Organic oolong tea is one drink that is as close to perfection as it comes with a hot cup of tea.  I enjoy a very slight spice to mine, and I especially enjoy the bolder flavor that many Asian teas. Aside from the wonderful taste and feeling I get when drinking this tea, the health benefits may be unparalleled from any other drink out there.

Many people point the origin of oolong tea back to Fiji, maybe about 500 years ago.  However (also called Wulong), it is grown in many parts of Taiwan and China, and in some places in Japan.  Some even say you can find it in some of the mountainous states in America… but I’m not sure if I would trust that or not.  The good stuff comes from Fiji, Taiwan or China.

There is also the debate over whether you should buy loose leaf tea or tea bags.  The argument against tea bags is that some of the leaves can get damaged and there can tend to be lower quality tea used in bags.  That may be true for Lipton tea bags, but if you are buying quality organic oolong tea, then the quality of the bags will make all the difference in the world.  I prefer bags for convenience, especially the small pryamid style bags like in the photo above.

One of the reasons I like tea bags is being able to steep the bag two or three times.  I may make a cup of tea in the morning, and then have another later in the day using the same tea bag.  If you have quality tea, this won’t be a problem.  Just steep it a bit longer than normal and, if you’re like me, you might find that the flavor is slightly better.

The health benefits of buying organic oolong tea are second to none.  There is so much research out there right now about green tea, and especially this type.  It is high in antioxidants, making it an excellent drink to fight a cold, prevent a cold, fight free radicals that we take in on a daily basis, boosting one’s immune system.  In my opinion, a cup of oolong a day will keep that doctor far, far away.

Oolong tea has made headlines recently about being a “slimming tea,” or a “weight loss tea.”  That may be true, and you would have to read the science behind that, but it is my personal belief that Wulong has such a harmony with the body that it causes all of our systems to work together and function like they should, with weight loss being a side benefit.  I also believe that making tea a part of your daily diet, as opposed to coffee and soda, you body stays healthier and slimming down is one of the benefits.  Furthermore, it has been in studies that caffeine can be a weight loss inhibitor.  Since oolong is naturally caffeine-free, you don’t have that.

One thing you might want to try and do is buy a multi-pack of organic oolong tea, getting bags of different flavors so you can sample which ones are your favorite. I still prefer a little spice or a little fruit. Others prefer plain or a flowery taste. Find which one you want and, just like our British friends, make 10:00 am your morning tea time.  I usually have two or three boxes or canisters of it on hand. On my monthly trip to Whole Foods I pick up a new tin.

Let me know if you’ve tried Organic Oolong Tea. What flavors, brands, or methods do you like best.  Leave a comment below. I recently found a new tea source here in the Dallas area. If you have a World Market in your area, they carry several kinds of teas. Or, if you have found a good reliable website where you can order, please let me know. I would love to find a reliable source where I can place a monthly order for some oolong.