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The Healing and Rejuvenating Effects of the Oolong Tea

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Tea, in its many variants, is enjoyed all over the world. Like coffee, it can be drank hot or cold, and people from different parts of the world cultivate and grow tea not only as a beverage but a health-giving drink that can prolong life and even make a person look and feel younger. The Oolong Tea is one such tea.

Oolong Tea: Life History

The Oolong Tea comes from Camellia Sinensis, and unlike other forms of tea, it is prepared differently in order to ensure not only its unique taste but its medicinal properties. It is popular in the Fujian Province of China, where it originated, and made popular by the people living during the time of the Sung Dynasty. The Oolong Tea goes through what is called a half-fermentation process, which is critical in order to maximize the oxidation of its natural enzymes.

Today, it is enjoyed as a beverage as much as it is sought as medicine, and there are numerous studies that prove that it is a very effective herbal medicine or dietary supplement. These studies corroborate with ancient archives that point out the said tea’s benefits towards a person’s well being, as well as relaxing both the body and the mind.

These ancient scholars were also amazed to observe how European travellers and merchants look much older than their counterparts, and they believe that the oxidizing effects of the Oolong Tea has virtually rid them of what we now know as free radicals – the very stuff that causes stress and fast aging.

There are many forms of tea grown around the world, but none like the Oolong tea. Not only is it refreshing and relaxing, it is also life-giving.

Comments (0) 05-02-2010

Tastes of Tea

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There are many kinds of tea. There are tea leaves growing up on cool mountainous areas, and there are tea leaves that survive the heat of the tropics. Furthermore, the size of the leaf as well as the way it is processed results in further classification. This means that you can have the same two tea leaves harvested from the same place and still come up with different tastes and types of tea.

Here are some aperitifs:

Green – means that the leaves were not fermented nor withered but steamed after they were harvested. Oxidation does not occur even after the leaves are dried, resulting in a very light tea. This kind of tea is generally favoured by those in East Asia.

White – a delicate tea that is a result of using only top buds and young leaves. They are only partially oxidized, withered and rolled.

Black – it is when a tea leaf is fully fermented and processed, and makes 97% of the tea that is enjoyed all over the country.

Oolong – a mainstay in Chinese restaurants, this tea has a pungent taste that resulted from its half-fermentation process.

Gradation of Teas

Tea grades refer to the size of the leaf and the resulting colour of the tea.

Broken Pekoe Souchong – tea which is bolder than broken pekoe, and is lighter in the cup.

Souchong – a pale tea.

Broken Orange – generally has good colour and strength, and has become a mainstay of a blend

Fannings – is a tea that has good colour in the cup and is good for quick brewing.

Dust – is used for brewing a strong cup of tea quickly, and is used only in blends.

Orange Pekoe – light and pale in colour.

Pekoe – generally has more flavour than Orange Pekoe.

Comments (0) 05-02-2010

Polyphenols in Chinese Oolong Tea Work Wonders

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Ever heard of a substance called polyphenol? These are powerful compounds responsible for releasing substances that protect our brain and keep it healthy. These compounds are found primarily in the Chinese Oolong Tea.

Helpful and Healthful

The polyphenols in the Chinese Oolong Tea are rich with anti-oxidants: it prevents the onset of many diseases, keeps you healthy by ridding your body of free radicals, enriches your blood circulation, and prevents inflammation. The tea is also helpful to mothers who just gave birth or those who had just gone through the knife. The polyphenol in the Chinese Oolong Tea that you drink has an uncanny way of brightening your day, as the substance has also been known to decrease methyl-phenylpynridine and dopamine uptake, which is released by the body at the onset of sadness or depression.

Ever wondered how the Chinese can eat all that Chinese food without getting fat, while Americans who chow down on them regularly are said to gain weight? The Chinese have one advantage at their disposal: the Chinese Oolong tea. The Chinese are known tea drinkers, and they drink their tea before and after meals. Chinese Oolong tea prevents much of the fat and cholesterol that we get from the food we eat from accumulating in our bodies, aside from being rich in Vitamins A, B,D, K and beta carotene. Based on research published in European Journal Clinical Nutrition (2006), Chinese Oolong Tea helps the body burn cholesterol naturally.

According to Chong-Zhi Wang, Sanpete R. Emendable, and Chun Su Yuan, Chinese Oolong Tea and other herbs can help in preventing cardiovascular diseases. With the right diet, exercise, and supplements like Chinese Oolong Tea, sickness and disease can be prevented, and assure us of a longer and more meaningful life.

Comments (0) 05-02-2010