Herbal teas of Chinese origin are really not true teas, in that they are infused with herbs and are not derived of the Camelia Sinensis plant form. Steeping them, allows the herbs to be pulled from them.

Usually, these kinds of teas are used by the Chinese for their health benefits. But, they are also liked and used just for their flavors and taste. Presently, these can be widely purchased in the country as they produce thousands of different herbs.

Herbal teas from China give individuals who like to drink tea, many a choice by offering them a health caffeine free beverage. Herbals teas that are geared to be comforters and help you de-stress are teas such as Chrysanthemum and rosebud.

These two types of tea are known as an herbs mostly used by the female sex but, Chrysanthemum tea has been known to help anyone who has digestive problems. This tea has properties that when described has a cooling effect and aids in the reduction of fever. Light and delicate is the taste of the Chrysanthemum tea.

Herbal teas are usually great choices before one goes to bed, in that it will not keep you awake like coffee or soft drinks will.

China has a variety of herbal teas and we cannot fail to mention the flower teas. Teas such as these offer teas that will calm, soothe and have no caffeine. They also have a wide birth of flavors and taste.

There is really quite a nice list of well known teas that are of the flower nature. There is the Carnation tea that is said to restore the bodies energy. The Chrysanthemum we have already gone over. The Gongju herbal tea has the ability to relax the body. The jasmine tea is a sweet one and has no caffeine. Forget Me Not tea lends a welcoming hand to the lungs and has a smooth, but earthy taste. And Yunnan tea is a flower that is known for being rare and has no caffeine.

The Wild New York tea is an herbal tea that works for the individual who is thankful for the place of it’s growth. Due to the terrain in which it grows, the roots of this herb have a particular look to them. The herbs root system is made up of tiny, long lived roots. They can live in upwards of ten years or close to it.

And last but not least we have Kuding Pearl tea. Individuals who have ventured to drink a spot of this tea, claim a very bitter taste. This teas leaves are process into big marble sized pearl shapes. Only a single leaf is needed for it’s healing properties to work. It’s leaves are of very old decent and holds your attention.

Baojianmei Jianfei Cha, otherwise known as bojenmi Chinese tea is an increasingly popular tea for weight loss. It has been in use for this purpose for the last 20 years.

In Chinese, the word “bojenmi” means slim, and beautiful. Bojenmi tea is processed and packaged by the Egret River Brand. The parent company of this brand is the Xiamen Export Corporation (XMEHECO). The company is located in Xiamen. Xiamen is an island of the Fujian province.

About Bojenmi Tea

The bojenmi tea is typically made into loose tea and tea bags. There are many different ingredients in bojenmi tea other than the tea leaf, including crataegus, malt, pharbitis, pogostemon, hoelen, citrus chenpi, alisma, cassia, phaseolus, shen-chu, and raphanus. Each of these ingredients and herbs are added to increase digestion of the tea. They are also added to prevent accumulations of phlegm, to prevent food stagnation, and impart a subtle laxative effect. These ingredients have been in use by Chinese doctors to increase weight loss and reduce the level of one’s blood lipids. Other than these additional ingredients the main component of this tea is the leaf itself, coming from a bush in the Fujian province. The tea leaf is sprayed with the additional ingredients during processing, so that when the tea is steeped in water for three to four minutes, they will be extracted along with the tea itself.

The main health benefit of the tea leaf is the drop in one’s blood lipid levels, however, the other additional herbs and ingredients have significant benefit on one’s digestion. It has also been noted that herbs and plants such as the holen mushroom, phaseolus, alisma, citrus peel, and pogotemon impart the benefits of relieving excess fluid in the body.

Cassia and pharbitis will produce a laxative effect. Cassia, crataegus, and alisma also reduce blood lipid levels. Some of the ingredients in bojenmi tea have been shown to increase bowel function, as well as lessening abdominal distention, acid reflux, gurgling, and cramping.

Finding the right dosage

It is recommended that one takes 3 to 6 grams of the tea three times daily. That equates to between 9 and 18 grams a day. One bag of the Egret River brand bojenmi tea contains three grams. What is quite intriguing in fact is that the package states that even without adding the tea to a low calorie diet, one can still lose extra weight with the tea as compared to not drinking the tea at all. They state, however, that the biggest benefits come from combining the tea with a reduced calorie diet. Bojenmi tea tastes a lot like to black tea. It does, however, have a slight bitter taste. Sweeteners can cover most of that bitter flavor if you do not prefer the taste of the tea by itself.

Oolong tea is an ancient Chinese tea that according to some experts is similar to green tea and black tea in that it is half way fermented. Oolong tea is clear and fragrant like green tea. It is also refreshing and strong, like black tea. It has been said that the aroma of oolong tea will linger in your mouth and relieve a sore throat.

The origins of the name itself are somewhat of an enigma in Chinese tea history. It is not known whether the tea is actually named after a place or a variety of plant. A similar Chinese word is “wu long” meaning dragon, which has connotations of luck, but it is not known if oolong is itself a derivative of that term.

How Chinese Oolong Tea is processed

One can process oolong tea in one of six widely-accepted methods. You can wither the tea in direct sunlight; you can process it by tedding fresh leaves, by rocking green, stir-frying green, rolling or drying. It can be considered one of the most complicated of Chinese teas, and even the most complicated whole food beverage.

After oolong tea leaves are plucked, they are withered, then bruised, then dried. Then they are twisted or rolled by hand, depending on what type of oolong it is. It may seem fairly straightforward, but the varying techniques and the need for exact timing of the process impart very complex and wide-ranging flavors, fragrances and colors on different types of oolong teas.

Many Types and Flavors

Chinese oolong tea is generally available in many varieties. These range from light and sweet, such as from the large beautiful leaves of the Formosa oolong. Another good example of a light and sweet oolong is Tieguanyin. This variety has thick, shiny, dark green leaves that impart an amber colored tea reminiscent of flowers. Tieguanyin is a great all-purpose tea with lots of balance.

Another type is the Wuyi Cliff oolong. This is grown in a Fujian province where temperatures are mild most of the year, and the mountains are misty and cool. Wuyi Cliff has rich, lasting flavors. The leaves must be highly fermented prior to twisting and drying. This tea is said to be one of the best Chinese oolong teas in aiding digestion. It is a great complement to Pu-erh tea when striving for a well balanced weight loss program.

More benefits of Chinese Oolong Tea

Chinese oolong has many medicinal properties, just like other Chinese teas. It is said to have great anti-aging properties such as lowering blood pressure, improving immune system functionality, and preventing heart disease. Studies show that this tea can help one’s digestion, as well as be a refreshing way to fight off the effects of drinking alcohol.

Some say it can even prolong your life. Chinese oolong has also been shown to improve one’s results when trying to loose weight. To perform at ones peak as far as energy and vitality it is best to increase your daily consumption to between four and ten cups daily.

Triple Leaf is a brand of Chinese diet teas. This brand of tea can be found in many health food stores and other types of outlets, as it is becoming more and more widely distributed. Many people say that this brand is one of the best. There are three popular teas made by Triple Leaf.

Triple Leaf’s Background

Triple Leaf is a Chinese-American family owned company. With the help of Chinese herbalists, Triple Leaf blends their teas using a combination of ancient herbal formulas. They are said to be the creators of many delicious teas with medicinal properties that meet today’s diet needs. You can find many well known ancient Chinese herbs in use in Triple Leaf’s teas.

Triple Leaf’s Chinese Dieters’ Teas

The three most popular of the Triple Leaf Chinese Dieters’ Teas are the Green Herbal Tea, the Super Slimming Tea, and the Ultra Slim.

Dieter’s Green Herbal Tea – this is perhaps the most popular on the market today. This tea is meant to promote cleansing as well as promote digestion. This tea is said to be a great supplement to a detox tea diet when wishing to cleanse and detoxify the body.

Super Slimming Tea – This tasty tea combines licorice root, and orange peel with a powerful blend of Chinese herbs, which have been said to help promote detoxification of the body. This tea helps in cleansing as well as promoting healthy digestion, and the combination of ingredients gives it a very robust flavor.

Ultra Slim – this one is similar to the teas above, but also combines herbs to help move stagnant “Chi” or energy. It is said to relieve indigestion and bloating. In addition to these benefits, Ultra Slim has also been said to promote balance and harmony in one’s bodily systems. This tea is also an excellent supplement to a detoxifying tea.

Even with all these great benefits of green tea, experts recommend following a balanced diet as part of one’s weight loss strategy. You should consult your healthcare professional if you are interested as well. It is always best to consume green teas as part of a healthy meal containing fresh fruits and vegetables, juices and pure water. Green tea is not recommended for children, the elderly, or if you are ill, pregnant or nursing.

If you haven’t tasted green tea lately, you should. It is a great tea for cooling down on hot summer days. Green tea is probably one of the most popular of the Chinese teas. Green tea fights off inflammation and leaves you feeling cool. Some even say it fight off a fever.

People all over the world know about the benefits of wonderful green tea. It has been known since ancient Chinese culture to have medicinal properties. The Chinese use green tea to fight off a wide range of illnesses, including headaches and depression. The Chinese have used green tea as a medicine for four thousand years, according to Nadine Taylor. You can read more about it in her book, “Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life”.

Many scientific researchers are uncovering the health benefits of drinking green tea, both in Asia and across the West. The results of an epidemiological study from 1994 indicate that drinking Chinese green tea lowers the risk of esophageal cancer by nearly sixty percent, according to the Journal of National Cancer Institute. In fact, researchers at Purdue University in Indiana report that compounds in green tea prevent the growth of cancer cells.

Not only has green tea been implicated in the fight against cancer, it has been shown to have positive effects on cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol. Green tea has also been noted to have positive effects on reducing rheumatoid arthritis, and improving immune function.

What is so special about Green Tea?

One of green teas best attributes is that it is rich in catechin polyphenols. It is particularly high in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is an anti-oxidant that has been shown to fight and kill off cancer cells. It can do this without harming the healthy tissue. EGCG has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, and prevents the abnormal formation of blood clots, otherwise known as thrombosis. Thrombosis is a main trigger in stroke and heart attacks.

It has even been found that the French Paradox, which is essentially that the French have a diet high in fat intake and yet have lower rates of heart disease than other cultures, has been associated with green tea. It has been widely accepted that the French paradox was due to their high intake of red wine, which contains the health beneficial substance, resveratrol. This potent polyphenol has been shown to combat the effects of smoking cigarettes, and also fights off the bad effects of a high fat diet. What’s more, is that green tea, in a 1997 study, was found to contain twice the amount of resveratrol than does red wine. To add more evidence to the powerful affects of green tea, despite the fact that approximately 70 percent of Chinese men are smokers, they have a lower rate of heart disease than Americans.

More Benefits

More benefits are beginning to be uncovered about the wonderful green tea. One claim is that green tea helps one lose weight. One study showed that men given a combo pack of green tea and caffeine had higher metabolic rate and burned more fat than men given a placebo and caffeine.

It has even been said to fight tooth decay and food poisoning. This is due to some natural antibiotic properties found in Chinese green tea. Its antibacterial effects extend outside of the body to the skin as well. One can even find skin creams, deodorants and blemish fighting creams that contain green tea.

For many years, Chinese teas were considered excellent supplements for someone who is on a diet. Many companies have produced and distributed them being labeled as Chinese Diet Tea, and marketed them for dieters. The reason that Chinese teas are believed to be beneficial for dieters is because they contain only four calories in each serving, and caffeine has long been thought to increase metabolism. In addition, tea contains products called “polyphenols” which are known to aid in the digestion of fat. These are all compelling reasons to supplement a weight loss diet with Chinese Tea. But are they safe?

There are a lot of names for diet teas. Packaging labels may use such key words such as “fasting”, “slimming”, “super diet”, or “weight loss”. All of them have the same connotations. Drink this tea and you will lose weight. On the question of safety, however, many experts believe that what is actually causing the weight loss, is actually a plant based chemical with laxative effects, which makes you lose “water weight”. It is proven that long term use of laxatives can have negative side effects. Experts note that excessive amounts of “diet teas” can cause things such minor complaints such as and nausea and cramping. However, more serious concerns have been pointed out—vomiting, diarrhea, unrelieved constipation, or even death.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once expressed that specific ingredients in these teas were actually the culprits of the negative health effects. These ingredients are aloe, senna, rhubarb root, buckthorn, castor oil, and cascara. These are all natural products that have been used for hundreds of years to relieve bloating, constipation, and to promote bowel movements. However, they are deemed effective for these purposes only when used occasionally.

We must point out, that many people believe that excessive use of “Chinese Diet Teas” will prevent the absorption of nutrients from one’s food. Many studies have shown, however, that the laxative inducing diarrhea actually happens in the colon, or at the end of the bowels. The absorption of calories actually occurs prior to reaching the colon in the small intestine.

When diet teas are overused, however, you can develop some short term as well as long term negative effects. Studies have shown that beginner diet tea drinkers, who steep the tea longer than the recommended time or drink more than the recommended amount, can develop stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. These may even last for several days.

When these laxatives are used continually, it is possible to develop a dependency on them. You may even develop more events of chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and constipation. In the most severe cases, excessive use of laxatives will cause fainting, dehydration and serious electrolyte disorders. Although these effects can be quite dangerous, it must be noted that these negative effects generally only affect those that are already nutritionally compromised due to excessive dieting.

Due to these many possible negative side effects of using diet teas, the FDA is considering requiring manufacturers print warning labels on their products stating it will produce laxative effects. Those who are considering drinking Chinese diet teas must pay careful attention to the recommended use and preparation steps. Also, one should pay special attention to any warning statements on the box.

Chinese tea has long been considered an excellent diet aide. Many dieters consider a cup of diet tea standard with every meal. They believe it stimulates metabolism. Tea is low in calories, and is healthy when drunk with no added sugar or other ingredients.

Some expert scientists believe that the caffeine in tea is what increases body functionality and helps to burn extra calories. Tea does contain healthy polyphenols which have been noted as fat-burning substances. For this reason, Chinese teas have widely become known for their weight loss effects.

Although most types of Chinese tea are great for losing weight, two in particular are excellent. These are Pu-erh, and Oolong. These two are probably the best known Chinese teas for weight loss.

Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh Tea is gaining popularity in Western culture. Green tea has been the most popular tea lately, but pu-erh is quickly gaining on it. The Chinese have long thought of Pu-erh tea as a tea with medicinal properties.

Pu-erh varietals have been known since ancient times. One is even said to be more than 2, 00 years old. Pu-erh comes from a small leaf tea bush. The leaves on this ancient variety are processed in a different manner than one would process green tea. They need to be oxidized, similarly to how the leaves on the oolong bush are processed. The leaves are removed from the bush, and either dried loose or compressed. The leave can be compressed into what is called “bricks, “tea cakes” or “Tuochas”. Tuochas are so named because they look like little birds nests. This can be a sign of beauty for some Chinese tea drinkers. Tea cakes can be aged in dark places such as caves to strengthen their natural earthy flavors.

Pu-erh tea has some benefits that is greatly known for. These are decreasing blood cholesterol and improving the metabolism of fat. This tea can also be “double fermented” in order to enhance some of its special enzymes and microbes. This is done to increase is content of these ingredients known to be essential for one’s well-being.

In addition to these benefits, one cup of Pu-erh tea has been shown to stimulate weight loss when drank with every meal. It stimulates one’s metabolism and aides one’s body systems.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is another well-known semi-fermented or oxidized tea. It has a lovely flowery note and intense characteristics. Different varieties of Oolong can range in color from bright to dark. When it is fully-dried, the traditional rich flavors known for weight loss are locked in. This unique drying process will enable the stimulant qualities to come through, which are good for weight loss when added to a well-balanced diet.

Both Pu-erh and Oolong teas are becoming more widely available as they become more well-known for their weight loss qualities. One should be able to find both varieties more and more as they increase in popularity.