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The Health Benefits Of Oolong Tea

http://www.articlecodex.com/Articles/Home/Shopping [2008-7-10]

Tag : Oolong Tea Drink

Oolong tea has a long and rich history that includes being one ofthe plants that were grown and prized by ancient Chinese emperorsand today is prized for its many known health benefits around theworld. The history of the plant that is botanically known asCamellia sinensis has been used throughout history for good health,healing and averting illness. These tea leaves generally originatefrom the Fuijan Province of China or the mountains of Taiwan andcan also be referred to as Wu-Long tea. There is some evidencethat the tea leaves from this region have a history of at leastfour hundred years; arriving toward the end of the Ming Dynasty.

This tea now known for ensuring many different health benefits canbe found as straight oolong tea or with other enhancements such asjasmine, orange blossoms and others.

The process of manufacturing the tea is done with utmost care andin a fashion that has transcended the ages; from the time it ispicked until the time it is packaged it undergoes a careful handprocess. After the leaves are picked they are laid out to dry for ashort amount of time where the oxidation process begins. Then theleaves are placed in baskets and shaken in order to bruise them.This exposes the juice of the leaves to the air whereby theoxidation process continues after which the leaves are laid out todry for a second time. This process will oxidize the leaves from20-80%, depending on the type of final product desired. The leaveswill then be fired to halt the oxidation. Then they are sometimesrolled while still freshly roasted and fired several more times. Asa way of finishing the process the leaves are completely cooled andthen fired a final time to give the oolong tea the special flavorwhile reserving the healthful properties of the leaves.

Tea of all types have been under the microscope of late, and oolongtea has been studied and found to have numerous antioxidants,vitamins and minerals along with polyphenols, which all fit into ahealthful regiment. Polyphenols that are found in oolong tea havethe ability to remove free radicals, which are known forprematurely aging the skin along with causing the dark spotsassociated with aging. Free radicals have also been associated withhindering the immune system and they are also associated withcancer cells as well as muscle tissue deterioration or damage.

Oolong tea is also known for enhancing the function of enzymes,which in turn are known to dissolve triglycerides. These are thefatty deposits in the body and therefore it can aid in a weightloss regiment. There have been clinical trials done and it wasfound that this type of tea can raise the metabolic rate, whichspeeds up fat oxidation and the catechin polyphenols raise the ratethat calories are burned in the body. This in turn means thatoolong tea has the compounds in it to aid directly in weight loss.It is also an aid in reducing blood pressure that will in turn helpto prevent hypertension; this is because of its ability to use thefatty deposits in the body as fuel for energy.

There is also possible evidence that along with the caffeine thereis also an increase in stamina, which can help in an exerciseregiment. Caffeine is also known to stimulate the frontal cortex ofthe brain; this helps in memory function and enhances the thoughtprocess.

There are other health benefits that have long been believed byChinese herbalists such as the properties in oolong tea to reducetooth decay and to aid in speeding oral healing because of tannicacid that is present in the tea. They also believe oolong teaassists in aiding the kidneys, as well as improving the utilizationof glucose, which in turn aids the regulation of insulin.

Research and studies have shown that the Chinese who are known fortheir consumption of drinking have significant lower incidences ofheart disease and prostate cancer than other ethnic groups. Thereis also scientific evidence that tea can also be an aid in breastcancer treatment, when used along with tamoxifen.

A recent study of Japanese elderly demonstrated that those whoconsumed two cups of tea per day had a lower chance of cognitiveimpairment by approximately fifty percent. Other studies havepointed to tea’s positive impact on the onset ofAlzheimer’s.

While there is evidence that oolong tea and tea in general canbenefit the health of the body there is also the fact that this teais consumption friendly. Unlike vitamins, pills, health drinks andother health foods and drinks that are supposedly good forpromoting health, oolong tea has a taste that is a pleasure todrink – and it is rehydrating, and nourishing.

This is a tea that has the ability to be flavored with differentherbs and florals as well as served alone. Alone it can be dark incolor with a robust taste that includes a hint of raisin,honeysuckle or almond. It can also be light and floral if onlypartially oxidized. Flavored oolongs can be found with names andtastes such as ginger peach oolong tea, orange blossom and plumoolong tea and others. Each of these teas has their own uniqueflavor and some have history behind their name like the OrientalBeauty, which received its name from Queen Elizabeth II. She namedthe tea after a tea merchant who brought it from Asia. The name isstill used today.



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