From the mountainous terrain of the Fujian Province of China to the outskirt of Taiwan, comes this semi-fermented tea that has gradually made its way to the tables of the Western world like its fellow counterparts green and pu-erh tea.  Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea that falls somewhere between green tea which requires no oxidation and black tea, which is fully oxidized.  

It also originates from the same Camellia Sinensis plant-like green, black and white tea. Due to its appealing smooth flavour, oolong tea has been gaining popularity among tea lovers and connoisseurs alike. Why not? It contains a plethora of many purported benefits from improving digestive health to weight management. Let’s discuss!

The Discussion

Oolong or ‘Wu-Long’ tea is made from the oxidized whole leaves of the camellia sinensis plant and is produced through six (6) main processes namely withering, bruising, oxidizing shaping (rolling), drying and roasting.  The teas are left to wither immediately after being harvested which is usually done by using natural sunlight.  This process softens the cell walls of the leaves which results in a natural enzymatic fermentation.  In the bruising phase, the leaves are shaken together using a wicker which induces the tea’s unique flavour.  

The bruising phase is also where the process of oxidation begins.  Bruising also helps to alleviate the tea’s bitterness due to the softening effects of the tea. The teas are then left to further oxidize.  This phase is crucial to the outcome of the tea which has a lot to do with its flavour profile.   Therefore, to get the required flavour, the oxidization phase may be repeated a few times over in order to achieve the desired outcome.

The leaves are then treated with heat to stop the oxidization process. This process is usually referred to as ‘kill-green.’ The leaves are then rolled to give it its unique shape.  The leaves may take on the shape of a long curl or a pearl shape.  After rolling, the teas are then dried and roasted to further enhance their flavour. Several benefits have been cited for the consumption of oolong tea.  These include the promotion of heart health, better digestion, weight loss as well as aiding in the strengthening of the bones.

Four(4) ‘awesome’ health benefits of consuming Oolong tea:

• May help with heart health.
• May help with digestion.
• May help with weight management.
• May help with bone health.

Oolong tea and Heart Health

According to both an experimental and population-based study done in China, Oolong tea consumption could lower the risk of dyslipidaemia. Dyslipidaemia is a major systemic disorder, which is one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) worldwide (Murray and Lopez, 1997).  Further studies also revealed that there was a positive relationship between people who drank at least 10 ounces of oolong tea per week and low cholesterol.  As such, the tea has the propensity to maintain one’s cholesterol, and triglyceride levels low. High cholesterol can lead to one’s increased risk of heart disease.

Oolong tea and Digestion

The tea has also been touted as having properties that aid in good gut bacteria and hence aiding in the health of the digestive tract by reducing inflammation. As such, it could be beneficial to persons suffering from acid reflux or ulcer issues.

Oolong Tea and Weight Management

According to Rumpler et. al. (2001), oolong tea can help to accelerate metabolism by increasing energy expenditure by an average of 281 kilojoules per day in healthy, normative-weight men. As such, regular consumption of oolong tea improves fat metabolization which prevents fat cells from proliferation which can result in weight loss.  Oolong controls body weight by blocking the absorption of fats and carbohydrates. As such, the tea can help you to burn more calories, boost metabolism as well as strengthen the immune system, especially due to its antioxidant properties.  Further, the polyphenols found in oolong tea have been found to promote weight loss and /or protect against obesity resulting from the consumption of a high-fat diet over a twenty (20) week period (Heber et.al. 2014).

4. Oolong tea and Bone Health

Oolong tea is said to aid in the building of stronger bones.  Research indicates that oolong tea can overtime increase bone mineral density by up to 2% (Wu, C.H, et. al. (2002).  This may help to reduce one’s risk of bone fractures due to the higher incidence of bone mineral density. This is especially beneficial for postmenopausal women as well as those suffering from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a common disorder where the bones become porous, brittle and subject to fracture, owing to loss of calcium and other mineral components, sometimes resulting in pain. The condition is usually age-related and is more common in older persons, especially postmenopausal women.

Illustrative Summary

Here is an illustrative summary of the benefits of consuming Oolong tea.

A little Osmanthus to enhance the flavour and benefits

Osmanthus is a flowering plant from the family of Oleaceae, which grows in small panicles.  It is caffeine-free and has a floral and fruity aroma.  The plant has been touted to have many health benefits which include, helping to reduce oxidative stress, treating allergies, benefiting the skin and eyes, suppressing appetite as well as helping the body to combat pathogens which can lead to infections.

How to brew that “perfect” cup of Oolong Osmanthus tea

 Ingredients

• 1 oolong tea bag.
• Boiled water.

 Directions

• Add boiled water to the teabag.
• Let it steep for 2-5 minutes.
• Enjoy by adding your preferred choice of sweetener or consume it as-is.

 Let’s Sum Up!

Oolong tea is one of China’s traditional and infamous teas which can boastfully share the spotlight with the likes of green, white, black and pu-erh teas.  The tea has proven to have many health benefits which include improving heart health and digestion, building strong bones and of course, helping to keep those pesky fats at bay.  However, the benefits should not be considered a ‘one-day wonder’ or one that happens in isolation.  Therefore, with proper diet and exercise, you can reap the benefits and enjoy better health and well-being over your lifetime.  However, due to its caffeine content, caution in how much to drink must be taken by those who are allergic to caffeine.

You can also learn more about the benefits of oolong tea and teas in general in this article.  Additionally, you can also try this other nutritious tea, burdock root here.

• It’s tea time – Here are Four (4) ‘to know’ benefits of teas including weight loss and bone health!
• Burdock Root – Another priceless gift of nature – Here are Six (6) Reasons why!

References

• Heber, D, Zhang, Y, Yang, J, Ma, J.E, Henning, S.M, Li, Z. (2014). Green tea, black tea and oolong tea polyphenols reduce visceral fat and inflammation in mice fed high-fat, high-sucrose obesogenic diets. J. Nutr. 144(9).
• Murray, C.J. & Lopez, A.D. (1997). Mortality by cause for eight regions of the world: global burden of disease study. Lancet, 349, 1269-1276.
• Rumpler, W, Seale, J, Clevidence, B, Judd, J, Wiley, E, Yamamoto, S, Komatsu, T, Sawaki, T, Ishikura, Y, Hosoda, K. (2001). Oolong tea increases metabolic rate and fat oxidation in men. J Nutri., 131(11), 2848-52.
• Wu, C.H, Yang, Y.C, Yao, W.J, Lu, F.H, Wu, J.S, Chang, C.J. (2002).Epidemiological evidence of increased bone mineral density in habitual tea drinkers. Arch Intern Med, 162(9), 1001-6.