Teas for Winter

Dark processed teas are more warming in nature, and these include oolongs, black teas, and Pu Erh teas.

These are the types of beverages that should be consumed in winter. Pu Erh (普洱茶) is perhaps the best of these. This wonderful tea from Yunnan Province is traditionally made from the leaves of wild deep-mountain tea trees. The leaves are harvested and then put through a process of fermentation and aging, and some high-quality Pu Erh teas can be aged for 15 to 20 years or more. Not only is this tea warming but it also encourages the inward movement and storage of Qi that is desirable in winter.

For winter, some of the best options are cinnamon or dried ginger. Both cinnamon and dried ginger are warming herbs. Ginger warms and strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, and cinnamon warms the interior and consolidates Qi in the Kidney, the internal organ associated with the Water phase. Both of these herbs are effective in treating pain conditions since they warm and move the Qi internally.