The Best Time to Drink Each Tea: Morning, Afternoon, Evening

ByDerry Liu

The best time of day for each tea, according to Chinese tradition, is simple: black tea in the morning, green or white tea in the afternoon, and dark tea or black tea in the evening. Black tea is mild and warming for breakfast, green and white teas feel cooling and refreshing after lunch, and mellow dark tea suits the hours after dinner.

Here is how to match your teatime to the right tea type, with the traditional reasons behind each choice.

Black tea poured into a glass pitcher, the best time for it is morning
A warm cup of black tea is a classic way to start the day.

What is the best time to drink black tea?

Black tea (红茶, hóng chá, literally “red tea”) is a great choice in the morning. It is mild, so you can drink it with breakfast or just after. In traditional Chinese thinking, black tea is warming: people say a morning cup gets your circulation going, chases away the chill and clears your mind for the day.

Try our Sunglow Dian Hong, a honeyed Yunnan black tea, or read our beginner’s guide to Dian Hong.

Which teas are best in the afternoon?

Green tea and white tea are great afternoon options. Traditional Chinese medicine says the liver works harder after lunch, which can show up as “liver fire” (肝火, gān huǒ), a feeling of internal heat. Green tea is traditionally seen as cooling, and white tea is said to cool the body too. That’s why an afternoon cup of either is believed to leave you relieved and refreshed.

Pale white tea poured into a white cup for an afternoon break
White tea brews a soft, pale cup for the afternoon.

What tea should you drink in the evening?

Dark tea and black tea are the traditional evening choices. After a rich dinner, a cup of dark tea such as ripe pu-erh is said to help you feel comfortable and aid digestion. Many people also find dark tea and black tea gentler on sleep than green tea, but every tea contains caffeine, so keep evening brews light. See caffeine in different types of tea.

These are traditional views, not medical claims. Tea is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease.

Ripe pu-erh in a glass fairness cup for after dinner
Ripe pu-erh is a classic after-dinner tea.

How do you brew ripe pu-erh after dinner?

Brew our Moistness ripe pu-erh with water at 100°C (212°F). For the Chinese gongfu method, use 6 g of leaf per 100 ml of water: the first infusion is 5 seconds, add 5 seconds for each infusion after that, and enjoy up to 15 infusions. For the western cup method, use 0.9 g per 100 ml: the first infusion is 120 seconds, each infusion after that is 30 seconds longer, for 5 infusions in total. These are the same steps as the Brewing Method tab on the product page.

For more on timing, read four times not to drink tea and drinking tea on different occasions.

FAQ

Can I drink green tea in the morning?

Of course. Tradition simply suggests eating something first, since green tea can feel strong on an empty stomach.

Which tea is best before bed?

If you drink tea in the evening, a light brew of ripe pu-erh or black tea, finished a few hours before bed, is the usual choice.

Why is white tea good in the afternoon?

White tea is traditionally seen as cooling and is soft and sweet, so it refreshes without feeling heavy.

Try teas for every time of day from Teawish