Tea refreshes the mind, lifts spirits and improves memory. Some people add a little sugar to tea occasionally, some always take sugared tea, while others never add sugar to any tea. Is adding sugar to tea beneficial or not?

Is Adding Sugar to Tea Advisable?

For office workers under heavy stress or lacking energy after staying up late, a small amount of sugar in tea can ease stress, replenish glucose consumed during intensive mental work, stabilize blood sugar and supply energy for work. However, drinking heavily sweetened tea every day has the same adverse effects as commercial sugary drinks, bringing more harm than good to health.

Tea carries cultural and aesthetic value beyond mere refreshment, especially fine tea whose unique aroma and flavor deserve slow appreciation. Sugar masks its original taste. Although sugared tea tastes pleasant while drinking, it easily causes acid regurgitation afterwards. Pure unsweetened tea is recommended; the subtle sweetness after bitterness is part of its charm.

A dash of sugar for better flavor is acceptable occasionally based on personal taste. Yet nutrition experts do not recommend long-term sugared tea consumption, as excess sugar leads to excessive calorie intake and damages health in the long run.

Two Key Precautions for Tea Drinking

1. Avoid strong tea when intoxicated

Tea stimulates the central nervous system. Drinking strong tea after getting drunk increases the burden on the heart.

Tea also accelerates diuresis, forcing toxic aldehydes from alcohol to pass through the kidneys before full decomposition, causing severe irritation to renal tissue. People with heart or kidney diseases should avoid tea entirely, especially strong tea. Healthy people may sip a small amount of strong tea; once sober, eating plenty of fruits or sipping vinegar can speed up metabolism and relieve hangover symptoms.

2. Do not drink over-steeped tea

Tea tastes best when brewed and consumed immediately. Prolonged steeping dissipates tea fragrance and destroys vitamin C and B vitamins. Moreover, long-soaked tea accumulates excessive caffeine and tannins that irritate the body. People suffering from gout, cardiovascular or neurological diseases must avoid over-steeped tea.