Oolong Tea
Like all real tea, oolong (wulong cha) tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Green tea comes from the same plant, but is not fermented; oolong tea results from the fermentation of the leaves
before heat-curing.
Oolong leaves are cooled to stop fermentation at the right time.
Unlike black tea, which is
more fully fermented, oolong teas are typically only
about one-third fermented to achieve a specific flavor.
Oolong is often considered the most gourmet of teas
China, offered in a multitude of styles and flavor
categories.
Oolong tea is fermented in bamboo barrels.
Some camellia sinensis plants are grown specifically
for oolong tea production. Regions known for fine
oolong include the An’xi and Wu Yi Mountains of
Fujian; Guongdong; and Taiwan.
Oolong tea is usually made from more mature autumn leaves.
Teas considered highest quality are highly prized.
Reserved mostly for the wealthy and for high
government officials, these teas are rarely found
outside of China. In tea shops, they are extravagant
gifts rather than everyday teas.
Other Chinese teas made from Camellia Sinensis include green tea, white tea, pu'er tea, and black tea, as well
as jasmine tea, which is jasmine-infused tea leaves.
Jasmine oolong tea is rare.
OOLONG TEA FLAVOR
Powdered tea, called fanning, is mostly the
tea which left over from processing, and is the cheapest tea. Since powdered tea steeps
quickly in teabags, it is a convenient and inexpensive way to ship tea, and it makes it easy
to use a portion for a cup. But powdered tea has an increased surface area, and therefore
is immediately exposed to the air, which oxidizes it very quickly.
For this reason, the highest-quality oolong tea is never ground or powdered. The best tea is kept in whole leaves, carefully
packaged to be airtight, and used within two years-more preferably, within 12 months-
of packaging. The top-quality light-fired style oolong, usually considered the most desireable, is kept in refrigerated, airtight containers and are very expensive, even in their native shops. Most Chinese people cannot afford to drink the finest oolong.
OOLONG TEA VARIETIES
There are a great many kinds of oolong, and Chinese oolong tea is very different from any tea you will experience.
OOLONG TEA SERVING TIPS
- Use pure, whole tea. Some of the more serious tea companies provide test
documentation to show it is free of pesticide residue. If you find a tea you like enough to
drink daily, you may want to have it tested; metal toxins and fluoride have a cumulative,
deleterious effect on the human body. Powdered teabags should be avoided because they
tend to be stale, low-quality teas. With tea, the fresher the better.
- Use pure water. Never drink fluoridated water; there is no evidence that ingesting
fluoride has any health benefits, but high levels are toxic and can even be immediately
lethal.
- Avoid boiling hot water. Drinking scalding liquid isn't good for the body, but steeping
tea too hot may cause it to lose its health properties. As with any plant, there is a big
difference between the cooked and raw leaves.
Oolong tea serving suggestion:
- Use whole tea. Do not use powdered tea bags. In studies we conducted using
teabags versus whole teas, the teabags disappointed every single time.
- Find a convenient implement. Chinese steeping cups might be the easiest--a
porcelain cup with a lid and a porcelain basket inside that you remove after
steeping. French coffee presses also work well, and many great teapots are
available online.
- Use pure water. Tap water contains chlorine and minerals which can drastically
affect the taste of the tea.
- Infuse the tea with warm water, not boiling. Green and white tea should be in the
160-180 degree range. To steep the tea: put the tea in the steeping basket; put the tea in the cup or pot and add water; remove the basket and enjoy. Repeat.
In China, people serve tea methodically according to tradition. Gongfu cha is the skill of serving tea
(gongfu or "kung fu" means "skill"). In
general application in China, tea serving is
part of several aspects of the culture.
As its background character, tea plays a
significant role in certain Chinese
ceremonies.
OOLONG TEA/ RELATED TEA AND HEALTH ARTICLES
Many of the recent articles about green tea also apply to oolong tea. Oolong is know for its metabolic properties, as well as plant polyphenols.
Title: Reduce Heart Disease, Strokes, and Cancer by Drinking Oolong Tea
Publisher: EZine
There is a Chinese proverb - A daily cup of tea or more, keeps you out of the pharmacy. As you will shortly see, there is a lot of truth in this proverb.
Full story >
Title: Oolong Tea and Weight Loss (08/7)
Publisher: Teas Etc
There is so much interest in weight loss and oolong tea, a.k.a. wulong tea, that we are going to look at research supporting the connection...
Full story >
Title: Leatherhead Proposes Green Tea Research Project
Publisher: AP-Food Technology
Leatherhead Food International is looking for industry collaboration in research into how to maximise absorption of green tea from food products. According to Leatherhead, green tea catechins have been shown to exhibit a variety of health benefits, including a reduced risk of degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
However, the researchers also claim that human uptake of green tea catechins is low in comparison to concentrations demonstrated by vitro tests.
Leatherhead states that this subject is particularly important in the area of health claims, as factors such as uptake "may influence the potential claims that can be made."
Full story >
Dragon Pearl's Oolong Tea:
Taimu Mountain Organic Ti Kwan Yin
NATURAL, MACHINE-FREE MOUNTAIN TEA FARMS
For oolong fans, this is the ti kwan yin ("iron goddess") that quickly became a phonomenon for its terrific,
true oolong flavor and incredible value. Compare this loose tea to oolong
twice as costly and chances are you'll like this better.
When steeped, these mature tea leaves expand to a full, lively cup of tea with slightly more caffeine than green or white tea. Delicious!
The air-tight paperboard container and sealed inner bag keep it fresh.
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Each large container has 30-40 servings; steep each serving 3-4 times. NOTE: The third and fourth steepings are usually the best.
* Additional free sample included with every order
THIS TEA IS 100% ORGANIC. We unconditionally guarantee your satisfaction.
>> Customer comments
>> Combo deal
| Iron Paradise Organic Ti Kwan Yin |
100g per container - $13.50
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BULK per kilo $79.50
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You can also buy this tea at
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Dragon Pearl Purity | View the whole catalog
OTHER OOLONG TEA INFORMATION
> Official Oolong Site
> Oolong Video
> Oolong Tea Wiki
> Oolong Articles
> Oolong Tea on Dragon Pearl's Blog
> Oolong and Health
> Oolong types
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