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Best Oolong Teas: Loose Leaf, Organic And Antioxidants

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Published: September 7, 2007

It seems that with each passing year, the emphasis on health and nutrition grows. Modern society is so plagued by obesity, fast food, pollution and various other unhealthy habits, more people are finding it necessary to seek refuge in nutrition. It used to be enough to simply exercise more, decrease the amount of carbohydrates consumed, and add a couple servings of leafy greens to the daily diet in order to increase health and nutrition.

However, in recent years the emphasis on nutrition has expanded into the wide world of natural supplements including herbs, oils and teas. Oolong is an organic tea believed to have beneficial effects on the human body. As with other natural, loose leaf tea, oolong contains a number of healthful ingredients accompanied by a claim for naturally slimming effects. According to Richard Green, the slimming effects of oolong teas typically include a four percent increase in metabolism when consumed regularly.

Oolong is a loose leaf tea that originated about 400 years ago near the end of the Ming Dynasty. It was first used in both Japan and China. The word oolong literally translates to black dragon . This particular tea comes from a long background of meticulous production and tradition. Even the drinking of oolong tea requires traditional steps developed by the Chinese. The tradition the Chinese developed for drinking oolong was intended to enhance the aroma and flavor of the tea. This tea drinking tradition involves a very tiny teapot and tea cup.

Oolong tea, as with all tea, is made from the plant camellia sinensis. It comes about through processing. Different types of tea - white, black and oolong - are the result of processing, oxidation, fermentation and addition of various ingredients. The production process for oolong teas is one of many intricate steps that require attention to detail, precision and a great deal craftsmanship. Fermentation is one of the most important steps in oolong tea production. Knowing when to stop fermentation is especially crucial because oolong tea cannot be fully fermented. Rubbing and charcoal drying are the final steps in oolong tea production.

There are several different kinds of oolong tea, each of which offers a unique taste and wide array of natural antioxidants. The best oolong teas are those still considered organic tea. Oolong tea classified as organic tea is produced by hand in its place of origin: the Mt. Wu Yi Shan in the Fujian Province. In addition to its organic qualities, another major appeal of oolong tea is its heavy concentration of natural cancer fighting ingredients. Polyphenols are one particular type present in teas that come from the camellia tea plant, such as oolong. Polyphenols obtained from oolong tea actually seek out free radicals present in the body and detoxify them. Thearubigins, epicatechins and catechins are other antioxidants that exist in oolong teas.

There is no question oolong tea offers several healthful benefits. While claims that it aids in weight loss are not supported with as much scientific data, it remains a popular choice for those looking for a more nourishing drink. Determining the best oolong teas is solely up to tea drinkers themselves. Oolong tea, as with other loose leaf tea, requires rather specific brewing instructions. However, the preparation that goes into producing and brewing various oolong teas is well worth it the moment it is consumed.


Sources:
"Antioxidants in Green and Black Tea." WebMd.com. 2005-2007. WebMd, Inc. 5 Sept. 2007. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/antioxi dants-in-green-and-black-tea.

"About Oolong Tea." OolongTea.org. 5 Sept. 2007. http://www.oolongtea.org/e/welcome/03.html.

Goodness, Richard. "Oolong Tea: Covering the Basics." TeaMuse.com. 5 Sept. 2007. http://www.teamuse.com/article_060601.html.

"Oolong." Wikipedia. 5 Sept. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolong#Processing_of_ Oolong.

"How Oolong Tea is Produced." OolongTea.org. 5 Sept. 2007. http://www.oolongtea.org/e/welcome/06.html.
 
 
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