Oolong tea has become very popular over the last few years, thanks to the publicity it has received on national television shows. While it is not a new tea, for those of us in the Western world, we are just now beginning to enjoy the wonderful health benefits and taste.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.