Milk oolong: the benefits and harms of tea, the benefits for men and women

Author: Alena Dorozhkina , unique tea specialist,
professional tea-tester

One of the most popular teas & ndash; somewhat similar to green tea & ndash; & nbsp; milk oolong (oolong), supplied both in bulk and in bags, & ndash; now we will take a closer look at what properties and contraindications it has, what are its benefits and harms for men and women.

Milk oolong - what is it

This is a member of the family of medium fermented (about 50%) teas. In terms of fermentation, it is between green and red.

This is a selected large-leaved variety, and its name translates as & laquo; dark (or black) dragon & raquo;, but many amateurs call it turquoise, because this is the color that the leaves acquire during processing.

Tea is used in the ceremony & laquo; gun fu cha & raquo;, which can be translated as & laquo; the highest tea skill & raquo;.

History of milk oolong

There is a beautiful legend (Chinese & ndash; masters of composing them), according to which one night the moon fell in love with a fast comet flying past the Earth.

The comet, not reaching the surface of the planet, burned up in the atmosphere, and due to the inconsolability of the companion in love, the wind rose, it became very cold. In the morning, when they arrived at the plantation, the pickers found that the shrubs had acquired a bluish color and began to exude a slight smell of milk.

In reality, the variety was bred in Taiwan in 1982 and soon gained wild popularity in the UK, from where news of it spread around the world.

The British are anxious and enthusiastic about adding milk to drinks, so they began to demand a softer creamy taste, which led to the emergence of additives that enhance this effect.

Now there are several types of milk oolong, which are produced both by natural fermentation and using chemical impregnations.

If you are familiar with the rich smell and taste of cream in an oolong, then most likely you have tried this & ndash; specially treated with additives (e.g. whey in combination with cane sugar).

 

Features

This tea comes in the form of leaves twisted into dense granules that open slowly when brewed, increasing 2.5 times.

A properly brewed oolong & ndash; delicate, barely noticeable caramel aftertaste and pleasant characteristic smell.

If it smells strongly of milk, then most likely you have bought a variety whose taste has been further enhanced.

This option is also acceptable: at least many connoisseurs treat it with disdain, but in fact the only way to make oolong on the scale that the market requires, & ndash; impregnate it with milk-based mixtures.

Moreover, impregnated varieties are often more beloved by consumers: the aroma of a natural drink is thinner, and there is no way to make it as rich.

However, this does not prevent even the British royal family itself from loving milk oolong no less than classic green teas and telling the whole world how it tastes and how useful it is.

What kinds of

There are two main types:

• & laquo; real & raquo; & ndash; Taiwanese Jin Xuan, rare and valuable;
• Chinese Nai Xiang & ndash; is subject to additional aromatization.

The more natural production and the more delicate the aroma, the more expensive the product is, but the leaves from China cannot be called fake, although they are more affordable.

The taste and smell of Chinese Nai Xiang is noble, making it very popular with drink lovers around the world.

What's the right name

& laquo; In the original language & raquo; the name is pronounced wū l & oacute; ng (& laquo; dark dragon & raquo;) or & laquo; qing cha & raquo; (turquoise tea).

Oolong, oolong, oolong, oolong & ndash; these are all transcription variants that adapt the Asian sound to the nuances of European languages.

In English, it is called & laquo; oolong tea & raquo;, and the choice of each & ndash; Use a pronunciation close to the original or simply use transliteration.

Ethnic Chinese will offer their option anyway, but the store clerk will understand.

On the website & laquo; Russian Tea Company & raquo; there are also many species of oolong.

Unusual aroma of milk oolong

Natural & laquo; blue tea & raquo; does not have a pronounced smell, although it is noticeable, & ndash; it is very tender.

There is a myth that Chinese plantation workers irrigate shrubs with milk to achieve this effect, but this is not the case.

However, the chance that in the purchased placer (and especially & ndash; in sachets) added artificial flavoring. Sometimes there are other products on sale with similar flavors & ndash; green varieties and puers.

Chemical composition of milk oolong

The drink contains a whole complex of vitamins (B, E, PP, K) and the elements necessary for the body:

• magnesium;
• calcium;
• manganese;
• Zinc;
• fluorine and others.

With regular use, it is able to stimulate the renewal of epidermal cells (which is good for the skin), normalize the functioning of internal organs, and improve the condition of blood vessels.

Calories

100 grams of dried leaves contain 140 kcal, but it must be remembered that not even the most committed drinker consumes it daily in such quantities.

In a small spoon (let's take it as a serving size for one cup) & ndash; no more than 2 & ndash; 3 grams of granules, which means that we cannot take more than 4 kcal per intake, unless, of course, we add sugar.

Production and origin of dairy oolong & ndash; how to make tea with that name

The tea leaf is neatly assembled and then twisted & ndash; in the process, its juice undergoes fermentation, that is, the oxidation of the substances contained in it.

Fully fermented, it acquires the characteristics of black & ndash; to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to interrupt the action in time (at half) (oolong refers to semi-fermented drinks). The raw materials are processed as follows:

• only adult, fully formed shrubs are used, with no young shoots;
• drying outdoors under the sun for an hour is needed so that the leaves & laquo; freeze & raquo;;
• fermentation & ndash; the product is crushed in special drums, where it actively releases oxidizing juice, after which the process is stopped by heating.

The leaves thus treated are formed & ndash; take the form of dense granules, roast: quickly at high temperature and slowly at low, sorted by size and packed in packs for transportation and sale.

If additional aromatization is required, the finished product is processed.

Benefit

What are the benefits of milk oolong for men and women?

This is a real storehouse of substances that the body needs, if you drink it even a little, but regularly, it can improve well-being and appearance.

Of course, this applies only to quality oolong containing a minimum of chemical additives and sugar.

1. For the nervous system: thein, theobromine and theophylline stimulate its work, improve cerebral circulation by expanding blood vessels, increase mood and help cope with stressful situations. If you need to keep yourself awake for a while (for example, when working hard) & ndash; a drink consumed during the day will help.
2. For the gastrointestinal tract: Oolong also contains theotanin, which has a mild bactericidal effect and helps to absorb harmful substances in the gastrointestinal tract, which is why it is useful to drink it (and not just water) for poor health, heaviness in the stomach, overeating.
3. For the cardiovascular system: tannin is able to normalize blood pressure, and catechins & ndash; reduce the friability of the capillary mesh. High vitamin content has a positive effect on vascular health.

In addition, oolong also stimulates cellular renewal, restores collagen levels in the skin (which has a positive effect on appearance, preventing the occurrence of age-related wrinkles), stimulates immunity, and works as an antioxidant.

But it is worth considering that only a doctor can help in the treatment of diseases, as well as the restoration of metabolic processes.

Harm from use

Alas, green milk oolong, like any tea, not only has beneficial properties, but can also be harmful. When choosing a drink, it is recommended to focus not on the cheapest and most natural components.

If inexpensive leaves are used for production (from the lower branches of the shrub), then they may contain an excessive amount of fluoride, harmful to the body.

The recommendation here is the same & ndash; give preference to expensive and high-quality varieties, for the production of which 1/2/3 of a tea bush is used.

Selection rules

& laquo; Correct & raquo; oolong & ndash; is a set of & laquo; balls & raquo; & ndash; dense granules similar to buds that open during brewing.

If you do not see them in front of you, but fine dust or individual pieces, it is better to refuse the purchase.

Such tea was improperly processed or transported and does not have the proper taste and characteristic smell.

Someone loves more or less fermented drinks (the degree is different even in related types), and it is worth asking the seller. The later fermentation was stopped, the richer and deeper the taste and heavier the aroma.

How to lose weight

Tea & laquo; milk oolong & raquo; has both beneficial and harmful properties for women. Benefits include the fact that it can help lose weight and reduce BMI (body mass index), as it improves metabolic processes in the body and accelerates metabolism.

However, it is a mistake to think that eating oolong alone will help get rid of extra pounds.

Application will have a result if it is combined with a competent balanced diet, lack of bad habits, regular physical activity, as well as compliance with the recommendations of a nutritionist.

How to properly brew and drink green milk oolong

Any utensil is suitable for creating a drink (earthenware, glass, ceramics), but the best effect will be achieved if you purchase & nbsp; clay teapot .

Such tea will be the most fragrant and tender, all its taste qualities will be revealed as much as possible. Before filling the brew, you need to rinse the dishes with boiling water.

The infusion temperature depends on the level of fermentation. Weakly fermented leaves require 65-70 & deg; C. Highly fermented leaves more & ndash; 90-92 & deg; C. Since oolong is medium fermented, about 80 & deg; C is optimal for it.

If the temperature is disturbed, the result will not meet expectations, and useful substances tend to break down from too hot water.

The average brewing time is 1 & ndash; 3 minutes, with the first brew pouring out. It is not suitable for tea drinking. The best is considered 3 & ndash; 4 iteration, but in total you can brew the same mixture up to 10 times. Moreover, the duration of the process with each subsequent brewing should increase by 180 seconds.

 

Storage nuances & ndash; how to

Tea should be stored in a closed container to avoid contact with air, moisture, foreign flavors and other products.

Utensils made of materials not subject to diffusion are suitable:

• porcelain;
• ceramics;
• clays (ideal);
• glass.

It is not recommended to keep oolong in metal or tin cans & ndash; they can give it an unpleasant odor. However, a great option & ndash; Pack it into foil serving bags and brew them one at a time.

It is important to prevent sunlight and a strong increase in room temperature & ndash; they provoke fermentation, and the mixture changes its qualities, becoming no longer what you bought. Flavored and regular scattering should be kept separate so that they cannot come into contact.

The shelf life in good conditions is about 6 months, but if the leaves are stored incorrectly, it can be significantly reduced.

How and when to drink properly

Tea ceremony masters recommend drinking a cup after eating & ndash; so useful properties of the composition of Chinese tea & laquo; milk oolong & raquo; most will be revealed, and the action and effect of the oolong will be more noticeable (in particular, it helps to digest food). It is not recommended to snack on it with sweet food or sweets.

Can I drink at night

This is acceptable if you do not feel any negative effects.

But, since the drink can tone the body and bring the nervous system into a state of excitement, taking it in the evening can negatively affect the quality of sleep. It is better to choose morning, afternoon or afternoon.

Contraindications for use

Tea & ndash; product with few side effects. Nevertheless, you should be careful to use it:

• people suffering from high blood pressure (it can increase it, and hypotonics, on the contrary, will be useful);
• pregnant and lactating women;
• in large quantities & ndash; people suffering from kidney problems (it has a diuretic effect);
• in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the exacerbation phase (if you are in remission, it, on the contrary, will improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract).

With caution, after consulting with the attending therapist, you need to use oolung people taking some drugs (this is due to the fact that their concentration in the blood may decrease or increase, changing the therapeutic effect):

• oral contraceptives (probably, the doctor will advise to spread the time of taking medications and a drink);
• morphine, codeine, antipsychotics.

There are not so many contraindications, however, we must remind you that before using almost any new product, you should see a doctor and consult, especially if you have chronic or acute diseases.

Most likely, the doctor will find no reason for you to give up pleasure and you can enjoy a noble drink daily.

Let's summarize

For both women and men, milk oolong, like any other tea, has both beneficial and harmful properties (but there are much more of the former).

& laquo; RChK & raquo; offers quality fees from the best manufacturers, which are perfect for both a regular lunch and a special occasion and will give you the most positive experience from the tea ceremony.