Chinese Slimming Tea

The Wonderful World Of Chinese Teas. Unravelling The Truth.

Known as the birthplace of tea, for hundreds of years China produced the only teas known to the western world. According to the UK Tea Council, China has 1,431,300 hectares planted with tea. Although most of the production is for China’s national consumption, China accounts for over 18% of world exports and this figure is rising. This demand is pulled by an increased popularity of typical Chinese teas, such as green tea, oolong tea or white tea in Europe and North America, as well as some well known celebrity endorsements such as Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) and her love for puehr tea.

Why are Chinese teas becoming so popular? The wide variety of teas each with their own distinct taste ranging from cheap every day tea to the highest quality of teas certainly helps. Quality and type of teas is determined by a wide range of factors from harvesting time and the area the tea was grown to particular processing and selecting techniques. There are many ways to classify Chinese teas, but I prefer the following based on the level of oxidation (also wrongly called fermentation). Each category can be further split up in subcategories and different qualities.

Green Tea (incl. White Tea, Long Jing, Mao Feng, Bi Luo Chun)
Oolong Tea (incl. Tie Guan Xi)
Black Tea
Puehr Tea
Scented Teas (incl. Jasmine Tea, Jasmine Pearls, Blooming Tea)

But, the health benefits associated with Chinese teas are definitely a key driver in a society that focuses more and more on a healthy lifestyle. In fact, during a recent survey conducted by the Canadian Tea Council, over 40% of Canadians agreed that they drank tea for its "health benefits" and others stated that it "tasted great, had no calories or fat and can help you take better care of yourself." Many companies are using and enhancing this image of Chinese teas as miracle slimming products or as cholesterol lowering wonder concoctions. Although scientific research is still not 100% pointing in the same directions, it looks like the low level of caffeine and the high level of anti-oxidants, catechins in particular, can play a positive role supplementing a balanced diet.

The main problem with this health surge is the pressure on the ancient harvesting and processing techniques that make Chinese teas so unique to cope with demand. Some farmers respond with automated processing techniques and therefore loosing partly the old knowledge in making good tea. Most worrying is however the vast number of mainly Western companies selling lower quality tea at prices reflecting the top teas. Quite often I have encountered ordinary black tea sold as puehr tea associating the slimming benefits of puehr tea to a regular cup of tea! Or other use the Dragon Well Green tea label, one of the most renowned green teas, to sell mass produced green tea from a different province.

Knowledge is the key to buy in Chinese teas. For less experienced buyers, look for trusted suppliers and shops. Little tips when you purchase some Chinese teas:

For green tea: look at the colour and shape of the leave. For Long Jin (Dragonwell), a yellowish shine on the leafs means that they are probably not very fresh. Green tea has a shelf life (if stored in correct conditions, dry and cool) up to 18 months. Also make sure you ask for harvesting date and establish where the tea is coming from.
For puehr tea: some of the puehr teas get better as they get older and this will be very important in determining the price, together with the grade of the puehr tea.

For more information on Chinese teas, from green tea to puehr tea, go to www.lulin-teas.com

By: Dark

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