Feiyan Oolong Tea
The term oolong was derived from the Chinese word wu-long. Wu, which means black and Long means dragon. Together they mean black dragon, a type of tea discovered some 500 years ago. However, the origin of Feiyan Oolong Tea still baffles even the people of China up to this day. Here are possible explanations why it is called the black dragon tea.
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Brief Historical Background Of Oolong Tea
Tribute Tea
This type of tea has also been called tribute tea, due to the fact that it was made for the emperors. In a theory that supports this belief, oolong tea was invented in the Northern Song dynasty during the 10th century.
Song emperors were known popular for many pursuits related to the arts, which include the consumption of tea that more often occur at the expense of governance. In fact, an imperial tea garden was set up in Beiyuan in the Fujian Province.
This tea garden has earned its place in the tea history of China, which has existed for 458 years. It has also produced the Dragon-Phoenix tea cake or the longfong tuancha. In time, the tea cake went out of fashion as the emperors turned their attention to the loose tea.
Beiyuan switched production because of that and the black dragon tea emerged from the production of loose tea that was dark and glossy.
Wuyi Mountain
Another theory still exists until this day, including the one based on the Wuyi Mountain during the 16th century Ming dynasty. It was discovered that the earliest recorded history pertaining to oolong tea was during the Qing dynasty when a couple of literary sources were published from 1644 to 1911.
The first literary source was based on the Wuyi tea song or Wuyi Chage and the second one was the Tea tale or Chashuo. The tea was then named where its production took place, which was part of Wuyi Mountain.
Anxi County
One more theory that supports the origin of oolong tea was a county in the Fujian province of China called Anxi. This place was famous for their production of iron goddess oolong tea.
The name of the plant was Wulong after the person who discovered it was named Sulong. The misinterpretations involving the local dialects have caused Sulong to be called Wulong instead. Well, you might want to believe that version since it happened almost all the time in a huge population with a variety of dialects.
Wulong was also derived from another popular theory based on the tale of a dark-skinned hunter named Dragon. He was then nicknamed black Dragon. The story was focused on his accidental discovery of oolong tea when one day a tea plant was left in his bag for an extended period of time. This was due to his pursuit of a beast that left his tea inside the bag bruised, which caused the leaves to oxidize.
The fragrant aroma of tea has led to the naming of the tea in memory of black Dragon, which simply translates as oolong.
Feiyan Oolong Tea
The term Feiyan tea was derived from the Chinese empress of the Han dynasty named Ahao Feiyan circa 32 B.C. This must have been based on her slim build and dancing abilities that made people admire her. Feiyan tea is a type of green tea that has been used to promote metabolism.
It has also gained popularity in the West due to its health benefits. Here are some of the great benefits of Feiyan oolong tea that health enthusiasts need to know more about.
Health Benefits Of Oolong Tea
Manages Weight
There is a polyphenolic compound found in oolong tea that is very effective in the control of the metabolism of body fat, which reduces obesity. This is the activation of certain enzymes that enhances the functions of the body’s fat cells. Therefore, the daily consumption of this tea can lead to the reduction of obesity.
Removal Of Harmful Free Radicals
Its components are also responsible for the removal of free radicals found in the body. This is because it functions as an antioxidant to prevent certain diseases, such as atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, and stroke.
Prevents Ovarian Cancer
The anti-cancer properties of oolong tea have been proven to be effective. Drinking this on a regular basis should lower the risk of ovarian cancer development in women.
Skin Care
Experiments made by scientists have also shown remarkable results on patients with eczema. This was discovered after allowing them to drink 3 cups of oolong tea all throughout the day. Thus, they have seen impressive recovery from skin problems.
Improvement of Bone Health
Prevention of tooth decay is another antioxidant property found in oolong tea. This is because of its health properties that can strengthen the bone structure for the prevention of osteoporosis and improvement in the growth of the body. A number of studies have backed this belief based on the long-term impact of drinking oolong tea, which include bone mineral density. This is similar to the health benefits of boron.
Controls Diabetes
The treatment of type-2 diabetic disorders has also been made possible with the use of oolong tea as an herbal brew. This was in addition to the supplementary drugs taken during treatment. The effect of oolong tea was to regulate the blood sugar content and insulin in the bloodstream. Therefore, it would reduce the dangerous spikes and dips in blood sugar, which can be fatal for diabetics.
Prevention Of Cancer
Tea drinkers are known to have lower risk of getting skin cancer. This was backed by the polyphenolic compound found in oolong tea that would promote apoptosis in the case of a cancerous growth of cells in the stomach. Furthermore, the polyphenolic extract would act as a chemo-preventive instrument that would counter the development of other cancers.
Stress Management
The Osaka Institute for Health Care Science in Japan has used experimental mice to be injected with oolong tea. It was found out that the stress levels were reduced by 10-18%, which was attributed to the polyphenols found in oolong tea to be an effective stress buster. Likewise, it has L-theanine in its leaves that provide amino acid to block L-glutamic acid to the glutamate receptors of the brain.
Promotes Mental Health
Oolong tea provides improved alertness and mental performance. It has been backed by studies that regular intake of oolong tea that is rich in caffeine can help in the improvement of mental performance as well as keeping your mind alert for the whole day.
Treatment For Atopic Dermatitis
The active mechanism of oolong tea has not been determined exactly, but many people believe that the polyphenolic content found in this tea has worked wonders. One of its benefits includes the relief of chronic skin problems and irritation, such as atopic dermatitis, due to its anti-allergic compounds.
Side Effects Of Oolong Tea
Take note that oolong tea also has side effects, despite its important healing and wellness properties. This is due to the fact that it has high caffeine content, which affects many people differently. This includes the excessive intake of caffeine that would lead to anxiousness, confusion, diarrhea, headache, heartburn, and irregular heartbeat.
Too much caffeine intake could also lead to the development of anxiety disorders, diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, and irritable bowel syndrome. At the same time, it could sweep out the excess calcium that is being processed in your body. Patients with osteoporosis might have an inverse reaction, which could lead to bone degeneration. This is despite the helpful elements found in oolong tea, which only serves as a preventive method rather than treatment for bone problems.
Indication For Use
You can consume 2 bags of Feiyan oolong tea in a day provided with the right amounts. Thus, you need to soak one bag at least 5 to 10 minutes in 170ml of hot boiled water. Although you can drink this twice in a row, it is preferable for consumption in the morning and before going to bed in the evening.
It is not advisable for use with sugar and milk. Feiyan Oolong tea needs no sweeter, as that might negate some of its health benefits. It is also prohibited for pregnant women and children, as this can affect their normal metabolism required for children and the development of the child inside the womb.
The general use of oolong tea should be at least 3 grams per 200ml of water. At the same time, it should be prepared with 200-205 degrees Fahrenheit of hot water and steeped for about 2-3 minutes. High quality oolong tea can be steeped a number of times with the same leaves, which can improve every time. The best time should be during the third and fourth steeping.
Conclusion
Feiyan Oolong Tea is a popular Chinese slimming tea that can help people maintain health and wellness. Most of the products sold in the market today claim the same benefits due to its herbal ingredients and beneficial properties. However, it is best that you also consult a medical professional before taking oolong tea, especially those with certain medical conditions.
