Selenium-rich tea does not refer to one specific tea variety. Instead, it is a general term for all teas containing far higher selenium levels than ordinary tea leaves. Simply put, it means tea abundant in selenium.
Naturally grown selenium-rich tea mainly originates from two major regions. The first is Enshi in Hubei Province, known as the "World Capital of Selenium", where over 96% of the local soil naturally contains selenium. The second covers other selenium-rich zones including Ziyang in Shaanxi and Fenggang in Guizhou.
Green tea is the most common selenium-rich tea on the market, yet selenium-rich tea covers a full spectrum and is not limited to one single category. Apart from green tea, these producing areas also make black tea, white tea, dark tea, oolong tea and yellow tea. For instance, black tea and white tea from Enshi and Guizhou have earned great reputations.
Many famous regional teas fall under the category of selenium-rich tea:
• Enshi, Hubei: Enshi Yulu (green tea), Lichuan Black Tea, Hefeng Selenium-Rich Green Tea (a tribute tea offered to imperial courts for its premium quality)
• Guizhou: Fenggang Zinc-Selenium Tea. The local soil is rich in both zinc and selenium, and high-quality tea has been cultivated here since the Tang Dynasty. Its product range includes green, black and white tea.
• Ankang, Shaanxi: Ziyang Selenium-Rich Tea, a time-honored representative that underpins the local tea industry. Selenium is an essential trace element for the human body, and drinking selenium-rich tea serves as an excellent way to supplement organic selenium. Modern research has identified its core benefits as follows:
• Powerful anti-oxidation and anti-aging effects: Animal tests prove tea polyphenols in selenium-rich tea can significantly boost the body's antioxidant capacity.
• Trace element supplementation and immunity enhancement: It facilitates human absorption of organic selenium, offering better effects than regular tea.
• Auxiliary blood lipid regulation: Studies suggest selenium-rich tea delivers positive effects on blood lipid management. There are also key precautions for drinking selenium-rich tea:
• Brewing guide: Steep the tea in water of 80–90°C for 3 to 5 minutes, with a tea-to-water ratio of 1:50.
• Avoid drinking on an empty stomach, as it may hinder gastric juice secretion and cause discomfort.
• Insomnia sufferers should drink cautiously, especially at night, since caffeine may worsen sleep loss.
