the hottest time of the year,
when we welcome the last solar term of summer,
Great Heat.
As the saying goes, “The coldest time is the nine cold days, the hottest is the dog days.”
Great Heat coincides with the middle of the dog days,
the hottest period of the year.
The Three Phases of Great Heat
01
First Phase: Withered grass turns into fireflies.
In the height of summer, fireflies lay their eggs on withered grass, and when they hatch, they emerge from it. Ancient people mistakenly believed that fireflies were transformed from decaying grass.
02
Second Phase: The earth is moist and the heat is sultry.
Sultriness refers to the humid atmosphere. The moisture in the earth's air makes it steamy and damp. During Great Heat, the world feels like a giant steamer.
03
Third Phase: Heavy rains occur frequently.
Since the start of the dog days, thunderstorms have erupted periodically, and during Great Heat, they become more intense. However, as Great Heat progresses, after each thunderstorm, the oppressive heat seems to subtly diminish, transitioning towards the onset of autumn.
Drinking Tea During Great Heat
Hot tea is better than cold Drinks.
During the scorching summer, many friends believe that cold drinks are more refreshing. In reality, given the sultry heat, hot tea is recommended. It helps to protect against both heat and humidity, allowing the body's intense heat to dissipate, bringing about a sense of overall comfort.
The “Four Seasons Decree” mentions, “In summer, a cool breeze visits the hall, and one busies oneself brewing new tea for guests.” The Song Dynasty poet Mei Yaochen also recorded an excellent method for avoiding the heat: “No need for a northern river drink, just brewing tea makes one forget to leave.”
Green Tea is fresh and invigorating, with a sweet aroma. It contains abundant amino acids and has a slightly bitter, cool nature. It has functions such as reducing fire, calming dryness, quenching thirst, and stimulating the mind, making it great for cooling off and lowering temperature.
White Tea is soft and sweet, neither too cool nor too hot. During the sweltering heat of summer, white tea also has the effect of reducing heat and calming the mind, especially aged white tea, which can help reduce inflammation and clear heat and toxins. The tea polyphenols, amino acids, water-soluble pectin, and aromatic compounds in the tea infusion stimulate the oral mucosa, helping to produce saliva and quench thirst.
In addition, Pu'er tea, chenpi (tangerine Peel) tea, barley tea, chrysanthemum tea, honeysuckle tea, and others that can be enjoyed plain or mixed, all have the effect of clearing heat and dispelling summer, suitable for most people to drink in summer.
The heat of summer will pass, and time is boundless.
After the sweaty summer,
we will welcome the cool and fruitful autumn.
So, don't be impatient or restless,
instead, take a moment to calm your mind,
listen to the croaking frogs and chirping cicadas by the pond,
watch the dancing fireflies in the night,
appreciate the moonlit lotus pond and savor the intoxicating aroma of tea,
…
embrace this “last passion” of summer wholeheartedly.
Everything is arranged perfectly!