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.

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.