China: the origin of tea

Legend

According to a Chinese legend emperor Shen Nung accidently invented tea in 2737 B.C. For hygienic reasons he always commanded his subjects to cook his water before he would drink it. When he was travelling through his kingdom with his workers, they stopped in a remote part of the kingdom. Emperor Shen Nung commanded his subjects to cook his water in a pan.
What he did not know was that the tea plant was really close to the pan with water. A few leaves fell into the pot. Those leaves began to discolour and give of flavour. Curious as he was, he took a sip. He really liked the taste of it and decided to name this new drink tea. He declared that this drink gave the body extra energy and entered the drink as a medicine.

The origin

China is considered the founder of tea. You will find the beginning of a century’s old history of tea here. The south province Yunnan is the birth ratio of tea and is famous of its post-fermented tea, Pu Erh. The other tea mainly comes from the south west provinces of China. Other famous tea provinces are Sichuan, Anhui, Hunan, Yunnan, Fujian and Zhejiang.

Oolong tea

Oolong tea comes from the province Fujian in China. The tea was used in ceremonial imperial affairs over a 1000 years ago. The word oolong is derived from the Chinese word Wulong, which means in Chinese black dragon. The reason oolong tea got his name, is because its leaves are long and curly.
It is a half-fermented tea. This sort of tea is between green tea en black tea. Depending on the oxidation process, oolong can taste more like green tea or more like black tea. The light oolong tea features fresh citrus. The full flavour of apricots or peaches can be found in the fuller oolong tea. This flavour tends to black tea.

Positive effects

Oolong tea is known for its positive effects on the weight. It has been proven that your body fat decreases when your drink oolong tea. Oolong tea also helps to maintain your weight. The vegetal polyphenols in oolong tea stimulates our body to control the fat metabolism. In this way oolong tea helps you to lose weight.
Just like losing weight, the polyphenols have also a beneficial effect on your skin. For skin problems like eczema oolong tea provides relief from irritation.
It is also good to drink oolong for your heart and blood vessels. This is because the tea is rich in calcium, magnesium and kalium. These minerals help to regulate the heartbeat and descaling your blood.

The oolong tea is growing in China and Taiwan. It is originally a Chinese product, but since the 18^th century they also started to produce it in Taiwan. The favourable environment and the soil on which the tea plant grows in this region, ensure that the best oolong teas come from here. In the tea world, the tea from Taiwan is called Formosa. Formosa is the old name of Taiwan. Nowadays the best oolong teas are being made in this country.
For all the teas, there will be looked at the youngest tealeaves to use for the tea. The oolong tea processing process uses a slightly older leaf that is already fully grown.
Are you curious about the taste and the positive effects? “Formosa Tong Ting Oolong” is a fresh and floral tea you must have tasted!

Tea Cultures

Tea Cultures also has different sort of teas from China. These teas are from many different provinces where tea is being produced. “China Yellow Sun” and “Royal China Keeman Congue” are from Anhui. The flavours “China Finest Jasmine” and “Chine Smokey Lapsang Souching” are from Fujian. From Hunnan we have “White White Wings” and “China White Monkey”. And last but not least “China Golden Yunnan” from the province, your guessed it already, Yunnan.