Oolong Tea

Tea is made through a process called oxidation, which is a careful process of bruising and withering the tea leaves after they are harvested. Oxidization will determine how dark the tea is, how it tastes, and how much caffeine is in the tea.

Black tea is fully oxidized, while Green tea is completely unoxidized. Somewhere in the middle (and the hardest to process correctly) is Oolong tea. Oolong combines the full flavor and delicious taste of black tea, with some of the best health qualities of green tea.

Although Oolong has a full flavor and aroma (like black tea), it has its own distinct and wonderful taste, which is best described as fresh, yet full, without any bitterness.

Packed with antioxidants and other important nutrients, Oolong isn't just delicious, it's also extremely good for you. Here are just a few of the benefits of regularly consuming Oolong tea:

Burns Fat
Not only does Oolong stimulate the nervous system and give a nice boost to your metabolism, but it also contains a hefty dose of polyphenols, a substance that help dissolve excess triglyceride (a substance that is normally used as fuel for the body, but gets stored as fat when there's too much of it). In simple terms, Oolong tea is a natural obesity fighter.

Fights Cancer & Disease
Free radicals are nasty little toxins that are responsible for causing damage to the cells in your body. They may be responsible for cellular damage, diseases, and the aging process. Oolong tea contains high amounts of potent antioxidants that help to fight these free radicals and keep your body in tip-top shape.

Detoxifies the Body
Oolong helps to produce a clean alkaline environment in the body. This makes it hard for bacteria, fungus, and other toxic microbes to live there.

Promotes Healthy Teeth & Gums
By killing bacteria in the stomach, Oolong prevents bad breath. A Japanese University study also found that regular drinking of Oolong tea actually strengthened teeth and helped to prevent tooth decay.

Although you can brew Oolong in teabags, many people prefer loose leaf Oolong. Loose leaf tea requires a little more work but is usually of a higher quality with a slightly better taste.

Whichever you choose, you'll get best results with pure, spring water instead of tap water. The preferred water temperature for brewing Oolong tea is roughly just as soon as it boils. Recommended steeping time is three to five minutes.

If you're using loose leaf tea you may want to buy a personal tea infuser or a tea infuser that fits a pitcher. An infuser is made for brewing loose leaf tea, and is almost as convenient as a teabag.

Some people prefer making tea the old fashioned way. Check the video below to see what is involved for brewing Oolong with traditional-style tools.