What exactly is oolong tea, and what are the benefits of drinking it?
To touch on the mysteries of eternity that people have been trying to solve since ancient times, a meeting with Oolong tea will help the tea of the legendary alpine plantations. It is collected by masters, passing on their tea knowledge from generation to generation. One can gauge the characteristics and freshness of the brewed beverage by observing the amount of mist surrounding tea bushes and the intensity of sunlight that warms their leaves.
What is Oolong Tea?
A separate group of teas, including wide varieties, flavors, and great flavors, is Oolong tea. In other words, Oolong is a technology, a way of processing tea leaves.
Many different names are known. The most popular is Oolong tea. Less often, you can find oolong tea, Qing Cha, or turquoise tea. The Chinese word “oolong,” which in Europe as “Oolong,” translates to “Black Dragon.” This poetic name symbolizes, in a sense, the ability of the leaf to change color during brewing – an intermediate tea between green non–fermented teas and black fully fermented ones. The classic Oolong has a fermentation level of 40 to 50%.
The finished Oolong is an exceptionally large-leaved tea. We recommend paying attention to this when choosing so as not to buy fake tea from waste. The tea part of its dry brewing should be large, twisted into a lump, dense, straightened when brewed, and grows in volume almost threefold. The color can be from chestnut to reddish-brown tones. Oolong smells strongly of spices.
Oolong tea, the beneficial properties of which are known to true connoisseurs of this drink, combines the sophistication of green and the astringency of black (red) varieties.
A little Oolong Tea History
Drinking oolong tea was common during the Ming dynasty. Then a leaf of bushes from the northwest of Fujian was used as a raw material for this tea. Then the technology began to be used in Guangdong and Anxi County.
There is evidence that Oolong came to Europe in the early 17th century. This drink charmed European women. Therefore, some people now refer to Oolong as a “women’s drink.” After the marriage of Charles II to the Portuguese Princess, the inhabitants of Great Britain also tried Oolong. It was the Queen’s favorite drink.
Oolong production did not begin in Taiwan until the 19th century when it was already well established in other parts of the world.
What is the uniqueness of Oolong Tea?
What is so unique about Oolong tea? The following main features of Oolongs:
- The fiery taste of any of the various Chinese varieties of tea. Connoisseurs of tea ceremonies choose the type of shades of smells.
- The tea is chosen for Kung Fu Cha, a ceremony of extraordinary energy and reverence for tea.
- Light can brew high-quality Oolong from 8 to 15 times by the method of spilling.
The taste and aroma, characteristics, and effects on the body of mainland and island Oolongs differ significantly.
Twisting of the sheet is mandatory in production. However, a particular variety has its level.
Places where tea grows
Raw materials for Oolong are grown in three regions. The plantations of southern Fujian and the island of Taiwan grow tea leaves for light species and northern Fujian and Guangdong for dark ones.
How are Oolongs collected and produced?
Chinese Oolong tea is from the ripe, succulent leaves of tea bushes harvested by hand. A rich aroma characterizes spring varieties, but there is no such depth in taste as in autumn varieties, which are inferior to them in flavor. In dark Closets, as a rule, a more mature and fleshy tea leaf is used than lighter varieties.
Production involves:
The process of the leaves drying out in the open air. At first, the leaves are sun hour and a half. Then they are moved to a shaded place.
The enzymatic process involves stirring the leaves in the air before they darken. At this time, uneven oxidation of the sheet plates.
- Drying by heating to stop fermentation.
- Twisting with the help of unique drums.
- Drying to get rid of the remaining moisture.
What types of Oolongs tea are there?
They by the degree of processing of Oolongs:
Vigorous fermentation (40-80%) is a variety whose taste resembles black tea. A leaf of dark brown color with shades of green or blue longitudinally; there may be buds with down. The drink is amber in color, with a pronounced taste of spices with honey, chocolate, and berry notes.
Weak fermentation (8-40%) – taste characteristics, color, and aroma vaguely resembles green tea. The leaf is pale green with a reddish edge slightly twisted. The drink has a floral smell with creamy, honey, and fruity notes. The color is yellow, bright, or with greenish and pinkish shades.
Aged – slightly fermented tea that has for several years. The aroma of the wet leaf of this tea is reminiscent of coffee, with hints of chocolate and wood. The drink leaves an aftertaste of honey, peppercorns, and dried fruits.
The flavored kind is mostly a mildly fermented tea that has aromatic ingredients added to it. Because they perceive such teas to have a “clogged up” taste with preferences, the Chinese do not consume them. Every single tea leaf is like a little ball. In this category is a celebrity – Milk Oolong. He is considered a bestseller, a fantastic yummy. It has a reasonably clear taste for Europeans, and caramel and creamy notes are noticeable.
We recommend trying high-quality Chinese semi-fermented teas:
Hyton turquoise tea “Milk oolong” and Bedford green tea “Milk Oolong” – will allow you to feel the sweetness and tenderness of the creamy aroma and a pleasant taste reminiscent of toffee from childhood;
Hyton turquoise tea “Ginseng oolong” – a cup drunk for breakfast or before lunch will cheer up, energize, and make positive for the whole day;
Hyton turquoise tea “Oolong” – this drink will take you to a freshly mown meadow and allow you to feel the fresh summer and beautiful aromas of flowers and herbs.
In addition, Oolongs into light and dark and divided, considering where the tea leaf grows.
Composition of Oolong tea
Due to specific conditions of growing tea raw materials and the peculiarities of processing technology, Oolong teas have a unique composition. If we talk about essential oils, the principal amount appearing during the processing of the leaf, then this tea is simply a record holder. Moreover, turquoise Oolong teas contain more organic substances compared to other varieties. It is due to them that the drink gives the opportunity to get absolute pleasure from its magnificent aromas of citrus, various fruits of flowers, and vanilla.
Brewing: the subtleties of the process
We have already said that Oolongs are rich in various flavors and aftertaste. That is why this tea is ideal for the Gong Fu Cha tea ritual, which means the highest degree of mastery of tea ceremonies. Tea pairs, which, when brewing Oolongs, help to appreciate the drink’s aroma better. How to brew Oolong tea to enjoy every sip fully?
Our experts recommend:
To brew, take a couple of teaspoons of Oolong and pour hot water into a small amount (about a glass). Light varieties prefer water temperatures from 80 to 85 ° C, dark – from 90 to 95 ° C. The first welding, after 10-15 seconds, must be drained. It helps to clean the leaf and prepares for the disclosure of tea riches.
Then pour water into the brewing bowl and insist for a couple of minutes.
Pour the drink into the cups of each participant at the tea party.
Let the tea cool down to about 40 °With and enjoy its aroma and taste, enjoying every sip.
Oolong tea, how to drink and store?
Oolong tea is the pride of the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. It is better to savor it without various additions in the form of snacks and sugar. Allow yourself to drink a cup of this beautiful drink in a quiet, peaceful place. You will feel the subtlety of perception, revealing the facets of the consciousness of freedom from routine fuss. A cup of high-quality Oolong tea can give you a journey into a world filled with magic and different possibilities.
It is essential to commit the rules about storage to memory. Light variety should have little trouble finding an ideal home for these applications. The optimal range is anywhere between 5 and 10 degrees. However, it can also store sealed packages at room temperature.
Dark varieties are not so whimsical. They can safely be poured into teapots, glass, porcelain, or wooden containers and stored for a long time in this form.
Oolong tea benefits and harms are a topic that has for several days. I can find an explanation for this. The fact that it is applicable more than once. For example, due to its useful composition, namely the high content of essential compounds, Oolong benefits from green tea from tips. And the processing features allow you to take maximum advantage when brewing. Oolong tea of weak fermentation can give lightness, relaxation in the body and muscles, and the ability to think actively and soberly. For this reason, creative natures and representatives of intellectual labor are fond of the drink.
But dark varieties also have their zest and advantages. Tea caffeine allows you to cheer up perfectly and feel this cheerfulness for several hours and helps you dive into a state of sound, restful sleep.
Since the tea leaf for the production of Oolongs contains about four hundred such valuable components as vitamins, micro-, and macroelements, amino acids, and nutrients, we are not dealing with a simple, tasty product but a drink with a health-improving effect.
Oolong teas have a positive effect on the human body:
- They contribute to the fortification of the lining of blood vessels;
- Enhance protective functions;
- Improve the digestive system;
- Purify, and remove toxic substances;
- Accelerate the regeneration processes in the cells of the skin.
We have discovered what contributes to the success of Oolong tea. However, persons with sleeplessness, urolithiasis, excessive blood pressure, or heart and vascular problems should not actively taste different Oolongs because it is for them to do so. Additionally, consuming the beverage by a pregnant woman may be detrimental to the growing fetus because it contains caffeine. Because of this, Oolongs.
