The Efficacy and Functions of Oolong Tea, What Kind of Tea is Oolong Tea, Types of Oolong Tea
To form the excellent quality of oolong tea, first, fresh leaves from superior tea plant varieties are selected as raw materials, with strict control over picking standards; second, an extremely meticulous production process is followed. The production procedures include indoor-withering, shaking, fixation, wrapping and rolling, rolling, and baking. Based on different shaking methods, oolong tea is divided into three subcategories: "jumping shaking," "rocking shaking," and "hand shaking." Commercially, it is habitually classified by production region into subcategories such as Northern Fujian Oolong, Southern Fujian Oolong, Guangdong Oolong, and Taiwanese Oolong. Oolong tea is a unique tea category in China, mainly produced in Northern Fujian, Southern Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan provinces.
The main types of oolong tea include:
Northern Fujian Shui Xian Tea: One of the two varieties within the Northern Fujian oolong tea types, it possesses a unique quality. "Shui Xian tea has fine substance and rich flavor" ("Jian'ou County Chronicle," 1929), and "its remarkable fragrance tops all teas."
Guangdong Oolong Tea
Among the types of oolong tea, only Guangdong oolong tea's processing method originates from Fujian's Wuyi Mountain. Therefore, its style and school somewhat resemble Wuyi Rock Tea, with a strip-shaped appearance.
Taiwanese Oolong Tea
Taiwanese oolong is the most heavily fermented type among oolong teas and the one most similar to black tea. It has curly strips, a copper-brown color, an orange-red tea soup, a pure taste, and a naturally strong fruity aroma. After brewing, the leaves show red edges and green centers. Among them, Dong Ding Oolong Tea (commonly known as Dong Ding tea) from Nantou County is extremely well-known and precious.
Southern Fujian Oolong Tea
Anxi Tieguanyin: Named for its heavy, iron-like weight and beautiful shape resembling Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy), it is the finest among Fujian oolong tea varieties, produced in Anxi, Southern Fujian. "Tieguanyin" is both the tea name and the tea plant variety name. This tea has tightly rolled strips, some shaped like a steelyard hook, others like a dragonfly head. As caffeine evaporates with moisture, a layer of white frost forms on the surface, called "sandy green with frost." After brewing, this tea releases an extraordinary aroma. Sipping it while hot fills the mouth with fragrance, brings a sweet aftertaste in the throat, and can be described as having a lasting fragrance even after seven infusions.
Fenghuang Shui Xian: The main production area is Fenghuang Township. Generally, the Shui Xian variety combined with the place name is called "Fenghuang Shui Xian."
Oolong Tea Efficacy and Function One: Nourishes Skin, Resists Aging
Drinking oolong tea does not simply reduce sebum content; rather, it has a greater reducing effect on individuals with high sebum content than those with low content, indicating that oolong tea helps regulate sebum content balance. Anti-aging experiments conducted by the Fujian Provincial Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine showed that both groups of animals fed oolong tea and vitamin E had significantly reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver. This indicates that oolong tea has anti-aging effects similar to vitamin E. Drinking oolong tea can maintain higher levels of vitamin C in the blood and reduce vitamin C excretion in urine. The anti-aging role of vitamin C has long been proven by research. Therefore, drinking oolong tea can enhance the body's anti-aging capabilities in multiple ways.
Oolong Tea Efficacy and Function Two: Weight Loss, Blood Pressure Reduction, Cancer Prevention
Compared to black tea and green tea, oolong tea not only stimulates the activity of pancreatic lipase, reducing the absorption of sugary and fatty foods, but also increases the body's heat production, promotes fat burning, especially reducing the accumulation of abdominal fat. Oolong tea contains a large amount of tea polyphenols, which can enhance the action of fat-decomposing enzymes, lower cholesterol levels in the blood, and have effects such as reducing blood pressure, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, and cancer prevention. People who regularly drink oolong tea have lower body mass indexes and body fat percentages than those who drink less. Moreover, weight loss effects are more significant in women than in men.
The editor suggests that MM们 can regularly drink oolong tea. Due to the powerful efficacy and functions of oolong tea, it can help mm们 maintain a slim figure and radiant skin.
Who should not drink oolong tea?
Since oolong tea is warm in nature, it is best not to drink it cold. If someone feels uncomfortable after drinking tea, such as stomach pain or difficulty sleeping, it is advisable to reduce the amount or stop. Additionally, oolong tea should not be drunk immediately after meals; waiting about an hour is more appropriate. Generally, strong tea contains caffeine concentrations as high as 10%, which can increase a pregnant woman's urine output, heart rate, and frequency, as well as加重 the load on the heart and kidneys. Therefore, it is best for pregnant women to drink less tea.