In Chinese tea culture, green tea is a classic tea type that is praised for its “elegance,” “fragrance,” and “clean taste.” When many people drink green tea, they may add some ingredients to enhance its flavor, such as lemon or honey. However, there might be some questions about adding white sugar to green tea. Can you add sugar to green tea? This question has also sparked some controversy among Chinese tea enthusiasts.
Can You Add Sugar to Green Tea?
In general, Chinese people do not add sugar when drinking green tea.
Adding white sugar to green tea is not recommended. Green tea has a bitter and cool nature. People drink tea to stimulate the digestive glands with the bitterness of tea, promoting the secretion of digestive juices to enhance digestion. Another purpose is to utilize the cooling nature of tea to achieve a cooling and detoxifying effect. Adding sugar to green tea can inhibit these functions. However, there are historical records of using sugar with tea leaves for therapeutic purposes, which is acceptable as a form of traditional Chinese medicine. Still, it is not advisable for regular tea consumption.
On the other hand, you can add rock sugar to green tea, which can have a beneficial effect on individuals with pharyngitis.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, pharyngitis is mainly caused by lung and kidney deficiency, yin deficiency and excessive heat, rising internal heat, or external factors causing wind-heat and heat-toxins to damage the throat. Green tea has a cooling nature and is known for its ability to nourish yin, quench thirst, and clear heat and toxins. Rock sugar, with a neutral to slightly cool nature, has properties that can tonify the middle, boost qi, nourish yin, moisten the lungs, stop coughing, and transform phlegm. Additionally, rock sugar is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance the efficacy of herbal remedies. When combined with green tea, it can fully utilize the detoxifying properties of green tea and alleviate throat pain, while also strengthening the body’s immune system, thereby enhancing its ability to combat pharyngitis. Therefore, individuals suffering from acute or chronic pharyngitis might consider adding a little rock sugar when drinking green tea. However, diabetic patients should avoid doing so to prevent an increase in blood sugar levels.
It is also not advisable to add honey to green tea because honey should not be used with hot water.
Tea and Sugar Don’t Mix
In summary, Chinese people generally do not add sugar to green tea. The nature of green tea is cool, and its bitterness helps with digestion and detoxification. Adding sugar can inhibit these effects. While there are historical recipes that include sugar and tea for therapeutic purposes, it is not recommended for regular tea consumption.
Tea and sugar are not a recommended combination, and adding sugar to green tea should generally be avoided. However, for individuals with specific health conditions like pharyngitis, adding rock sugar can be beneficial. For those who find green tea too bitter, adding chrysanthemum or jasmine flowers can enhance the flavor without compromising the health benefits of green tea.
