Sweet with hints of chocolate and roasted nuts……and
it can help you to lose weight
If you haven’t tried it, you really must! It tastes
delicious, fresh. mellow, fruity and sweet with hints of chocolate and roasted
nuts. Perfect for quaffing this christmas time or in fact at any time at all.
What is it?
Oolong tea. Well known in
ancient Chinese medicine to promote weight loss.
Most likely if you ask for an oolong tea in a cafe, the
waiter/waitress will just stare at you! Which is such a shame, because when it
comes to tea, no category offers more complexity of flavour and body than
oolong. It is a tea so uncommon in the west that we don't have an english word
for it. It is also know in China a Wu-long tea.
Oolongs are the wide category of tea in between green and black.
They come from the same plant as the other teas, the camellia sinensis and are
semi-fermented. Black tea is fermented. Green tea is unfermented.
Oolong tea generally grows on the Wu-Yi mountain, hence it is
also known as Wu-Yi tea in Asia. Good growing conditions are important, but the
quality of an oolong is largely dependant on the skill of the person processing
it. Oolong tea leaves are picked and kept under strictly controlled conditions
and allowed to semi-ferment or partially oxidise. They are then heated to a
certain point to set the flavour and aroma, from buttery florals to roasted
nuts and hints of chocolate. And the best oolongs are harvested in the autumn
to give a tea of superior taste than that of spring harvested teas.
As well as tasting great, oolong tea offers a wealth of health
benefits.
The Chinese have long believed that oolong tea is beneficial in
reducing and maintaining weight.
Speeding up your metabolism is the key to losing weight. Studies in
Japan have shown that drinking oolong tea increases the metabolic rate by 10%
and this effect lasts for 120 minutes after drinking the tea as compared to
green tea which only increased the metabolic rate by 4%. Another study showed
that drinking oolong increases the fat oxidation by up to 12%. And this this is
backed up by a study undertaken by The School of Traditional Medicine which
determined that the consumption of oolong tea can prevent obesity by decreasing
body fat content and weight.
Oolong tea really can help in losing and maintaining weight.
Just drinking 2 cups a day can help shed the pounds by boosting the metabolism
and blocking the fattening effects of carbohydrates. And combined with
exercise, like yoga, oolong tea helps to keep you slim and toned. Enjoy a cup
of oolong 30 minutes before your walk, workout or yoga session to get the
maximum results. And instead of having a milky coffee and cake in the afternoon
stave off the sweet cravings and energy slumps with a cup of oolong instead.
As well as being effective in controlling obesity, oolong tea
offers other health benefits. It contains high levels of anti-oxidants or
polyphenols, which promote strong healthy teeth, improved mental function and
general well being. This vitamin enriched tea with its anti-inflammatory
properties may reduce the symptoms of eczema and other skin allergies and is
beneficial for glowing radiant skin. It
can also boost your immune system helping to prevent colds, flu and other
illnesses.
Drink at the beginning of the day to boost your metabolism and
increase your energy levels and try drinking 15 minutes before a meal to curb
your appetite and assist with the breaking down of the food.
In fact, its good for drinking at any time of the day. With a
wealth of flavours, from rich, sweet, mellow, fruity, fresh to lightly roasted
or buttery floral and chocolatey, choose one to suit your taste and palate.