The Seven Best Oolong Teas

Oolong teas are extremely popular teas in China and Taiwan, but have only recently hit the world markets. The ever-growing popularity of oolong can be owed to its fresh and crisp flavour, mellower than the harsh black tea but sharper than a green tea. The period of fermentation is what divides the different brews into their respective categories.


White teas aren't fermented at all, greens very minimally, and blacks are fermented the longest. Oolongs are fermented anywhere from 12-70%, placing them between a green and a black on that scale.

A Chinese type will probably be closer in taste to a green tea, whereas an example of this type from Taiwan will have more in common with a black tea. Chinese varieties are fermented for shorter periods and thus are lighter in colour and flavour than Taiwanese brews.

Some of the best oolong teas are as follows:-

Ti Kuan Yin/Iron Goddess of Mercy (Monkey-Picked): Primarily grown high in the mountains in the Fujian province of China, monks supposedly trained monkeys to climb into the hard to reach branches of cliffside plants. The extraction made from those leaves was reserved for serving solely in the Imperial court of the Chinese emperors. Leaves from the plants grown at high altitudes are of the highest grade, so "monkey-picked" is generally understood now to mean simply the highest grade available.

Dan Cong (Single Bush): From the Guangdong province of China, this variety is the tilapia of oolongs in that it takes on the flavour of whatever fruit or flower it is combined with. It is almost always mixed with at least one other component, the most common of which are orange blossom, orchid, grapefruit, almond, and ginger.

Da Hong Pao (Wuyi Ensemble): This variety comes from the Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian province of China. Another of the famous Chinese teas, the Wuyi Ensemble has a very unique smoky flavour that makes it instantly identifiable. The leaves are given a high-fire treatment via roasting, which gives the drink its subtle smokiness. Mildly fruity, this oolong will have a honey or floral taste with a hint of a caramel left behind that comes again from the roasting of the leaves.

Jin Xuan: Grown in the Fujian province of mainland China, this hand-processed variety is famous for its creaminess. The milky feel and smooth texture make Jin Xuan pretty special.

Formosa Bai Hao: This heavily oxidized and fermented example is probably the closest to what you would expect from a black variety. The longest fermented of the oolongs, this type will give you a rich, deep cup, and it's one of the most prized teas in the world.

Si Ji Chun: This delicious Taiwanese variety comes from the Nantou area of Taiwan. It is a high-grown type as it comes from a very mountainous region and, as is the case with all varieties, the high-grown oolongs are the most valued for their richer and more pleasant tastes. Si Ju Chun is hand-picked and hand-processed using traditional methods.

Ali Shan: This variety is named simply for its place of origin. Ali Shan is the most famous tea-growing region in Taiwan, and all the oolong from the area takes this title.

The World's Most Expensive Teas

Tea is the most popular beverage in the world, beating all sodas, alcohols, and coffee combined! Almost all countries in the world have a rich tea history dating back a thousand years or more. Most teas started out mostly as medicine prescribed by the ancient medicine men. However, lately, teas have become much more than just medicine with people shelling out thousands of dollars to procure rare teas. Most of these teas are handcrafted, making them extremely labor intensive and hence expensive, while other teas are just difficult to produce. While for the regular tea drinkers, even a good quality Darjeeling tea would be on the pricey side, tea connoisseurs pay big money for the best teas across the globe. Here are the five most expensive teas in the world:

Yellow Gold Tea Buds: At around $105.71 USD for 50 grams (around 25 cups), this tea is both as expensive as, and as pretty as a piece of jewellery. These loose leaf teas are painted with real 24 carats gold. These are not only non-toxic, but also pretty healthy to consume. This tea is, however, sold exclusively in Singapore. There is only one mountain in the world where the tea gets harvested, and - to make it even rarer - it's only harvested one day a year, and only with special golden scissors, and only from the top part of the tree.


Panda dung tea: Pandas only eat wild bamboo, and they only absorb around 30% of the nutrients in their food. That leaves 70% in their excrement, which gets into the tea. The dung is used to fertilise the tea. A Chinese entrepreneur decided to cultivate tea leaves in the mountains of Ya'an, Sichuan and fertilise the leaves with the Panda dung.


Da Hong Pao: This tea is legendary, in that it dates back as early as the 18th century (the Dao Guang Era), and is still being talked about to this day. There are many variations of this tea, but the premium one is part of the most expensive list. So the Chinese government sold this tea in 1998 in an auction to the highest bidder, and received $9,00,000 for it. That comes out to around $1,250,000 per kilogram. A few Chinese government officials describe the tea as having a rich floral taste that lingers in the mouth, even several minutes after drinking.


Gyokuro: This tea is known as Sencha, which is a Japanese green tea that's made without grinding the tea leaves. This tea sells for about $65 USD for 100grams. It's made in Japans Uji district.


Tieguanyin: The most expensive tea in the world, Tieguanyin comes from China and sells at $3000 per kg. It's named after a Buddhist deity called Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy). It's an oolong tea, meaning its oxidization is somewhere between that of black and green teas. Luckily for anyone who buys this expensive tea, a leaf can be brewed up to seven times before it loses its flavour.

The Ten Famous Chinese Teas

There are hundreds of varieties of tea that are produced in China every year and enjoyed by people all over the world. Some of the most expensive green teas and yellow teas come from China, and are acquired by tea connoisseurs are high prices.


There are several opinions as to which the best teas from China are, but a list of The Ten Great Chinese Teas gives us an understanding of which teas to pick:

Longjing tea or Dragon Well tea, is a variety of pan-roasted green tea from the area of Longjing Village near Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, China. It is produced mostly by hand and renowned for its high quality, earning it the China Famous Tea title. Like most other Chinese green tea, Longjing tea leaves are roasted early in processing (after picking) to stop the natural oxidation process, which is a part of creating black and oolong teas.

Biluochun is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dongting mountain region near Lake Tai, Jiangsu, China. Also known as Pi Lo Chun, it is renowned for its delicate appearance, fruity taste, floral aroma, showy white hairs and early cropping. The name Biluochun literally means "Green Snail Spring". It is called so because it is a green tea that is rolled into a tight spiral, resembling snail meat, and is cropped early spring.

Huangshan Maofeng tea is a green tea produced in south eastern interior Anhui province of China. The tea is one of the most famous teas in China and can almost always be found on the China Famous Tea list. The tea is grown near huangshan (Yellow Mountain), which is home to many famous varieties of Green Tea.

Junshan Yinzhen is a Yellow tea from Junshan Island of the Hunan Province in China.

Keemun is a famous Chinese black tea. First produced in late 19th century, it quickly became popular in the West and is still used for a number of classic blends. It is a light tea with characteristic stone fruit and slightly smoky notes in the aroma and a gentle, malty, non-astringent taste reminiscent of unsweetened cocoa.

Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) is a Wuyi rock tea grown in the Wuyi Mountains. It is a heavily oxidized, dark oolong tea. Da Hong Pao can sell for up to US$1,025,000 per kilogram or US $35,436 per ounce. In recent years, a number of companies have invested in preserving the interest in this tea and other so-called "artisan" teas, which typically are of very high quality and have rich histories as is true with Da Hong Pao.

Lu'an Melon Seed, also known as Lu'an Leaf, is a green tea from Lu'an City, Anhui Province, China. Lu'an Melon Seed Tea's name is derived from the shape of the processed tea leaves, which are flat and oval and resemble a melon seed. Unlike most green teas which use the new buds in making tea, Lu'an Melon Sea Tea uses the second leaf on the branch.

Tieguanyin is a premium variety of Chinese oolong tea originated in the 19th century in Anxi in Fujian province.

Taiping houkui tea is grown at the foot of Huangshan in Taiping County, Anhui. The tea has been produced since the beginning of the 20th century and is produced around the small village of Hou Keng. It's renowned for its "two knives and one pole": two straight leaves clasping the enormous bud with white hairs.

Xinyang Maojian tea is a green tea produced in Xinyang, Henan. Xinyang Maojian is one type of green tea that originally was produced in mid China.

Tea vs Coffee: The Health Debate

Most start their day with a hearty cup of coffee while some cannot do without their cup of tea. Coffee to most is like a drug that jolts them out if their sleep, drives away fatigue, and gives an energy boost. Coffee can cause a person to be addicted due to its high caffeine content, while tea can provide the needful caffeine fix without the jitters.


Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. It even tops beer in terms of popularity. Coffee too is hugely popular. Both drinks, however, have been around for a long time. Tea was discovered by the Emperor of China in 2737 BC. According to legend, the emperor was drinking a cup of boiling water when leaves from a nearby plant flew into the cup releasing a beautiful colour and aroma. Intrigued, the emperor took a sip and was pleasantly surprised by its flavour. Tea then became popular among scholars and priests in China and Japan, who drank tea to stay awake, study, and meditate. This is perhaps why the hot drink has always been associated with mindfulness, calm, spirituality, and solid health.


Coffee, however, did not appear until much later. It is generally believed to have been discovered by a goatherd Kaldi in the Ethiopian highlands. Kaldi noticed that his goats became hyperactive after eating berries from a certain tree. This was the coffee plant. Coffee then spread to monks at monasteries, where they drank the beverage to keep them alert while praying. From there, it began making its way across the Arabian Peninsula. Both coffee and tea remained Eastern beverages for a long time; coffee didn't even arrive in Europe until the 17th century.



A lot of research has been conducted on the benefits of both tea and coffee. Researchers have focused on specific potential benefits of coffee, with some studies finding that coffee might have the ability to reduce the incidence of dementia or Alzheimer's or even Type Two diabetes. Coffee has higher caffeine content than tea, meaning its levels of the stimulant might help people with asthma by relaxing the lung's airways. Caffeine also helps in constricting blood vessels in the brain and reducing migraines. A Harvard School of Public Health research suggested that while coffee does not harm the body in any way, it did not provide any long term health benefits either.



Tea, on the other hand, is filled with antioxidants and potential cancer-fighting properties. According to the National Cancer Institute at the NIH, tea contains polyphenol compounds, which are antioxidants that might aid in cancer prevention. Some studies, however, suggest otherwise. Hence, while concluding evidence is not present in this matter, tea is still considered to be a medicinal beverage with therapeutic properties. All types of tea are made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis, which wilt and oxidize after harvesting; oxidation results in the breaking down of chemicals. The amount of oxidation that occurs in the leaves is what defines different types of teas, from black tea to white tea, and of course green tea. Polyphenols in particular are a group of plant chemicals that are believed to be involved in health benefits — especially in green tea. Teas with the highest levels of polyphenols are usually brewed hot teas rather than cold (and sugary) bottled teas. Polyphenols in green tea, and theaflavins and thearubigins in black tea, contain free radicals that might protect cells from DNA damage.

Drinking Tea For Loosing Weight and Feeling Fresh

If you can combine two of your most favorite things in the world, then the deal becomes extremely exciting, interesting and fulfilling. Now, if one of the things is associated with relaxation and the other is with health, then nothing can be better than that. To sweeten the deal further, if it is revealed that, you can enjoy your favorite drink now without any guilty feeling, yet lose weight in the process, then you will think that, it is a dream. If you are thinking in this way, then it is time to delve deeper and find more information on the topic.

• Things that are to be remembered

The first thing that you need to know is, tea is one of the most popular and consumed drinks in the world. Since the time of its discovery, it has spread all over the world and have owned people world over. In this context, you further need to remember that, every time, tea has been brought under scanner; it has come up with newer and better qualities than ever before. For instance, initially tea used to take as a medicine, then it became a drink and eventually today it is playing the role of a relaxing drink and the agent looking after your health. Oolong Tea has revived the whole prospect further.

• Delving deeper to find the problem

In this age of high speed life, people are dealing with stress and with time, it is becoming harder to actually deal with the matter. As a result to the stress, people are not getting enough rest and they are also eating not so health foods. As a result to that, they are gaining weight. If you are one of the people suffering from such a situation, then it is time to do something about it. Now, if you can lose weight while drinking tea, then what can be better than that, and keeping that in mind, you can try Oolong Tea.

• Enjoying a cup of refreshing tea

On the other hand, if losing weight is not your concern and you are looking for something else, then it is time to take that rather seriously and pursue the matter as well. For instance, if you are looking for relaxation and freshness in your cup of tea instead of some other health benefits, then it is time to do something about the matter. There are quite a few points that you can follow, but before than identifying the tea will be greater. A cup of Chamomile tea can be the perfect choice in such a situation.

• Conclusion

Finally, it can be said that, if you are truly interested in this matter and want to pursue the path, then gathering more information on the topic will be required. With the help of the information, you will be able to understand the procedure better and take the right decisions as well. This is why; you need to be serious about the Chamomile tea and keep on drinking that for a soothing and relaxing experience. The result you will achieve will be rather interesting and beneficial as well.

Authors Bio: Subham is working on The Tea Trove and also an avid blogger, as a food specialist he always providing lots of healthy food tricks to all of the others, like in this article he writes about Drinking Tea For Loosing Weight and Feeling Fresh

A Guide To Get The Unique Flavour Of Chamomile Tea

Tea is a plant that belongs to the Camellia family. It has two primary species that we use to form different types of teas. The first one is known as Camellia sinensis and the second one is known as Camellia Assamica. A few hybrid teas are also available in the market but the taste of real tea and the benefits of it can be enjoyed only when the beverage is derived from the Camellia species. A tea plant grows up to 20 meters, but tea planters maintain a certain height and length to ensure that the quality of the beverage is not compromised. The best tea is grown in India- Darjeeling and Assam. From there these boxes of teas are transported to the various corners of the world.


There are mainly four types of tea derived from the Camellia family-Green, black, oolong and white. All the brews we call tea are derived from other plants and flower known to offer several health benefits. Some examples are chamomile tea and oolong tea. Chamomile tea in India and Oolong Tea in India is quite famous. These drinks can be consumed hot and cold and they have a flowery smell that makes them an exclusive drink.

Traditional Tea Manufacturing Process

The chamomile tea and oolong tea have a different process for manufacturing than general tea. Since Chamomile tea in Canada and Oolong Tea in India is quite famous, the manufacturing process is taken care of with the help of advanced machinery. However, the common process of tea manufacturing has four stages -withering, rolling, oxidation and drying. Withering is done to reduce the moisture content of the loose leaf tea. Air is passed through the plucked leaves to remove the left over moisture from the leaves. The process takes a maximum of 17 hours in certain cases.


The leaves of the plant are rolled between rollers until they break. This process is done to break the leaves so the enzymes are released and the oxidation of the leaves begin. The oxidation process oxidizes or ferments the broken leaves. This process takes up to 2 hours and results in great quality and flavor.

Drying the tea leaves is the final process in tea manufacturing. The loose leaf tea are once again heated to stop the process of fermentation that was started during the oxidation process. As soon as the tea gets heated, it is changed to one of the four types. Finally, the sorting is done by checking the quality of the processed leaves.


Tea blending is an art. Without a proper blend, it is difficult to enjoy the real flavors of the beverage. Even herbal teas require proper attention while it is brewed. A properly made cup of tea can relax, release stress and calm the nerves, while a badly brewed tea will create distaste in the mouth. Try the multitude of tea available to enjoy the flavors, the aroma and the benefits. This way you will find the one made for you.


Authors Bio: Subham is an avid blogger who writes regularly on several topics. Like in this article he writes about the preparation of Chamomile tea so that everyone can taste the best blend of it

The Benefits of Having Darjeeling Tea- Buy Darjeeling Tea Today

Darjeeling Tea or Assam Tea is known as shepherd's tea is made from leaves of plants from the Sideritis species. This beverage is essentially herbal and is drunk by people not only because of its taste but also for its unique benefits. This tea is made from freshly harvested herbs in the Mediterranean. The leaves of this plant are available as dried form. The tea is easily available at some grocery stores and health food stores. The Darjeeling Tea is filled with natural antioxidants and other important properties that will help the body in various ways.


Flavonoids and Antioxidants

In 2011, the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" published a study on the flavonoid content of all plants found within the Sideities genus of plants. The plants has an overall species of 150 trees, researchers found out that this particular species showed to have anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties. It was also found the leaves were rich in a number of natural oxidants like flavonoids and few essential oils. When you buy Darjeeling Tea, you ensure that these properties come on your cup of beverage.


Regulates Blood Pressure

Another publication issued in 2012 titled the "Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology" found out that the extracts made from Sideritis helps in lowering down the blood pressure by making the blood vessels to relax. This animal study measured the arterial blood pressure and revealed that a dose of Sideritis extract led to the blood vessels dilation, thus enabling the pressure levels to fall and reduce the stress on the muscle of the heart. Though the tea is perfect for dealing with blood pressure, it cannot be considered as a constant treatment for heart conditions. More research and experiments are required on this matter.


Protects The Digestive System

Again, in 2012, "Planta Medica" published an animal study on the effects of Greek Mountain tea on the gastrointestinal health and disorder of the animals. Researchers found out that taking an oral dose of this beverage led to less inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This happened most likely because of the presence of antioxidants and phenols found naturally in a plant. The researchers also found out that this supplement led to the reduction of toxicity in the body for long term. The study proved beneficial and proved why people should buy Darjeeling Tea; however, it did not offered any result for gastrointestinal complications, as more study was needed to perform the research. Buy Tea Online from any tea brands. Many sellers also offer this tea online.



Brewing The Tea

When brewing this Darjeeling Tea, especially from fresh plants, you can use the leaves, stems of the plant. Place around six to eight inches of the tea leaves and pieces into the boiling water and then lower down the heat. Allow it to simmer for 10 minutes. For dried tea leaves, add 2 tablespoons in a teapot and let it rest for five minutes. Add flavors as you want and the tea is done.


Authors BIO: Rickey is an avid blogger, he writes various blogs on several topics. Like in this article he writes about varieties benefits of organic teas such as Darjeeling Tea, Oolong Tea etc.

 

Know More about the Green Tea

"A lone, lonely, loner" – if that's what you are, Tea and a good story book can be your friend. Some people in the world just love to be alone and enjoy their solitude. In a sunlit winter morning what can be more refreshing than warm wrap up with a Tea, soothing music and a book to read. That it you are all set for the weekend. Well to put it correctly not all Tea lovers are book lovers.

Therefore, you can also enjoy Tea watching movies or a Cricket match. What matter the most is the flavor of the Tea that adds to the ambiance and helps you to think. If you are Tea lover, you probably know where to find the best Tea in the world. Some of the finest Tea is brewed in Greece. Green Tea is popular for the roasted Tea beans that are broken and mixed to make Tea.

When you are traveling to Kolkata, do not forget to take out a separate time and visiting at least two to three Greek cafes. What matters the most is finding the appropriate Green Tea that can serve you the perfect Tea and the side dishes that will give you a memorable taste. Making Tea is no joke and not everyone can do that. The perfect Tea will have a mixture of bitterly sweet taste. People all around the world, especially the ones who are fond of Tea, prefer to have it with brown sugar that mixes with caffeine and give the perfect flavor. The normal sugar actually kills the bitter taste of the Tea and tends to make it sweeter than it actually should taste.


In Kolkata almost 90% of the people know how to make a perfect Tea with correct and appropriate mixing of all the ingredients. You can taste Green Tea from any random shops of Greece or choose to visit a popular restaurant. Knowing about a place prior your visit is not possible but it’s true that none of the Greek cafes will disappoint you where Tea is concerned.


Tea lovers are very selective about their Tea and therefore, numerous Tea shops are running successfully satisfying their regular customers. Greek cafes are there to not only satisfy your taste but also to make sure that the ambiance of the place attract more and more customers day in and out. The Tea lovers are one of a kind and they expect the perfect mood to be set in the café that they choose to go to. Long gone are the days where the owner of the café could satisfy their customers with white sugar, now there are options like brown sugar, sugar crystals, honey and low calorie sweetener. Honey is a sweetener that adds not only the sweetness to the Tea but brings a new taste to the Tea. Not only that there are supplements for sugar, but there are supplements for the whitener as well. The whiteners may include whole, semi-skimmed, skimmed milk and poured cream. People do not look for a Tea Cup now-a-days but whole experience. People in Greece know very well how to make their Green Tea better and successful.
 
 

The Idea Of Gifting Oolong Tea

Exchanging the gifts with the family and friends is a pretty common custom during the festive season. As the Durga Puja is knocking at the door, you must have started planning about something unique gift items for your special ones. This blog is here to help you out by offering a unique gift idea that will show your love, care and affection for the receivers. This festive season, gift your special ones a bundle of love to keep them fit and healthy all around the year in the form of Oolong tea.

Oolong tea is mainly the traditional Chinese tea that is grown and processed in China. This tea is different from the traditional tea types as this comes with numerous health benefits as well as the taste of this tea is also quite different from the conventional black or green tea. The Oolong tea benefits are quite uncountable. But some of the major benefits include: weight management, healthy skin, removal of the free radicals, healthy bones, stress management, control of cancer and diabetes etc.

The Oolong tea is available in different forms like Oolong green tea, loose-leaf Oolong tea, caffeine Oolong tea etc. But you may not get all these types of Oolong tea in the supermarket. So, it is better to try out and buy Oolong tea from the reputable online tea stores like Tea Trove.

Now let’s look at the procedure of buying this tea. It is always advisable to buy this tea from the reputable online tea stores to get the best results. To Buy Oolong Tea online from Tea Trove, visit the website, choose the flavor and the quantity of the tea and select the option of gifting. Place the order and receive your tea box in attractive gift boxes within a few days of ordering. Gift the tea box to your dear one and ensure a safe and healthy future for him/her.

The tea boxes of The Tea Trove are available in different sizes and shapes and these can be the perfect gifts for any occasion as the form of good luck!