There is nothing as relaxing and refreshing as a tea break. Whether you prefer your tea plain, with milk, sugar, or lemon, it is clear that most of us really enjoy a cup of heavenly flavor at all times of the day. Humans enjoy drinking tea so much, it is commonly consumed during social events, and in some countries, there are formal ceremonies like British afternoon tea or East Asian tea ceremonies. 

Wulong, Wuyi tea, or the more familiar name – Oolong tea, is a type of tea originating from the Ming Dynasty. Same as a few other teas, it derives from the plant Camellia sinensis, the plant branches, leaves, and buds to be more precise. This healthy beverage has been consumed for centuries all around the world but it is part of culture and socialization in China and Taiwan. 

Oolong tea merges the best traits of green and black tea because of the span of its oxidation rate from 10 to 90%. Some oolong teas are very close to black tea because they are almost fully oxidized, while others are more light and green. The difference from green tea is that oolongs can contain branches full of buds and leaves. Its flavor ranges from light floral tones to ripe fruit, cinnamon, and famous caramel notes.

There are several health benefits of consuming oolong tea, including stress management, weight regulation, and cancer prevention. Researchers show that oolong might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. It also helps in building strong bones, preventing osteoporosis and it might even prevent tooth decay, improve brain function, enhance mood and mental alertness.

Oolong Tea Improves Mental Sharpness

In the research done by Dr. Ed Okello, it is said that regularly consuming a cup of oolong tea can help prevent cognitive diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The strong concentration of EGCGs and L-theanine makes oolong very effective in boosting cognitive functions. This research also shows epidemiological evidence of the anti-amyloid effects of tea in protecting against this disease. 

Oolong tea helps the body quickly regulate its stress levels. The L-theanine, an amino acid, is associated with overall relaxation and sleep. In researches done in recent years, it is shown that L-theanine is responsible for stimulating alpha waves in your brain, which is correlated with a well-relaxed state of mind. One trial on 16 healthy volunteers showed that L-theanine caused a decrease in anxiety as well, lowering high blood pressure caused by the high-stress situation.

Adding to this, the caffeine in oolong tea triggers norepinephrine and dopamine secretion. And we know that these two neurotransmitters are responsible for improved mood and lower stress levels. The caffeine gives a focused state of mind so you will feel focused and not sleepy. This makes oolong tea preferable for a mid-afternoon drink.

Oolong Tea Aids In Weight Loss

Oolong tea is widely considered one of the most popular weight-loss teas, and all for a very good reason. Studies showed that oolong tea might help in reducing a high-fat-diet-induced gain in weight, hepatic lipids, and white adipose tissue weights. Oolong tea may help prevent obesity, too, without any additional effort or intensive exercise. 

A Chinese study on 102 overweight and obese patients showed that 70% of patients lost 1 kg in only 6 weeks of daily oolong tea consumption. Furthermore, almost one-quarter of patients, or 22%, lost up to 3 kg. Furthermore, it is shown that drinking full-strength oolong tea may increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation by 12%.

Oolong Tea Stabilizes Blood Sugar

Once again, oolong tea proves how beneficial it is to human health.  The polyphenols present in oolong tea are known to keep blood sugar levels in check by inhibiting the digestive enzyme α–amylase, and an overly active α–amylase is responsible for high blood sugar levels. Studies show that diabetic patients with type-2 diabetes can have an advantage in beating diabetes by drinking oolong tea on a regular basis, reducing blood sugar levels by up to 30%. This also makes it an effective supplement to oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetic treatment.

Oolong Tea Improves The Gut Microbiome

A disturbance in gut bacteria quickly triggers many health problems like inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, metabolic disorders, and liver disease. Oolong tea may even improve the balance of healthy bacteria and provide support, especially when eating a high-fat diet.

One study by Ningbo University found the polyphenols in the brew regulate intestinal flora and generate short-chain fatty acids to promote gut health. Oolong tea also has alkalizing and mild antiseptic effects, which are very helpful in preventing bad bacteria from causing inflammation.

It is great at fighting off pathogens and keeping the gut health due to the antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activities of tea flavonoids. This makes oolong tea the perfect immune system booster.

Oolong Tea Protects Against Certain Cancers

It is well known that oolong tea is rich in antioxidants similar to green and black tea. Antioxidants also have been shown to fight and prevent certain cancers and illnesses in the body including oral cancer along with lung, esophageal, pancreatic, liver, and colorectal cancers.  

A mixture of simple polyphenols such as catechins and other complex polyphenols means that if you take it regularly, oolong tea could help you fend off cancer. The antioxidants found in the plant, especially EGCG, hunt free radicals that are responsible for DNA damage, accompanied by mutations and oncogenic growths.

However, more research is needed on oolong specifically since most of the research is on green and black teas, due to their popularity.

Oolong Tea Keeps Your Skin Healthy 

The free radicals that damage DNA can also damage cell membranes. When this happens, your skin can appear dry, dull, and sagging, due to intense moisture loss. Oolong tea helps in rejuvenating the skin cells and delays biological aging.

It is also known that the anti-allergenic antioxidants found in oolong tea help in the worst skin conditions. Recent researches show that eczema patients have long-term benefits from consuming oolong tea.

Parting words

We hope you enjoy a well-prepared cup of oolong tea while reading this. Like black or green teas, oolong tea can be enjoyed hot or iced, just allow it to steep for a full five minutes to get the maximum potency. The temperature won’t affect the benefits, and as you read already there are plenty of great health benefits of drinking oolong tea.