Chinese Oolong Tea

Oolong tea, known as 乌龙茶（wu long cha）in Chinese, is a semi-fermented tea. The making process of Chinese oolong tea is mainly picking, withering, kneading, fermenting, and baking, which absorbs the making methods of green tea and red tea, hence giving this kind of tea the fresh and flower fragrance of green tea and mellow taste of black tea. It is also called “beauty tea” in Japan because of its brilliant effect on losing weight and anti-aging. The main planting regions of Chinese Oolong tea lie in southeast China, including Fujian Province, Guangdong Province and Taiwan. The famous brands include Dahongpao, Tieguanyin, Wuyi oolong tea and Dongding Oolong. 
 

Tannin, the main element in Chinese oolong tea, is effective in reducing fat. Besides, Oolong tea can lower cholesterol in blood, promote the burning of fat, and flat your abdomen.
 

Research has shown that oolong tea can stop the formation of Nitroso gum within the body. Furthermore, drinking oolong tea may reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer in women and getting skin cancer.
 

Oolong tea can prevent and allay the aortic atherosclerosis of fat in the blood. Drinking oolong tea reduces the blood viscosity, increases blood circulation and improves microcirculation. According to a thrombosis test, it can insulate you from cerebral thrombosis.
 

Vitamin C, a vital factor in resisting aging, can play a better role inside your body when you have oolong tea. It can preserve the Vitamin C within your body, refrain it from being excreted to the outside with your urine.

Besides the benefits we have mentioned above, oolong tea is also helpful in enhancing immunity system, freshening brain, and helping digestion and treating ulcer, etc.

 See more about 10 Amazing Benefits of Oolong Tea
 

The best dry oolong tea leaves should have the following features:

Appearance: even leaves; no impurity; no tea stalk; no tea slice, and no tea powder.

Color: Looks like the skin of frog. It is jade green if the fresh leave is picked in winter and dark green if picked in spring.

Touch: Neither too hard, nor too soft. Too soft means the degree of dryness is not enough, too hard means the heat of baking is too high during the making process.

After being brewed, the soup is clear, bright and yellow; and the yellow color will never go light even after 3~4 times of brewing. The leaves are glossy and lying flat on the soup; they are soft and thick when you pinch it; the sweet and mellow taste can remain in your mouth for a long time.
 

1. Dahongpao, 大红袍 (da hong pao) in Chinese, is from Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province. Wuyi oolong tea is the most popular one in China. The shape is even and strong; the soup is clear; the fragrance is sweet with osmanthus scent and the taste is mellow and fresh.

2. Tieluohan, 铁罗汉 (tie luo han), also comes from Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province. The soup is dark orange and the natural flower fragrance can travel far.

3. Baihao Oolong, 白毫乌龙 (bai hao wu long), derives from Hsinchu County, Taiwan. The fine hairs on it can be red, white, yellow, green and brown; the soup is amber and the brewed leaves are soft and bright yellow.

4. Wenshan Baozhong, 文山包种 (wen shan bao zhong), is planted mainly in Taipei City, Taiwan. The dry leaves are even and curled with glossy color. The brewed leaves have red edge and light green middle.

5. Yongchu Foshou, 永春佛手 (yong chun fo shou), comes from Yongchun County, Fujian Province. The leaves are fat and strong. The flavor smells like mature fruit and honey.

6. Wuyi Rougui, 武夷肉桂 (wu yi rou gui), is originally planted in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province. The dry leaves are tight and curled. The soup is bamboo yellow. The soup has orchid like flavor.

7. An’xi Tieguanyin, 安溪铁观音 (an’xi tie guan yin), comes from Anxi County, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. The taste is mellow, fresh and has long-lasting aftertaste.

8. Dongding Oolong, 冻顶乌龙 (dong ding wu long), is mainly planted in Nantou, Taiwan. The taste is intense and mellow. The brewed leaves have red edge and green middle.
 

Dry hot tea with no sugar.

Don not drink oolong tea when your stomach is empty.

One cup before meals or 1 hour after meals can bring you better health effects.

The water for brewing tea should be between 80 - 90℃ (176 - 194°F).

The brewed tea should be drunk in 30 - 60 minutes, otherwise, nutrients will be oxidized.


 Further Reading: 6 Major Types of Chinese Tea