For all those first-time users, here is everything you need to know about Oolong tea. It is not like any other black tea or green tea it has a benefit of its own. Though it must be having some characteristics of green tea or black tea, this will totally depend on how it is manufactured.

Oolong tea is different from black tea or green tea based on its oxidation process and shape. Black tea is often oxidized during processing and that is the reason it leaves its black color and strong aroma on its leaves. On the other hand, green tea is less oxidized and that is why it leaves its fresh picked flavor and green color. Oolong tea is often partially oxidized (i.e. somewhere between 8% and 80%) depending on the tea master.

That is the reason, it might sometimes have a feature of green tea (if less oxidized) or sometimes a black tea (if more oxidized). When it comes to shape, Oolong tea is rolled, twisted, or curled into balls or thin strands. If you wish to buy such original tea then you should surely try the Yoshan Tea which has been using the Taiwanese ding dong oolong. They are into manufacturing this tea since 1880.

How is the tea processed?

We all know that when the leaves are plucked from the plant, they start to oxidize. So, when the leaves complete the entire oxidation process, it becomes black tea, but when you stop it as soon as the process is started, it maintains its green color and the flavor and that is the green. However, when we make the leaves go through the oxidation process and stop it midway (i.e. anything between 8% and 80% oxidized) then it is considered as oolong.

Along with this, there are different recipes and variations, which need to be carried on perfectly to get the exact oolong flavor. This includes everything starting from the falling time, to the time when the leaves are bruised, tossed, compressed, rolled, and roasted with the right amount of temperature. They are bigger as compared to green tea or black tea. Also, they require an extra room to unfurl and release their flavor.

Benefits?

1. It helps to increase the metabolism and helps burn fat, which in turn reduces weight.
2. It has mild caffeine and catechin, which helps to fight harmful free radicals present in our body.
3. It helps to keep your teeth healthy

Tea preparation tips

Mostly the temperature used here, ranges from around 185 degrees to 206 degrees Fahrenheit and the steeping time used here is about 3-5 minutes. The temperature using here is always going to vary depending on the type of oolong used as well as the amount of oxidation present in the leaf. One good thing about oolongs is that they can re-steep multiple times and with each re-steeping, the oolongs will always improve.

Caffeine content

Caffeine content usually increases every time the tea is steeped but in the case of oolong teas t decreases by 1/3 with each steeping.