Oolong Tea and its Health Benefits

Oolong tea, also called wu-long, is a traditional Chinese tea. There are several different varieties of this tea and it is often served in Chinese restaurants. It is mainly grown and consumed in China and Taiwan and makes up just 2% of the world's tea consumption. The tea has been used for at least five centuries, perhaps more.

The History of Oolong Tea

The word Oolong means Black Dragon. There are various theories on the tea's history. One theory is that this tea was a direct descendant of Dragon-Phoenix Tea Cake tribute tea. It was black and curly, so it was called Black Dragon. Another theory states the tea was first cultivated in Wuyi Mountain and the tea was named after the part of the mountain it was first produced in.

A third theory is that a man called Wulong, Wuliang or Sulong discovered the tea. A further tale tells about a man called Wu Liang who forgot about his tea until it had begun oxidizing. This tea is between 10 and 70% oxidized, depending on the taste, caffeine content and character required.

Oolong Tea Preparation and Processing

The tea leaves are picked 3 or 4 times a year, when the uppermost buds are half the size of a fully grown leaf. Spring and Autumn teas tend to be of better quality than Summer ones. The leaves are then left to cool, to remove moisture. The moisture in the leaves determines how fast tea polyphenols oxidize.

The withered leaves are then shaken and hand-pressed to bruise them, then left to rest. This process is repeated several times. Eventually, moisture travels from the stem to the leaves, making them supple again. When the edges of the leaves start to redden and aroma substances form, the leaves are pan-fried at a high heat to kill the enzymes and halt the oxidization process. After this, the leaves are rolled into the desired shape. The leaf shape is long and curled. The leaves are heated again after rolling, then cooled. This process is repeated several times.

The next step is baking. The leaves are exposed to high heat for a short time, to stabilize the chemicals, remove moisture and freeze the shape. Then low heat is applied for up to 7 hours. This improves the tea's aroma and color. Any sub-standard leaves or twigs are removed at this stage. When it is ready, the tea is carried down the mountain to the tea houses.

Health Benefits of Oolong Tea

With a taste somewhere between green tea and black tea,Wu-long makes a refreshing beverage and has several health benefits.

Oolong tea increases metabolism, burns fat and can block dietary fat absorption, which is why it is a popular weight loss supplement.

Its polyphenols remove free radicals, which are responsible for liver spots and the aging process. Chinese herbalists believe that it can improve the health of the kidneys and spleen. Polyphenol strengthens the teeth and reduces tooth decay.

Like green tea, Oolong can reduce triglycerides, atherosclerosis and cholesterols, which promotes heart health. It is also good for sufferers of diabetes, high blood pressure and eczema. The tea is beneficial to all the organs in the body.

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