What is Oolong Tea? Uses, Benefits, Caffeine Content, & How to Drink

If you’re a tea connoisseur, then it’s likely that you’ve heard of oolong tea. You might have even tried it before. However, there is so much to know about this ancient tea that will make your next cup taste even better. 

Oolong tea steeping in a pot next to a pile of oolong loose leaf tea

What is Oolong Tea?

Aside from popular belief, oolong tea is not technically black or green tea. Though the three teas can come from the same plant, they are all processed (called oxidation) differently. As a result, oolong is its own type of tea – known for its unique shape. 

Oolong tea can typically be recognized from its characteristic rolled or twisted shape. Though you can spot an oolong tea leaf from a mile away, the taste or aroma may not be as obvious. Oolong tea can come in a wide variety of flavors, which means it might take some trial and error to find your perfect cup. 

This ancient tea dates back centuries and is known for its roots in Asia. It remains highly popular throughout China and Taiwan (and for a good reason). You can even find tea lovers and entrepreneurs competing for the title of best oolong tea!

To say this tea is loved would be an understatement. 

What is the Caffeine Content?

For those of us who need a caffeine kick to get through the day, you’re probably waiting to hear what the caffeine content in oolong is. We have good news – oolong tea isn’t short on caffeine. The content can vary depending on the oxidation process and is usually somewhere between black and green tea. For perspective, it is 1/3 the amount of a cup of coffee.

If you need to beat the afternoon slump, oolong tea can come to the rescue. That’s one reason why oolong is the tea we choose for NoonBrew, our superfood tea. It’s not as heavy on caffeine as coffee and that’s a good thing as we wanted to provide our customers a calm energy. Thanks to L-Theanine and Lemon Balm, our oolong-containing tea provides a jitter-free energy to power you through the afternoon.

What Nutrients are in Oolong?

Aside from caffeine, your cup of oo’ isn’t lacking other nutrients. You’ll get a hearty serving of magnesium, potassium, calcium, and antioxidants in just one cup. While one cup may not have enough nutrients to kick a cold, frequent drinking can have some benefits. 

What Are the Benefits of Oolong?

Because oolong is rich in antioxidants, it can do incredible things for your health. In fact, some research even suggests that it can minimize the risk of diabetes[6], improve heart health[5], and support cognitive function.[4] Apparently, a cup of oolong a day keeps the doctor away.

Now, these are some big claims – we get it! But scientists specifically tested oolong tea and found that its antioxidants are stronger than green and black tea, which is why there are so many positive effects. In addition to antioxidants, oolong also has the highest amount of polyphenols among teas. The polyphenols’ ability to potentially lower bloodsugar levels[7] is another reason why it is believed oolong tea can reduce the risk of getting diabetes.

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Get all of the benefits of oolong tea and more in NoonBrew. We included oolong tea and white tea along with 19 superfoods to help your energy, focus, digestion, and more.

References

  1. DiGiacinto, J; Petre, A. (2021). What Is Oolong Tea and What Benefits Does It Have? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oolong-tea-benefits
  2. (2016). Different Types of Tea and Caffiene Content. Garfield Medical Center. https://www.garfieldmedicalcenter.com/GMC-Blog/2016/October/Different-Types-of-Tea-and-Caffeine-Content.aspx
  3. Nagdeve, M. What Is Oolong Tea and Its Benefits. (2020). Organic Facts. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/beverage/health-benefits-of-oolong-tea.html
  4. N;, Türközü D;Şanlier. “L-Theanine, Unique Amino Acid of Tea, and Its Metabolism, Health Effects, and Safety.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26192072/
  5. Huang, Shue, et al. “Tea Consumption and Longitudinal Change in High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration in Chinese Adults.” Journal of the American Heart Association, 25 June 2018, https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.118.008814.
  6. Sanlier, Nevin, et al. “Tea Consumption and Disease Correlations.” Trends in Food Science & Technology, Elsevier, 6 June 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224417307379.
  7. Kim, Yoona, et al. “Polyphenols and Glycemic Control.” Nutrients, MDPI, 5 Jan. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728631/.

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