Ingredients: Premium oolong tea from Fujian province, China

Cup Characteristics: Fragrant with a fruity flavour and a pleasant aroma

Options: Not suggest adding anything extra to this precious oolong tea

Benefits: Health benefits of oolong tea include the reduction of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, inflammatory disorders, and high cholesterol levels, while providing vital antioxidants, promoting superior bone structure, weight loss, robust skin and good dental health. Recent study at the Osaka Institute for Health Care Science, Japan, indicates Oolong tea is effective in reduce stress level and improve mental performance and health.

Fun to know: Oolong tea is semi fermented which is one of the reasons it has such a unique character. The semi fermentation gives the tea a little bit more body than a green tea but less body than a black tea ... and interestingly it gives the flavour a very unique twist. You will see (particularly in the infused leaf) that the edges of the leaves are slightly bruised (brownish). The reason for this is that the leaves are lightly bruised to start the oxidation process. Because they are more full bodied than green teas, oolong teas must not be picked too early or at too tender a stage. They must be produced immediately. Unlike leaves for green tea, those destined to be oolong are wilted in the direct sun and then shaken in tubular bamboo baskets to bruise the leaf edges. The bruising is what makes the edges oxidize faster than the center. After 15-25 minutes (depending upon ambient temperature and humidity levels) the tea is fired, locking in the special flavour profile.

There are several grades of Tie Kwan Yin. This particular type is the premium grade – slightly below the superior grade but has many of the characteristics of top Tie Kwan Yin Oolongs. This particular grade is sweet with a fragrant finish and has no bitter notes.