In the past few years, oolong tea has grown tremendously in westernized countries. Standard oolong was first discovered in China whereas Formosa oolong is grown in Taiwan. Of all tea on the market, oolong is without doubt one of the most delicious. If you have never tried this particular type of tea, it is worth your time to taste it.
As mentioned, standard oolong originated from China with the name translating to “black dragon”. The official name is Wulong tea, which most people believe is named after the person that developed this particular variety of tea.
What is the legend of Oolong Tea?
This person, Wu Liang, was actually a tea gardener in China. According to the country’s longstanding legend, this gardener was out gathering tea leaves to be processed and while out in the forest, he saw a River Deer. Killing the deer, he turned all his attention to dressing it and not on the tea processing so the leaves were never dried.
The following day, Wu Liang recalled that he had forgotten about the tea leaves and when he went back, he noticed the color had begun to change. His initial thought was that the tea was rotting but on a whim, he went ahead and completed the drying process. When done, he decided to make a cup of tea and he was surprised at the unique and wonderful flavor produced, as well as fragrance. This story is the legend of how oolong tea was created.
Characteristics of Oolong Tea
Often referred to as a type of tea that is in the “middle of the road” because it is not as strong as Chinese black tea but stronger than Chinese green tea is. While oolong tea is fermented, it only goes through a partial process. Because of that, the flavor and aroma leans more toward green tea than it does black tea. Additionally, the leaves used for making oolong tea are actually quite large because they grow toward the base of the Camellia sinensis plant.
Now, the other type of oolong tea is called Formosa oolong. This tea is grown in Taiwan and falls between loose black tea and loose green tea. Keep in mind that the largest producer of oolong tea in the world is Taiwan, not China. When buying Formosa tea from reputable tea companies, you will find two categories, which is based on the way in which the leaves are fermented. Similar to standard Chinese oolong is True Formosa oolong, which is fermented to the point of 30% of the leaves turning red and 70% turning green.
The second category of Formosa oolong tea from Taiwan is called Formosa Pouchong oolong. The flavor and color is very similar to green tea but in this case, fermentation occurs until the leaves are 15% red and 85% green.
Brewing Oolong Tea
For both True Formosa and Formosa Pouchong, leaves are hand plucked in the early part of the day, then set out in the sun to wither. From there, the leaves are tumbled or shaken to bruise them just slightly, which starts the fermentation process. Artisans that ferment oolong tea are very skilled, spending time carefully watching the leaves throughout the entire process of fermentation. The leaves would continue to be bruised on a regular basis until they have been properly fermented. After turning the right red/green color, the fermentation process would be deemed complete.
Once the fermentation process is completed, the leaves go through the drying phase. For this, workers typically use charcoal prior to the tea being graded for quality. Once done, the oolong tea is packaged and ready to be exported.
One of the most sophisticated and delicious types of Formosa oolong tea is called Imperial Formosa. The color is a beautiful gold and the flavor crisp and refreshing. The flavor of this tea is amazing, offering a subtle hint of citrus, wood, and nut. After taking a sip, you would notice a slight sweet flavor lingering in your mouth.
Keep in mind that you would need to purchase Imperial Formosa oolong tea from one of the quality tea companies online since it is rare and somewhat hard to find. Additionally, expect to pay a little higher price for this type of oolong over other varieties. However, chances are that once you taste Imperial Formosa oolong tea, it will quickly become your favorite tea, putting all other types of healthy tea or exotic tea to shame.
Healthy Oolong Tea
Along with the unrivaled flavor, oolong tea is also great for promoting health. This tea is high in antioxidants. Of course, with oolong tea going through a partial fermentation process, depending on the variety and the level of fermentation, the level of antioxidants would vary. Even so, since this involves only a partial process of fermentation, antioxidants are effective while retained at a high level.
Polyphenols are the antioxidants that oolong tea contains and of all antioxidants, this is one of the most powerful, known for preventing both heart disease and certain types of cancer. In the past few years, medical professionals and scientists have conducted a tremendous amount of research and the results confirm that oolong tea is loaded with healing properties. Therefore, if you want to protect your body from major illness so you can live a long, healthy life, oolong tea should become a part of your daily regimen.
Studies also show that oolong tea increases the body’s metabolism and oxidizes fat so it is an effective tool for weight loss. Then, because of the partial fermentation process associated with oolong tea, it only has a small amount of caffeine, which means you could enjoy a cup of hot tea before bed without being kept up. In fact, even people that have sensitivity to caffeine can drink oolong tea without any problem.
When searching for a new type of tea to try, something complex, sophisticated, delicious, and healthy, you cannot go wrong in choosing Formosa oolong tea. Whether you have enjoyed tea for most of your life or you are just learning about tea, you will love the flavor and aroma. Again, the best of the best is Imperial Formosa oolong tea, which will surprise you.
