Oolong Vs. Green Tea: What You Need to Know

The variety of tea types that are available can be somewhat overwhelming. All teas are produced from the leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant, but processing and fermentation methods create separate types of tea with distinct flavors. Different teas offer different health benefits and different tastes, so you can easily find a tea that suits your individual needs. Green-tea and oolong-tea are two of my favorite types of tea. They both have a pleasant and mild taste, and they have a variety of healthy advantages.

Tea Processing

The main difference between different types of teas is that they are processed in divergent manners. The oxidization process is halted at a very early stage in order to make green-tea. Chinese green-teas may be pan-fried and Japanese green-teas may be steamed; this processing step develops flavor and caffeine. Green-teas have a mild, grassy, earthy flavor. Some green-teas are made out of whole, dried leaves, while other types can be green powdered tea, which is whisked into water to make a frothy drink. Oolong-teas are partially fermented, but the fermentation is stopped before it turns into black tea. Oolong-teas taste flowery, buttery, or smoky. Green-tea can look very different, depending on the processing. Oolong-tea is never broken or powdered like green-tea. Instead, oolong-tea leaves are often hand rolled into tiny twists.

Preparation

Many modern grocery stores have an incredible selection of organic teas. My local Whole Foods is one of my favorite places to shop for tea, but you can also find specialty teas in online stores. Once you find a tea supplier, there are many different ways to prepare a tasty drink with oolong-teas and green-teas. To make the perfect green-tea, you should steep your tea leaves for about three minutes in water that is around 180 degrees. Making matcha is a little trickier than just dunking a tea bag into water, but it is definitely worth it. Matcha is made by whisking a small amount of green powdered tea with hot water to create a thick, frothy tea. The ideal water temperature for oolong-tea is around 206 degrees, and you can steep it for three to five minutes. I like that both green and oolong-tea can be served as an iced or hot beverage.

Caffeine Levels

I often like to drink tea instead of coffee because it has less caffeine. Both tea types have enough caffeine to make me feel just a little bit more alert without making me feel jittery. The typical 8 ounce cup of coffee can have up to 200 milligrams of caffeine. In contrast, the same amount of green or oolong-tea has roughly 70 milligrams of caffeine. If you are the type of person who likes to continually sip warm beverages, tea is often a better choice since multiple cups of coffee each day lead to stomach problems. Tea allows you to get just the right amount of caffeine.

Antioxidants

According to a recent study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, many types of tea contain significant levels of polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that protect the body from oxidants that can harm it. Polyphenols have been shown to decrease risks for heart disease, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. Catechins are another type of powerful antioxidants that are found in all teas. Catechins protect the brain, so they help to prevent strokes and reduce Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s symptoms. While antioxidants are higher in green-tea, there is still a decent amount of antioxidants in oolong-tea. The big difference between the two is just because the oxidization process removes antioxidants. You can get all of the same benefits whether you steep whole leaves in hot water or make matcha, a finely powdered green that is blended into water.

Weight Loss

Tea can be a valuable tool if you are interested in losing a couple of pounds. I find that drinking tea helps me to cut back on calorie intake, since it has far less calories than the typical Starbucks frappuccino, even if you add a lot of milk and sugar to your drink. Both types of tea also boosts metabolism, which subtly increases the amount of calories you can eat in a day. A Japanese study has found that oolong-tea specifically helps with weight loss, and it is twice as effective as green-tea. This may be because oolong-tea has more caffeine in it, and caffeine tends to increase a person’s energy expenditure. The catechins found in all types of tea can also be helpful with weight loss, because they aid your body in processing fat.

Do you prefer oolong or green tea? Let us know in the comment section.