The most trending tea variant these days is green tea and the most widely consumed one is black tea. But, green tea is boring and bitter just like medicine. Although the aroma of green tea is undetectable, the taste isnβt preferred by someone whose simple motive is to have tea. On the other hand, Black tea tastes less subtle and lacks anti-oxidants, in case it is what you want in your tea.Β
Just in case, you want a tea that is unconventional in taste and serves your health purpose, you can try having a cup of Oolong Tea- a tea that is quite underrated but has plenty of potentials. Oolong Tea is one that is somewhere in the middle of the green and black teas and is less common in production and consumption in India.
Know your Oolong Tea:
Oolong tea is known as Wholong or Wuyi Tea. It is the traditional Chinese tea which means Black Dragon (βOoβ means Black; βlongβ means Dragon). Dragon is often considered a symbol of βPowerβ. Although the leaves of green, oolong, and black tea come from the same plant βCamellia Sinensisβ, the tastes and appearances differ based on the level of oxidation. Oolong tea is made from the top leaves and the unopened buds of the tea plant.
Unlike black tea, the fermentation of Oolong tea leaves is stopped midway and is dried. This gives the leaves a malty aroma. The antioxidants in it are less than that in green tea, still, it has quite a few. While it is not as strong as black tea. It has its own taste that is complex and lingers. The caffeine content in Oolong tea is not as high as in black tea and is not as low as in green tea.
How is Oolong Tea produced?
Producing Oolong Tea includes the following major steps:
- Harvesting- Oolong tea leaves are harvested at a time when the leaf is half the size of a full-grown leaf.
- Withering- The plucked leaves are dried in the sun to remove the moisture
- Oxidation- The leaves are allowed to oxidize which changes the flavor and appearance of the leaf. The skill and experience of the tea maker play an important role to control the level of oxidation to get the desired tea.
- Fixing- Also known as βkill greenβ, this step involves deactivating the enzymes meant for the oxidation of tea.
- Rolling- The leaves are rolled to form a ball shape and let dry.
- Sorting and Packaging- The leaves are then sorted and packaged accordingly.
Flavor, appearance, and fragrance:
Because Oolong tea is oxidized at different levels depending on the processing technique of the tea master and its brew time its flavor ranges from light to full-bodied. It can range from grassy to floral, sweet to malty based on the brewing style.
The color of the leaves and hue of the brew can range from green to golden to brown.
Similar to wine tasting, tea tasting is an art and experience helps you master it. Thinking about what oolong tea tastes like! The taste of Oolong tea is somewhere between green and black tea just like milk chocolate that has the combined characters of dark and white chocolates.
Nutrients in Oolong Tea:
Oolong tea is full of natureβs goodness as it is rich in antioxidants. Also, it has all the vital vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K and minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and potassium.
Oolong tea has the following health benefits:
- Weight management
- Healthy Skin
- Healthy Bones
- Anti-cancer properties
- Increasing mental alertness
- Diabetes control
- Improving heart health
At the end of the day, Oolong tea is a healthy and tasty addition to our daily lifestyle. You shall never be disappointed to make this a part of your lifestyle and shall probably become your favorite too.
After knowing so much about this tea, are you worrying about where to get yours from? Do not think much, give our Oolong Tea a try, and you shall not be disappointed.