How is oolong made

This step deactivates the enzymes responsible for the oxidation process, thereby stopping the chemical transformation. Oolong Tea makers in Taiwan typically use heated tumble dryers for the kill green process, though pan frying by hand can also be used.

After the Kill Green process, leaves destined to become Oolong Tea are rolled and dried. During this phase, Oolong Tea leaves that undergo modern machine rolling take on a characteristic ball shape. Rolling of Oolong Tea leaves in Taiwan usually is done with ball rolling machines like these. During rolling and drying, leaves are put into cloth sacks that are tightly bound. This bundle is then placed into a rolling machine that rolls it around in a circular motion, which causes the leaves to to ball up.

After short intervals of rolling, the leaves are are then placed into tumblers to separate the leaves. They are then put into low-heat conveyor belt machines, which dry the leaves slowly.

Loose leaf oolong tea placed in a bag before rolling in a rolling machine. The rolling and drying process is repeated continuously for up to 12 hours.

During each cycle, the leaves become more tightly rolled and drier. It is up to the experience of the tea maker, and the desired effect to determine when to stop the process. Depending on the type of tea being made, the tea leaves are then roasted. This is a post production process that is an art, or at least a professional skill, in itself. Tea roasters take into account everything from the environment in which the leaves were grown, to the time of harvest, the condition of the harvested leaves, how they were processed, and finally, how they are responding the roasting process to bring them to their optimal potential.

With traditional Oolongs, the more heavily oxidized leaves are roasted repeatedly, which not only removes all water content, but also "toasts" the leaf to varying degrees, transforming the flavor and consistency of the brewed tea.

This is a significant factor in the making of a traditional artisan Oolong Tea. However, there is a recent trend by cutting-edge high mountain tea producers to dry the leaves at the final stage of rolling and dry them more extensively by increasing the temperature in the conveyor belt drying machine and running the leaves through for a few extra rounds. This stabilizes the composition of the leaves, giving them a better shelf life.

When the final processing is done, the tea is packaged. Most tea producers in Taiwan package their own tea in bulk vacuum sealed bags of 18 kg to sell to wholesale customers who source tea direct from the factory on a seasonal basis.

Others send their teas to local packaging facilities to be packaged into retail sized vacuum sealed bags, which they will then market as their own private brand. Want to try some of the teas mentioned above?

Taste for yourself the broad spectrum of flavors that have made Taiwan famous for its specialty teas in our Taiwanese Tea Sampler! We really want to know what you think! Leave your impressions or questions in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this post and would like to hear more about the specialty tea industry here in Taiwan, follow us on YouTube , Facebook , and Instagram and please subscribe to our newsletter.

November 05, 0 Comments. October 28, 0 Comments. The tea name Tie Guan Yin Oolong can represent different things. First, it is the name of a tea tree cultivar that originates from Anxi Province in China. This cultivar was brought to Taiwan generations ago, and continues to be popular, although less commonly found than other tea strains.

Since Eco-Cha is an exclusive purveyor of specialty Taiwan Tea, we represent this name as a unique processing method that was developed in Muzha, Taipei over 50 years ago.

October 13, 0 Comments. All rights reserved. How is Oolong Tea Made? Taiwanese Oolong Teas have a variety of flavors due to the different levels of oxidation and roasting Cultivating Tea Leaves Taiwan, though geographically small, has perhaps the largest variety of Oolong Tea types per area, due to its variation in geography, climate, and cultural history.

Green tea is produced from fresh tea leaves that have not undergone oxidation, a chemical reaction that begins when the leaves are exposed to the air and which is responsible for the color and taste of different types of tea.

Black tea is created when leaves are fully crushed to enhance oxidation, and oolong is created when leaves are wilted in the sun and slightly bruised to create partial oxidation 1 , 2 , 3. Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea made from the partially oxidized leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Similar to black and green teas, oolong tea contains several vitamins, minerals, and helpful antioxidants.

A cup of brewed oolong tea contains small amounts of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains about 38 mg of caffeine. In comparison, a cup of green tea contains about 29g of caffeine 4 , 5. Some of the main antioxidants in oolong tea, known as tea polyphenols , are theaflavins, thearubigins, and EGCG.

These are responsible for many of its health benefits 1. Oolong tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid shown to have positive effects on relaxation and cognitive performance 6. In addition to caffeine, oolong tea contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and beneficial tea polyphenol antioxidants.

In general, tea has been shown to help protect against diabetes and complications from diabetes, possibly by easing insulin resistance and decreasing inflammation, among other mechanisms 7. Accordingly, a study from and a review from both report links between regular tea consumption, improved blood sugar management , and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes 8 , 9. However, the specific effects of oolong tea are generally not as well researched as those of green or black tea.

That being said, one smaller, older study does point to the possible effectiveness of oolong tea in lowering plasma glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes The polyphenol antioxidants in oolong tea may help maintain normal blood sugar levels and decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, the evidence is mixed, and more research is needed. Regularly consuming tea antioxidants may also improve heart health Several studies of regular tea drinkers show reduced blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as a reduced risk of heart disease 13 , 14 , One thing to remember is that oolong tea contains caffeine , which may possibly raise blood pressure, or hypertension, slightly in some people.

However, there have been inconsistent results when it comes to studies looking at a link between blood pressure and caffeine, so more research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be made 19 , Furthermore, since the caffeine content in an 8-ounce mL cup is only about one-fourth of that found in the same amount of coffee , any negative effect regarding hypertension is likely to be quite small 4 , Oolong tea may help decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure in some people, but more research is needed.

Tea consumption and weight loss have long been tied together; and indeed, many studies illustrate a connection between the bioactive compounds in tea and weight loss or obesity prevention Interestingly enough, it comes to oolong tea itself. A recent animal study showed that extracts from oolong actually did help to increase fat oxidation — meaning they helped decrease body fat directly. However, when it comes to studies on humans, only one small, older study points to its ability to increase energy expenditure in adults, which is basically the number of calories a body burns while at rest, but not fat oxidation.

Clearly, more research has to be done before conclusions can be made 24 , Other factors, such as underlying conditions and behaviors, play a big role when it comes to weight loss, and the amount of tea that can be safely consumed varies from person to person 26 , 27, The combination of caffeine and polyphenols found in oolong tea may help increase specific enzyme inhibition and the number of calories burned each day.

This could ultimately aid in weight loss. Recent reviews show that tea consumption may help maintain brain function and memory, as well as possibly protect against age-related decline 29 , For starters, caffeine can increase the release of norepinephrine and dopamine.

The best oolong teas are picked by hand during the spring and winter months. Processed to be full-bodied teas, the leaves for oolong tea are picked later than those for green tea, after the leaf has matured. First the leaves are withered on outdoor cloths or bamboo baskets for about two hours to reduce their moisture content.

Then the leaves are spread on racks and stirred regularly for hours in order to break down the cell structure and release essential oils. The oxidation period for oolong teas is less than that for black teas and depends on the type of oolong. After the desired oxidation level is reached, the leaves are heated at high temperatures to prevent further oxidation.

After heating, the leaves are rolled and shaped and then dried.