All tea comes from the same plant, the type of tea is determined by the processing of the leaves, oolong leaves are plucked from the plant and allowed to oxidize in carefully controlled conditions. This process gives the oolong tea its distinct flavor; the leaves are gently tossed aiming to bruise them so the oxidization process works better. The leaves are cooled and tossed several times, but never intentionally broken meaning that the cell structure is left intact. The leaves are then roasted multiple times to give distinctive grades of the oolong tea. Different teas give you different health benefits, and people are always trying to find the best tea to help with natural weight loss. The two main ways that your body looses weight are to increase the energy you use and restrict the absorption of fats and carbohydrates into your body. Caffeine which is found in all teas encourages your metabolic rate to increase meaning that you will burn off fat quicker.

Research has shown that oolong tea not only contains the caffeine to help with the metabolic rate but also it is beneficial in reducing and maintaining your weight to a healthy level. A study in 1998 showed that the consumption of oolong tea over a six week period resulted in weight loss amongst the woman used in the study. The studies also showed that oolong tea could increase your energy level by up to 3% which means you will burn off more fat; in fact it was shown that you could burn up to 67 more calories per day when drinking the oolong tea.

Oolong tea is a distinctive tea it is dark in color and resembles coffee to look at. You can drink it either hot or cold, and the benefits are just the same. Although oolong tea was first discovered over 400 years ago the distinctive taste and flavor are just the same. It has been described as somewhere between green tea and strong black tea, not unpleasant to drink and doesn’t leave an after taste. Oolong tea traditionally comes from China, although these days you can find varieties from Thailand, Africa and Vietnam all of which have slight variations in the taste.

Oolong tea is easy to brew and must be left to sit for at least 4 minutes to steep; you can re brew the leaves up to six times, before they will be tasteless. You can find oolong tea in many stores now or from a dedicated tea merchant, if you drink tea often then purchasing the leaves direct in bulk from the merchant is advised. Although you may love the weight loss that oolong tea produces, you will also love the taste of it and it will become part of your everyday life.

I picked up my first box while shopping at Whole Foods.  They always have a nice selection of teas.  I had always been a fan of Rooibos teas from Africa, mostly because of their flavor and the fact that it is decaffenated. One of the clerks asked if I had actually tried Wulong (several differet pronunciations and spelling of the same tea).  I had certainly heard about it, both on TV and from my neighbor across the street.  Over the course of about 6 months I tried several different brands until finally settling with Choice.

If you go to Amazon, you will find excellent reviews of their Choice Organic teas.  In fact, follow this link to check out the Choice Organic Oolong.

You will quickly find that it is one of the most respected of all organics, certified by the USDA. 

Organic Oolong Tea has a exclusive balance and harmony unlike any other tea. After picking, the tea leaves are lightly “bruised” and briefly oxidized, which is resposible for the mild-taste of Wulong tea. This is what I like.  Choice has a “gentle earthiness with light hints of smoke, a lingering finish, and a delightfully aromatic character” as they describe it on their box.  It truly sets their brand apart from the others on the market. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

That harvesting and preparation phase is only the first part.  They are known to produce some of the purest tea in the world.  It all comes with how they package and bag the leaves that is both environmently friendly as well as the “technology” and research that has gone into their tea bags.  No glue or staples.  Just the bag that is sealed by a knotted string.

I love the tea. I am personally not a huge green tea fan.  Maybe it’s because I grew up on black tea.  With Choice Organic Oolong you get the best of the health benefits from green tea and the bolder flavor of black tea.  It is smooth tasting and the benefits to my weight loss and improvement in my digestive system I attribute to switching from so many of these other drinks and incorporating this tea into my diet.

So, if you are looking for a first Oolong to try or are looking to try something new, either find a box of Choice Organic Oolong at your health food store or order a box from Amazon.

But, why organic oolong? The conclusion is quite obvious for two reasons.  First, tea is a plant, which means that farmers looking to make a profit can use almost any method to get their product to market. Having organically grown tea will insure you are not consuming the negative affects of “over zealous” farmers.

Second, organic oolong is simply going to have a better taste, contain the full antioxidants, and have much more of the health benefits that come from this fine tea. It is the same reasons that you would want to buy organic produce from your market – more flavor and better health.

The best Oolong comes from the Wuyi Mountains of Fiji.  You may find it grown in other places, but studies have shown that the soil, altitude, and climate produce the best tea bushes, resulting in absolutely beautiful oolong tea. Sometimes other flavors can be mixed in (just like any other tea), to add variety and taste. Other countries such as Taiwan, are also growing great wulong these days.

I personally enjoy black tea over green tea.  One of the things that I truly love about oolong is that it is the best of both.  You get many of the great health and antioxidant features of a green tea, while getting much of the fullness and boldness of a black tea. If you are going to buy organic oolong, let me give you some advice.  I have purchased organic oolong from 7 – 10 different companies.  The price makes a difference.  When I bought cheap, I got cheap.  Loose tea was all over the inside of the box. When I would brew it, there were several leaves in my drink.  When I spent the extra money and got higher quality tea, I received better bags (many could be used multiple times if you need to), very little loose leaves, if any, in the box or can, and the taste was unparalleled.

You can order it online for a slightly better price, or go to a place like Whole Foods.  You will generally pay between $10-$20 online for quality organic oolong.  At a local grocer or health store, you will pay between $15 – $25 for the same product. If you’re spending less than that, especially for organically grown, you will probably be disappointed.  That’s just my opinion though.  The other choice you have to make is whether you want loose-leaf or tea bags.  I prefer loose leaf, but it also depends on the quality of the bag.

However, one of the things that has made Oolong so popular, is the mentioning that Oprah likes it.  This has never really appeared on her site, and she may have mentioned it on her show, but it made headlines none-the-less.  One of the reasons it became popular was it was seen for its slimming, weight loss affects.  Some say that it has twice the effect as regular green tea.  My advice – the only reason you may lose weight drinking oolong is because you’re not drinking a soda instead .  However, the other health benefits are more than worth while.

There are three benefits to drinking ogranic oolong:

1. As mentioned before – the antioxidant benefits.  There are so many reasons that this is helpful.  It is just one more way to help fight free radicals in your body.
2. The potential weight loss benefits.  This, as I also mentioned, are really a result of making healthier choices for yourself. Drinking quality tea almost always trumps any other beverage.
3. A stronger immune system.  While I am not making any health claims here, it is a natural conclusion that you put healthier food in your body, you are going to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. This is not really meant to be a triple blind study to appear on WebMD. It is just simply a healthier choice.

Enjoy your cup of organic oolong. If you’re like me, getting a pot, loose tea, and the right cup help make the experience more enjoyable.