Benefits of Oolong | Brewing Suggestion | Oolong Tree and Oolong Tea | Tea Shelf and Storage
Benefits of Oolong
Oolong contains a large amount of polyphenols which are believed to
• reduce tooth decay
• combat and remove free radicals which cause skin damage and accelerate aging process
• Enhance enzyme functions and fat metabolism which control obesity and weight
Brewing Suggestion:
We make the following recommendations based on the way we brew teas for ourselves. Please experiment with different temperature, tea amount, or steeping time to find your favorite method to brew a perfect cup of tea.
Water:
Besides tea itself, the most important component in brewing tea is water. “An 8 point tea will taste like a 10 with a 10 point water, whereas a 10 point tea will taste like an 8 with an 8 point water.” According to the Book of Tea, water from the mountain, namely spring water, is the optimal choice. Since it is very difficult to obtain fresh spring water, bottled spring water or ionized water are good substitutes. They are more lively than regular water and will bring out the soul of the teas.
Tap and distilled water are not recommended because they tend to make the teas taste flat and lifeless. If tap or distilled water is the only choice and a backyard and clean surrounding area are available, please consider this option as illustrated in a Chinese text on teas: Store the water in a large jar and find a wood or bamboo board to cover the opening. Place the jar in the backyard under shades. Keep it covered during daytime and remove board at night to allow the water to absorb the “chi” of nature. Follow the same procedure for 3 days and the water is ready for brewing.
Hot Brewing:
To hot brew tea in traditional Yixing clay pots or gai wan with an average volume between 4 to 5 oz:
Wen Shan Bao Zhong 文山包種
Amount of tea: 2-2 ½ tablespoon or fill ½-¾ of 5 oz clay pot/gai wan
Temperature: 90 C or 194 F
Steeping time: 30 seconds for 1st. Add additional 10-15 seconds for each subsequent steep.
Multiple steeps.
Oolong 烏龍
Amount of tea: 1 level tablespoon or fill ¼ of 5 oz clay pot/gai wan
Temperature: 95 C and above or 203 F and above
Steeping time: 30 seconds for 1st. Add additional 10-15 seconds for each subsequent steep.
Multiple steeps.
Cold Brewing:
To cold brew tea in a 2 quart or 64 oz pitcher:
Wen Shan Bao Zhong 文山包種
Amount of tea: 4 tablespoons
Temperature: Room temperature
Steeping time: 3 hours at room temperature / 6 hours in the refrigerator
Oolong 烏龍
Amount of tea: 2 tablespoons
Temperature: Room temperature
Steeping time: 3 hours at room temperature / 6 hours in the refrigerator
Oolong Tree and Oolong Tea
In Taiwan, oolong teas are referred strictly to teas with leaves harvested from oolong tree AND processed as oolong with the traditional characteristics of ball shaped dry leaves. According to this classification, Iron Goddess of Mercy or Tie Guan Yin 鐵觀音 with leaves from a different type of tea tree, but the same production process, cannot be called an oolong. On the other hand, Bao Zhong 包種, though from oolong tree, cannot be called oolong tea because the production process is a bit different. To avoid unnecessary confusions, we at Naivetea will classify teas either harvested from oolong tree or processed as oolong tea as oolong.
As a more general classification, oolong tea is considered “blue tea” 青茶 that is between green and black tea. Oolong has the fragrant aroma like green and fuller body like black; a combination of the best from both. Since green tea is not oxidized/fermented and black tea fully oxidized/fermented, the wide range in between that oolong is in allows it to have endless variations in aroma and taste. The subtle nuances between different levels of oxidization or roast are the quintessential characteristics that make oolong so alluring and enchanting.
Tea Shelf Life and Storage
Unopened packages of oolong tea can maintain the original aroma and taste for one year. More than one year unopened or 3 months opened packages, the aroma and taste will gradually transform due to exposure to air, regardless how little. These changes are similar to the ageing of red wine and take the tea to a different dimension. Usually, tea will take on a more rounded aroma and fuller body.
If tea turned obviously bad, then it probably was not stored properly. Although a bad tea cannot be enjoyed as a drink, it still has several uses such as put in a cotton sac as a sponge to rid off grease on dishes, put in a bucket of hot water as feet spa treatment, leave in cabinets as deodorizer, or mix in soil as nutritious compost.
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