If you find drinking water a little too plain, tea is another healthy swallow. While people are becoming more attracted to matcha tea or green tea, oolong tea can be an outstanding option that could better your wellness.

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented type of tea, which represents just 2% of the world’s tea. It incorporates the potential qualities of black tea and green teas. Hence, it possesses many exciting benefits regarding human health.

For example, a cup of oolong tea could help you in reducing stress and boosting up your metabolism rate.

This article would give you a lot more information about oolong tea and its health benefits.

Oolong Tea as a regular Drink

Oolong TeaTea is considered to be the most beneficial beverage drunk all over the world. The varieties of teas are available in abundance that provides us with immense options to choose the best tea for ourselves.
Among the vast range of tea varieties, oolong tea is considered to be a traditional Chinese tea.

Like every other tea, oolong tea also originates from the Camellia sinensis plant. There lies a significant difference in the processing of tea leaves.
Each tea leaf contains specific enzymes that react chemically with oxygen when the tea leaves are exposed to sunlight. Due to the oxidation process, green tea leaves acquire a darker colour.

There are varieties of oolong teas available, but the most famous oolong teas come from the Fujian province of China.

Green teas are not oxidised much as in the case of black teas. Oolong tea is partially oxidised, and therefore it somewhere lies between the two teas.

Hence, the characteristic taste and colour of oolong tea entirely depend on its partial oxidation process. However, the leaf colour varies between the brands of different teas ranging from natural green to dark brown.

Essential Nutrients in Oolong Tea

Like other teas, oolong tea also contains numerous vitamins and minerals that a human body ought to have.

Below are the average percentages of the essential elements found in one cup of oolong tea as per the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI).

  • Potassium: 0.8 % of RDI
  • Magnesium: 0.24 % of RDI
  • Sodium: 0.20% of RDI
  • Caffeine: 36 mg
  • Niacin: 1% of RDI
  • Manganese: 9.13% of RDI
  • Fluoride: 5-24% of RDI
  • Calcium: 4% of RDI
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Vitamin B3: 0.38% of RDI

Amazing Facts related to Oolong Tea

  • When compared to green tea, oolong tea comprises more mature tea leaves that are oxidised to obtain a richer, more complex aroma and distinctive taste.
  • Oolong tea is the most complex character of tea to unravel when compared to green tea, which is unoxidised and black tea which is fully oxidised. There are several varieties of oolong teas, and each tea has a unique taste.

Health Benefits of Oolong Tea

The potential benefits of oolong tea include:

1. Enhances metabolism + weight loss

This traditional Chinese drink rich in anti-oxidants gears up the metabolism rate and keeps the body active. The tea leaves are loaded with catechins that boost the effects of weight loss by increasing the metabolic rate.

2. Lowers cholesterol

The cholesterol levels are genuinely kept in balance with the intake of oolong teas. Talking about my personal experience, I have encountered significant effects while I started working towards my health. Oolong tea has been a life saviour for me as I improved my health by adding three cups per day. I have been consuming my oolong teas for a year or so and have experienced its health benefits.

3. Enhances brain alertness

Due to the presence of caffeine, oolong tea improves the concentration power of your brain. It helps you to focus and also maintains the readiness throughout the day. However, you must take a balanced amount of caffeine and not overdose the same. 400mg of caffeine is considered to be safe for most of the healthy adults.

4. Promotes hair care

Oolong tea contains high levels of antioxidants, and hence, it significantly prevents hair loss. You can apply a tea rinse to your hair and help yourself in acquiring thicker and shinier hair. It further adds lustre and would soften your hair.

5. Aids digestion

This type of tea improves digestion in those people, who can resist the amount of caffeine present in oolong tea. The tea helps in reducing inflammation in those who suffer acid reflux or ulcer problems. Oolong tea is also considered to be mildly antiseptic, and therefore, it is known to kill unwanted bacteria from your body. When consumed hot, the smooth and calming effect of oolong tea over the stomach can also help in relieving the stomach pain.

6. Skincare

It is stated that the people suffering from skin diseases can recover faster with the regular intake of oolong tea. Especially, Eczema, one of the skin diseases, can be cured by taking 2-3 cups of oolong tea regularly.

7. Blood sugar levels

The intake of oolong tea can significantly improve the blood pressure levels in your body. High blood pressure levels can be lowered with the consumption of the sufficient amount of caffeine. Additionally, the anti-oxidants present in oolong tea are due to polyphenols, which possess the property of metabolising sugar.

8. Dental decay

Both the teas, i.e. green tea and oolong tea, protect the teeth from getting affected by certain bacteria. The production of acid due to bacteria builds-up plaque in the mouth, which creates dental ache. Their growth is significantly reduced with the intake of oolong tea or green tea.

9. Enhances bone strength

The antioxidants are found significantly in oolong tea and help in keeping our bones healthy. Since a higher bone mineral density could reduce the risk of fractures, it is observed that oolong tea consumers have higher bone mineral densities than those who do not drink tea at all.

10. Strengthens the immune system

Apparently, each tea helps in enhancing the immune system, but due to the presence of caffeine in oolong tea, it helps in boosting up the immune system. It is also the presence of antioxidant flavonoids that help in preventing the cellular damage in the body. Drinking oolong tea on a regular basis can help in the productive increase of anti-bacterial proteins, which in turn helps in fighting infections.

11. Acts as anti-oxidant

Oolong tea is loaded with catechins (EGCG), which are known to be potent antioxidants. They are even capable of nullifying the harmful effects of free radicals that might cause illness and disease. It has been observed by various researchers that the compounds found in oolong tea enhance their healing properties through post-digestive enzymes in the stomach. Hence, making oolong tea a perfect drink to have.

12. Maintains heart health

Along with other benefits of consuming antioxidants by drinking oolong tea, it has also resulted in improved heart health. Oolong tea contains a significant amount of caffeine, which could result in the rise of blood pressure in some people. Hence, you must be careful, while consuming a significant amount of oolong tea.

13. Prevents cancer

Oolong tea is potently digested by the enzymes present in the gut. It has been observed that the digestive compounds possess anti-cancer properties, which significantly slows down the growth of tumour cells thereby preventing cancer.

Drinking tea has evolved for many centuries, and it has now become a trendsetter among the majority of people, who are health conscious. If you are one of those people who believe in keeping themselves fit and healthy, you must try the varieties of tea and especially oolong tea to enjoy the benefits mentioned above.