How To Use Oolong Tea

Oolong tea, also called wu-long (black dragon), is a semi-oxidized, fermented tea from the Fujian province in Southeast China, where it's been cultivated for hundreds of years. It has only recently become popular in the U.S. as a weight-loss aid, thanks to endorsements from celebrities like Oprah and Rachael Ray. However, there's much more to oolong tea than its touted weight-loss benefits. Oolong is rich in healthy polyphenols that strengthen the immune system and promote strong teeth, cognitive functioning and overall mental health.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tea kettle
• Tea pot
• Mug

1. Bring the water to a rolling boil in a stainless steel or glass vessel. If you're using loose tea leaves, put them in the tea strainer. Put the strainer or tea bag(s) in a ceramic or glass tea pot or mug.

2. Pour just enough boiling water over the strainer or bag to cover it, then pour it out immediately. This first infusion of tea is designed to "open" the tea and release it's aroma. It is not considered very good or beneficial and is thrown out.

3. Pour boiling water over the strainer or bag(s) and steep for one to three minutes, depending on how strong you like it. The second tea infusion from the same bag or leaves is considered much better.

4. Increase the steeping time. Pour boiling water over the strainer or bag(s) and steep for one to five minutes or longer, depending on how strong you like it. The third tea infusion is considered the best of all.

5. Increase the steeping time for subsequent tea infusions. High-quality oolong tea can be brewed as many as six times.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the highest quality oolong tea you can buy. Use stainless steel or glass tea kettles or pans and stainless steel tea strainers because they don't taint the water. Avoid aluminum or cast iron, which gives the water an "off" taste. Cold spring water is considered best for brewing oolong, or any other tea. Filtered or purified water is also acceptable. Avoid tap water, as it contains chemicals that will affect the taste and effectiveness of the tea. Distilled water can result in a "flat" tasting tea. To get oolong's full benefits, drink it in it's pure state, without milk or sweetener. Avoid pre-packaged and ready-to-drink products that contain sugar and other additives. Drink a cup of oolong tea 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to walking, working out or yoga to boost your metabolism EE (energy expenditure). Use both oolong and green tea in place of your usual soft drinks and/or high calorie, additive-filled beverages. Excess pounds will gradually come off and you'll reap the benefits of both teas. While drinking oolong tea has been shown to increase energy expenditure (EE), it's not a quick fix. Don't believe the hype that weight loss of 2 lb. or more a week is guaranteed. Oolong will help you keep extra weight off. In Asian tea-drinking countries like China and Japan, oolong is typically taken with a meal containing greasy food and high carbohydrates as a natural fat and carb blocker.
• If you have high blood pressure, heart problems, or are sensitive to caffeine, consult your doctor or health practitioner before adding oolong or green tea to your weight-loss program

References

• The World of Oolong Tea
• Tea Cultures of the World/Gongfu Cha
• Generation Tea

Resources

• Crazy For Tea
• Heaven of Tea

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