Cloud tea is like life; life is learning, wisdom is cultivation.
In the dry days of autumn, my lips crack and peel, and my throat feels like it is on fire. Many people would reach for cooling herbal tea, but for me, the best choice is a pot of red tea. You might think cooling tea is the answer to reducing heat, but in fact, the warm and moist nature of red tea can address autumn dryness at its root. I learned this from an old Chinese medicine practitioner, who said, “Autumn dryness is not about heat; it is about a lack of moisture. Red tea can moisten.” I have remembered those words for over a decade, and every autumn I drink red tea.
Today I am brewing Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong (Lapsang Souchong). The liquor is orange-red, entering the mouth with a unique pine-smoke fragrance and longan sweetness. This flavor is very special—not as honey-sweet as Dian Hong, but with an added smoky depth. After drinking, a longan fragrance fills the mouth, and the throat feels soothed. The pine-smoke aroma of Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong comes from the traditional pine-wood smoking and roasting process. This process gives the tea a unique character and enhances its warming properties. This tea is especially fitting in autumn because its warmth combats the dryness.
From a traditional wellness perspective, the thearubigins in red tea are believed to protect the skin and mucous membranes. Autumn weather is dry, and people’s skin and mucous membranes are easily damaged. Drinking a pot of red tea daily can help keep the membranes moist and reduce the discomfort of autumn dryness. Every autumn I drink red tea, and I notice fewer cracked lips and a more comfortable throat. This effect is not immediate; it takes at least two weeks of consistent drinking to become noticeable. The polyphenols in red tea are also traditionally valued for their antioxidant properties, considered beneficial for skin care.
Red tea has another benefit: it can help improve blood circulation. As autumn weather cools, circulation slows, and hands and feet tend to get cold. The warm nature of red tea promotes circulation, warming the extremities. I have a female friend who suffered from cold hands and feet every autumn. After following my advice to drink red tea daily, she improved significantly within a month. This is not an isolated case; many tea friends have had similar experiences. The warming effect of red tea is especially noticeable in autumn because the body truly needs that warmth.
Tea has grades; all may enjoy it regardless of status.
Here is a tip for drinking red tea during autumn dryness: add a few red dates. Red dates are traditionally valued for nourishing the blood and promoting a healthy complexion. Combined with red tea, the flavor is richer and the wellness benefits are enhanced. Every time I brew red tea, I add three red dates. After drinking, my whole body feels warm. Also, do not brew the tea too strong; lighter tea is more suitable for autumn. Strong tea can actually worsen dryness; gentle tea truly moistens. This is a detail many people do not know, but it is important.
In the days of autumn dryness, red tea is my lip balm. It sounds like a joke, but it is true. The warmth and moisture of red tea have not only soothed my throat but enriched my life. In this dry season, a pot of red tea is like a timely rain, nourishing both body and soul. This is the wellness wisdom of drinking red tea in autumn—no complicated methods needed, just a pot of good tea. Nature’s gifts should be cherished.
Make friends through tea, please enjoy a cup.
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Author: Old Tea Head · Lin Shen (LamSam)
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