Saturday, February 28, 2009

What You've Wanted to Know - Wu-Yi Tea

By Jackson Stewart

Words like free "radicals," "toxins" and "antioxidants" fill news reports as fears advance due to dire statistics showing a steady climb in the number of cases of cancer and other dangerous diseases and conditions, including obesity. Wu-yi tea, a particular kind of oolong tea that's grown in the mountains of China, is the latest addition to the list of hopeful alternatives to attract attention as a healthy way of losing weight and naturally protecting yourself from a host of ailments.

Wu-Yi Tea and Its Natural Health Benefits

The Fujian Province in the northwest of China is where wu-yi tea is harvested., and like all types of oolong tea, derives from the camellia sinensis plant, however, what's said to give the boost in antioxidants and polyphenols is the distinct process used to dry and ferment the tea leaves.

Thanks to research conducted by some of the world's most brilliant scientists from Japan, China, the U.S., and Europe, we now know of the many natural components present within authentic wu-yi tea and how they each have a beneficial affect on the body. A substance naturally found within the tea that stimulates a process known as lipolysis is polyphenol, which in layman's terms, means the break down of fat.

How Wu-Yi Tea is Grown and Harvested

complex and time consuming is what the growing and harvesting process is to produce authentic wu-yi tea, causing this tea to be more costly than others. Any producers that pass over any of these critical steps aren't producing wu-yi tea the way it was intended and aren't really making real wu-yi tea.

Step One: Following in the footsteps of tradition, wu-yi tea leaves are picked in the early morning sun and then immediately set out to dry and age for a particular amount of time, based upon the actual month of the year and positioning of the sun.

Step Two: The tea leaves are dried and cautiously shaken into braided baskets crafted from bamboo, which is said to "tenderize" the edges of the leaf, and then set out on woven drying mats for curing.

Step Three: For the fermenting process, the leaves are brought indoors after two to three days of curing, which is critical for guaranteeing the most delicious tea that will also be packed full of powerful antioxidants and fat-burning properties.

Step Four: Next, leaves are hand-rubbed, which causes the releases of the diverse advantageous chemicals and enzymes and also enhances the tea's flavor. Screening and detailed checking for quality are done before the process is complete.

Step Five: You, the consumer, drink the tea at least twice a day, without using any artificial sweeteners or additives, which will only negate the positive benefits of the tea.

There are actually many different varieties of wu-yi tea, including wu-yi jin mei, a member of the oolong or wu long category, but with so many to choose from, how is it possible to make up one's mind which is best for your needs and your tastes? While taste is simply a matter of individual taste, using authentic wu-yi tea is what genuinely matters most. The level of polyphenols and antioxidants are significantly higher in wu-yi tea, making it the perfect addition to any intelligent weight loss plan or health care regimen. - 16083

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