Chinese tea - Covering the basics

Health Articles | March 17, 2009

Chinese tea is healthy!

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China, in addition to being the homeland to the Han people and fifty-five other ethnic groups, is also the birth place for one of the worlds most consumed beverage- tea. Tea plants originated in China and were first used for medicinal purposes. It is believed that tea plants have been in existence in China for six thousand years already. Two thousand years ago, tea was developed as a drink. Since then, the Chinese learned to grow tea plants and to use the leaves as various types of tea that we drink today.

There has been research that suggests the Chinese tea may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and decreasing body fat.

Drinking of Chinese tea has a number of benefits to the human body. Since the tea has cooling properties, then a Chinese tea can be a good choice of refreshments during hot season. Chinese tea leaves can be separated into five categories, green tea, black tea, oolong tea, scented tea, and compressed tea.

Chinese tea leaves can be separated into five categories, green tea, black tea, oolong tea, scented tea, and compressed tea.

The Oolong tea

Oolong tea is withered, partially fermented and dried. Oolongs fall between black and green tea in color and taste, have low caffeine, and give an orangy-brown to dark brown brew. Oolong tea should give a very mellow, delicate and “fruity” flavor. Some varieties give a deliciously “nutty” finish.

Oolong tea is traditionally fired into hot woks and cooked very quickly. After that is done, the leaves may be further fermented, and then fired again. Ultimately we have crisp, dry leaves.

In contrast to black teas, which are fully oxidized, and green teas, which are not oxidized, oolongs are semi-oxidized. Like black teas, oolongs are first withered for several hours to soften the leaves. Then the leaves are alternately oxidized and fired several times by various methods, which may include shaking in baskets or walking on leaves that have been placed in cloth bags! When the desired amount of oxidation is reached, which can vary significantly, the leaves are fired at high temperatures to destroy the enzymes that contribute to oxidation. Because some oolongs are more oxidized than others, the flavor of oolong tea can vary from near-black to quite green. The best oolongs are still all handmade and have a lovely fruity/flowery aroma and a delicate sweetness.

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Chinese tea - Drink Oolong tea for a healthy life!