Tea is a healthy beverage in our lives, not only quenching thirst but also relieving stress and adding flavor to life. If you're used to Drinking Tea and don't have it for a day, you may feel uncomfortable all over. This is true for most people. However, some people experience stomach discomfort after drinking raw tea. For instance, those with a weak constitution or fragile digestive system may experience some effects after consumption, such as stomach discomfort and unease, especially new tea enthusiasts who haven't tried raw Pu'er tea before or those who don't Drink tea regularly.
Does Drinking Raw Pu'er Tea Cause Stomach Discomfort?
Drinking Pu'er tea has certain benefits for the body, such as warming the stomach and clearing heat and detoxifying. However, some people experience stomach discomfort after drinking Pu'er tea, which may be due to incorrect tea-drinking methods, tea water irritation, or underlying gastric conditions.
1. Incorrect Tea-Drinking Method: Most people steep Pu'er tea at a high temperature and make it quite strong, or they drink it first thing in the morning or on an empty stomach before meals. This can easily irritate the stomach lining, causing gastrointestinal dysfunction and symptoms like stomach discomfort.
2. Tea Water Irritation: Pu'er tea is a fermented tea. If the fermentation time is too short, it can lead to insufficient oxidation of the tea leaves. The alkaloids in the Pu'er tea can irritate the stomach lining, causing erosion and leading to stomach discomfort. The alkaloids in Pu'er tea also stimulate the secretion of gastric acid, which can increase significantly and corrode the stomach lining, resulting in stomach discomfort. Additionally, Pu'er tea contains polyphenols, which may affect the contraction of the stomach's smooth muscles, causing intestinal spasms.
3. Underlying Gastric Conditions: For example, in chronic gastritis, most patients do not usually have symptoms, but they may experience occasional stomach discomfort. Drinking Pu'er tea may exacerbate these symptoms or worsen their existing condition by stimulating gastric acid secretion.
Taboos When Drinking Raw Pu'er Tea
1. Avoid Drinking Large Quantities of Raw Pu'er: Pu'er tea comes in two types: raw and ripe. Ripe Pu'er is mild, while raw Pu'er is bitter and slightly cold. If you drink only raw tea long-term, it can have obvious adverse effects on your stomach. It dilutes stomach acid, hinders digestion, causes irritability, and other “tea drunkenness” phenomena. Over time, this may lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. We recommend that avid Pu'er enthusiasts alternate between raw and ripe teas instead of favoring one type.
2. Avoid Drinking Freshly Produced Raw Pu'er: Drinking freshly produced raw Pu'er tea may cause a person's nervous system to become highly excited, leading to symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, and increased heart rate. This is because the internal substances in fresh Pu'er tea have not yet been oxidized. Pu'er tea is a tea that improves with age, and freshly produced raw teas should ideally be stored for more than a year before drinking. As the saying goes, Pu'er tea gets better with age; aged raw teas have a better taste and aroma and are gentler on the stomach.
3. Avoid Drinking Raw Pu'er Too Many Times: Raw Pu'er tea can typically be steeped about 8 times with boiling water. Regardless of how good the raw Pu'er is, its flavor will fade with each subsequent Steeping. Do not repeatedly steep a single serving of tea to save money, as trace amounts of potentially harmful substances may dissolve into the tea, negatively impacting your health. We suggest that when brewing raw Pu'er, if the tea begins to develop a watery taste, extend the steeping time for the next infusion. Once the tea has lost its flavor, stop steeping it further.
4. Avoid Drinking Raw Pu'er on an Empty Stomach: Generally, it is not advisable to drink any type of tea on an empty stomach. The alkaloids and caffeine in tea can cause symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, and dizziness in new tea drinkers. Additionally, raw Pu'er tea has a strong fat-burning effect, which may result in symptoms like weakness, dizziness, and other adverse reactions. This explains why some people feel very hungry after drinking raw Pu'er tea in the morning.
If you experience stomach discomfort after drinking Pu'er tea, you should stop drinking it and drink plenty of water to alleviate the symptoms. In daily life, avoid drinking overly hot or strong Pu'er tea and drink it after eating. If you continue to experience stomach discomfort after drinking Pu'er tea, you should visit a hospital for appropriate examinations to determine the specific condition of your stomach.