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What You Need to Know Before You Buy Oolong Tea

This tea is full of free radical harnessing polyphenols. Studies have shown that the polyphenols in this magical drink reduces triglyceride levels significantly.

The benefits are increased with regular drinking. Someone drinking just three cups per day can start to reap the benefits of this amazing tea.

The flavor of this drink is somewhere between that of green and black teas. In both China and Japan it is traditionally taken in a small teapot with tiny cups and is a very important part of everyday life.

How you benefit from these properties is entirely up to you.

The first step should be the proper brewing of the oolong tea. A method of tea brewing knows as Gongfu Cha is traditionally used to brew oolong tea. Tea masters study for years in order to perfect this art. The main differences between this method of brewing and regular tea brewing are the uncompromising steps, the amount of tea used and the time it is allowed to steep.

However, you can brew a very nice cup of oolong tea at home without years of training.

The key to a delicious cup of tea lies in several things.

First, you must start with quality loose leaf tea. The tea you purchase should be the best quality organic tea you can afford. Premium loose leaf oolong tea can be re-infused many times so you really do get your money's worth.

Next, you need good water. Spring water is a good choice, but avoid using distilled water as it will produce a flat tasting tea. Tap water should be filtered first and avoid using hard water at all costs.

The temperature of the water is also vital. A good temperature is about 12 degrees below boiling. Water that is too warm will alter the levels of the plant's medicinal properties and water that is too cool will not cause the tea leaves to release all of their essential oils.

Bring the water to just under a boil and allow it to cool slightly. Place at least enough tea leaves to cover the bottom of the pot. It is not uncommon for someone to place enough tea leaves into the teapot to fill it completely. This may seem like a lot of leaves, but as they expand and swell, you'll be able to re-infuse this pot many times.

Also, remember to never leave the loose tea sitting in water. Decant all of the tea into cups and add only enough hot water for the amount of tea you wish to drink at any given time.

Author: Mary Rose Antonio
About the Author: Mary Rose Antonio has a site on green tea. If you are looking for oolong tea, visit her online store www.theteaavenue.com and her blog www.teahealthexpert.com.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - What You Need to Know Before You Buy Oolong Tea

Oolong Tea Benefits Trivia:

Did you know that:

• Antioxidants in oolong tea help fight the damages wrought by free radicals which are viewed as the source of many of today's debilitating diseases. It being semi-oxidized, it does not contain as much of these substances as green tea. But the beverage still packs quite a healthy punch and is very popularly drunk in parts of China.

• Oolong tea is a rich source of the antioxidant compound known as quercetin.  Quercetin is a plant-based chemical, or phytochemical, known as a flavonoid.  It is said to be a very strong dilator of blood vessels and this allows the blood flow more easily through the arteries. Because of this, quercetin is quite useful in helping protect against heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

• Aside from oolong tea, the flavonoid quercetin and many other antioxidants can also be found in such foods as cacao, and drinks such as red wine. As such, these health foods also offer many of the health benefits found in oolong tea.

• Oolong tea has a high potassium content. Potassium is an electrolyte and has an important role in the conduct of electricity throughout the body. It is thus vital to the functions of the brain and the nerves in the body.

• Oolong tea is said to be useful in helping achieve weight loss. Substances in this brown-colored beverage are said to help in controlling the production of sugar in the body, increasing the body's metabolism ratio, and in burning some excess fat.

• Oolong tea has a considerable content of the L-Theanine Amino Acid. It is an amino acid uniquely found in tea leaves. L-Theanine is derived from the amino acid L-Glutamic Acid and is believed to impart relaxing properties on the drinkers. It also has antioxidant qualities.

• Oolong tea is said to help in the treatment of diabetes as it may contain substances and compounds that help regulate insulin levels in the body. More teas for diabetes can be found here.

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