PRODUCT REVIEW: Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is a popular Chinese drink taken traditionally as a means of boosting health.  Oolong tea, otherwise known as Wulong tea, translates literally as ‘black dragon’. 

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea and is produced primarily in the areas of Guangdong and Fujian in China.

While green tea, another very popular and health giving tea comes from the same plant as Oolong tea, green tea is unfermented.  Black tea is completely fermented and Oolong is therefore in the middle of the two in terms of fermentation.

Oolong tea has become increasingly popular outside of China because of the important health benefits it offers.  Oolong tea has been said to promote weight loss, prevent some types of cancer, offer anti-aging benefits, increase cognitive power and decrease loss of memory and function that comes with normal processes of aging. 

Oolong tea also boasts the ability to reduce blood pressure and aid with hypertension.  Finally it is considered to be a very potent antioxidant.

So with all these claims just what does the science say?  Well according to recent research, Oolong tea has been shown to help destroy stomach cancer cells.  In another study, the tea showed important anti-inflammatory effects and was touted as being a potentially important aspect of treatment against colon cancer.

Oolong tea has also been researched for its anti-aging effects.  In one study, older Chinese Oolong tea drinkers were shown to be at a lower risk of cognitive impairment.  The study showed that increased tea drinking amongst the 2501 subjects was correlated with a lower risk of developing impaired cognitive functioning.

In terms of weight loss, many teas can have thermogenic effects.  However, in a study conducted on Japanese women, it was found that Oolong tea outperformed green tea and water by a significant amount in terms of boosting energy expenditure after its consumption.  Thus whereas energy outputs were increased only 4 percent two hours after drinking green tea, the rate for Oolong tea was a whopping 10 %.

Based on all the health giving effects of this tea and its potential to boost weight loss capabilities, the tea is certainly worthy of its reputation for potency.