do chinese sweeten their tea
It is best not to add sugar to tea over the long term
Adding sugar to tea is meant to improve the taste, and occasional additions do not affect the health. However, from a long-term perspective, adding sugar to tea over the long term is not beneficial to health and is not recommended. From the perspective of nutritionists, the negative impact of adding sugar to tea on health comes more from the excessive intake of energy.
What do the Chinese use to sweeten tea?
In ancient times, the Chinese had various ways of drinking tea, from the elegant way of preserving the natural flavor of the tea to the way of adding various seasonings. For example, during the Tang Dynasty, people would add ginger and salt to the tea, during the Song Dynasty, they would add ginger, walnut meat, white pine nuts, etc., and during the Ming Dynasty, they would add olive kernels and salted bamboo shoots‌. In addition, some ethnic minorities also have unique tea drinking customs, such as milk tea in Inner Mongolia and butter tea in Tibet. These teas are not only added with milk and salt, but also other seasonings, which creates a rich flavor‌.
In modern times, there have been some innovative ways to make tea, such as adding salt to white tea to reduce the bitterness of the caffeine. This method is effective, but it is not the only option. Other methods, such as lowering the water temperature or shortening the brewing time, can also achieve similar results and are more simple and environmentally friendly. In addition, tea drinks can also be made by adding complementary ingredients with sour, sweet, and salty flavors to create a variety of different tastes. This way of making drinks is very popular among some ethnic minorities in China and has become a local folk custom.
Chinese sweet tea recipe
The main ingredients of Chinese sweet tea include black tea, milk or milk powder, sugar and salt.‌ Black tea is the basis for making sweet tea, and Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea is usually used, although other types of black tea can also be used. The addition of milk or milk powder makes sweet tea rich in nutritional value and also enhances the aroma of the tea. Sugar is an indispensable ingredient in sweet tea, as it makes the tea taste sweeter and satisfies people’s love of sweetness. The addition of salt can balance the taste of the tea and make the taste richer‌.
The specific steps are as follows:
‌Prepare the ingredients‌: Use high-quality Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea, milk or milk powder, sugar and the right amount of salt.
‌Boil the tea‌: Put the black tea in a teapot, add the right amount of water and boil slowly over low heat until the tea takes on a deep red color.
‌Add milk or milk powder‌: Add milk or milk powder to the tea and stir well to make the tea more fragrant and rich.
‌Add sugar and salt‌: Add the right amount of sugar and salt according to personal taste and stir well.
‌Bring the tea to a boil‌: Bring the tea to a boil, stirring constantly, to make the tea taste more even.
‌Serve and taste‌: Pour the sweet tea into teacups and add sugar to taste.
There are also some variations and preparation techniques that can be used to enhance the flavor and nutritional value of sweet tea. For example, ginger and other spices can be added to enhance the flavor and health benefits of sweet tea. The ratio of sugar and salt can also be adjusted to suit personal preferences for the best taste.