What to Drink After the Summer Solstice? Don't Fall for 'Health Tea' Traps
June 29, 2026
What to Drink After the Summer Solstice? Don't Fall for 'Health Tea' Traps
Summer Solstice is here, and the weather is truly getting hot.
Every year around this time, various "summer health teas" start满天飞. "Detox tea," "dampness-removing tea," "fire-reducing tea" - the variety is endless, with prices ranging from 9.9 yuan to 199 yuan.
Today, no talk of health benefits - just the truth.
Trap 1: 9.9 Yuan Free Shipping "Summer Health Tea Bags"
Search "tea for summer" on e-commerce platforms, and the first page is filled with 9.9 yuan free shipping options, beautifully packaged with catchy names.
But what's actually inside?
Most contain tea dust and flower-herb mixtures, with extremely low-grade raw materials, possibly even last year's aged tea. The cost might be less than 1 yuan - you pay 9.9 yuan with "free shipping" - what do you think they're making profit on?
Real good tea doesn't need added flowers to mask flavor, nor "health" marketing to sell.
Trap 2: All Teas Can Be Cold Brewed
In our previous post about white tea cold brewing, someone commented: "Can green tea be cold brewed? Black tea? Ripe tea?"
Here's the straight answer:
- White tea, some lightly fermented raw teas: Best for cold brewing, naturally sweet, no bitterness or astringency
- Green tea: Can be cold brewed, but tends to develop astringency, requires precise temperature and timing
- Black tea: Not suitable for cold brewing. Fermented teas can't release their aroma properly when cold brewed, resulting in a flat taste
- Ripe tea, dark tea: Not suitable for cold brewing. Post-fermented teas need high temperatures to release their flavor
Not all teas are suitable for cold brewing. If someone tells you "all our teas can be cold brewed," they either don't understand tea or will try anything on you.
Trap 3: Can't Drink Hot Tea in Summer
This is one of the most common misconceptions.
Drinking hot tea in summer isn't just "acceptable" - it's actually better for your body.
Traditional Chinese medicine speaks of "nourishing yang in spring and summer," not meaning you should add fire in summer, but rather not completely reject warmth just because it's hot. A cup of warm Puer tea or aged white tea, causing slight sweating after drinking, is actually more effective at relieving summer heat than gulping down an ice-cold beverage.
Of course, cold brewed white tea is indeed refreshing when it's hot. What I mean is: don't be extreme. Cold brewed white tea + occasional hot brewed ripe tea, alternating between the two, is the most comfortable approach.
Trap 4: Can You Trust the Word "Ancient Tree"?
90% of teas labeled "ancient tree" on the market are fake.
It's not that tea farmers are intentionally deceiving you - the concept of "ancient tree" itself is vague. National standards don't have a strict definition (some scholars use 100 years as the threshold, others use 300 years), so many merchants decide for themselves.
How to tell if it's truly ancient tree?
Look at the leaves and taste:
- Ancient tree leaves are thick, with widely spaced serrations and clear veins
- The tea soup has obvious thickness (not "strong," but "rich" - the texture of substance)
- High steeping durability (true ancient tree tea maintains flavor after 10+ steepings)
- Deep and lasting huiyun/return sweetness (not sweetness in the mouth, but the kind from throat to stomach)
Relying solely on the word "ancient tree" on packaging tells you nothing.
What Should You Actually Drink in Summer?
Don't overthink it. Choose based on the occasion:
| Occasion | Recommended | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| On the go | White tea dragon pearls (cold brew) | One pearl per brew, toss in water bottle and go |
| Office daily | Premium white tea loose leaf | Works for hot or cold brewing, no special equipment needed |
| Spending all day in AC | Ripe tea/aged white tea (hot brew) | Warm drinking is more comfortable than cold drinks |
| Entertaining guests | Ancient tree white tea cake | Looks good, tastes good, gives you something to talk about |
| Evening after a heavy meal | Jingmai autumn tea (hot brew) | Orchid aroma, clear, not heavy |
The core principle is just one: Whatever feels comfortable is right. Don't be bound by various concepts - the only purpose of drinking tea in summer is to make yourself comfortable.
Regarding "health benefits," my consistent view has been: tea is not medicine, don't expect it to cure anything. But it is genuinely a beverage that makes daily life more comfortable - choosing the right tea and brewing it correctly is more practical than any health regimen.
Feel free to message me on WeChat with any questions.
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