Ah, thank you all for your input. This has given me quite a bit of food for thought, and it is interesting to learn that even within a particular style, the firing and strength of the tea can really make a big difference. I actually like the drying effect a lot, and it seems like it is beneficial for me. To me, the worst effect is a feeling of internal dampness, which probably corresponds to stagnant qi.
In some ways, I have heard similar findings from others about the way tea makes them feel. Often westerners who do not have familiarity with TCM or concepts of qi will still talk about how green tea makes them feel good, and how the actual feeling they get from drinking it is different and special. I have heard this quite a few times from young people in the U.S.
