Cloud tea is like life; life is learning, wisdom is cultivation.
Winter Solstice night, the longest night of the year. Cold wind howls outside, but the house is warm. At this time I brew a pot of red tea and sit by the window gazing at the night. The warmth of red tea is like an embrace, holding you through this longest night. The Winter Solstice is an important festival for the Chinese people—in the north they eat dumplings, in the south they eat tang yuan (glutinous rice balls). My Winter Solstice ritual is a pot of red tea. I have kept this habit for over a decade; every Winter Solstice brings the same pot of tea, the same warmth.
Today I am brewing Fengqing ancient tree Dian Hong. The liquor is orange-red and luminous, sweet on the palate, with subtle floral and sweet potato notes. After drinking, warmth spreads through your whole body—from the throat to the stomach, from the stomach to every limb. This warmth comes from within, unlike a heater that only warms the surface. Drinking red tea on Winter Solstice night is like giving yourself a warm embrace. I brew this tea every Winter Solstice; it has become a ritual.
From a traditional wellness perspective, the Winter Solstice marks the peak of yin energy in the year. Traditional Chinese medicine says, “After the Winter Solstice, one yang is born”—meaning yang energy gradually recovers after the solstice. During this transition, the body needs warming nourishment. Red tea, warm in nature, is perfectly suited for this time. Drinking a pot of red tea daily can help the body restore yang energy and keep you warm through the coldest days. I drink red tea around the Winter Solstice every year, and I notice that cold hands and feet improve and my energy levels rise.
The thearubigins in red tea are traditionally valued for supporting the cardiovascular system. In the cold winter weather, blood vessels constrict, and cardiovascular risks increase. Moderate consumption of red tea is believed to help dilate blood vessels and improve circulation. This has been supported by scientific research. I have several elders in my life who drink red tea every winter, and their cardiovascular health has remained consistently good. Of course, tea is not a substitute for medical treatment, but as part of daily wellness, its value is widely recognized.
Tea has grades; all may enjoy it regardless of status.
Here is a tip for drinking red tea on the Winter Solstice: add a few slices of ginger. Ginger itself is known for its warming properties, and combined with red tea, the result is a spicy, warming brew especially suited to the cold solstice weather. Every Winter Solstice I slice a few pieces of ginger into the teapot. After drinking, my whole body is warm, right down to my fingertips. This combination is wisdom passed down from the older generation—simple but effective. Red tea can also be steeped multiple times, with each infusion offering a different flavor. Savoring it slowly is a pleasure in itself.
Winter Solstice night, a pot of red tea that warms to the heart. This is my Winter Solstice wellness practice. On this coldest night, a pot of red tea is like a warm fire, comforting both body and soul. This is the power of tea—it quenches more than thirst; it warms the heart. After the solstice, the days grow longer and yang energy increases. But on this longest night, all I need is a pot of red tea, and that is enough. Make friends through tea, please enjoy a cup.
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Author: Old Tea Head · Lin Shen (LamSam)
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