8 Amazing Oolong Tea Benefits

You’ve heard about the remarkable nutritional value of Green Tea, Black Tea - but what about Oolong Tea benefits? This is an infusion that has been pushed out of the limelight for too long. It has much to offer in terms of its ability to improve life in small yet significant ways. However, despite its unmistakable allure, it accounts for a mere 2% of total Tea consumption in the world. 

We’ve always loved it here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, as indeed have many of our customers. Whether you’re a first-time brewer or an avid fan, you’ll be pleased to know that our family-run business has an expansive selection of Oolong Tea varieties. You’ll be able to buy them and try them for yourself once you’ve discovered more about the health benefits of Oolong Tea. 

Oolong Tea Nutrition Facts

Those familiar with Oolong Teas recognise it as combining the fresh and alluring fragrance of its Green Tea counterpart with the full-bodied characteristics of its Black Tea counterpart. It is no coincidence.

Oolong Tea is, in many respects, the middle ground between both due to its oxidation sitting between them. The result is an abundance of the following vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants: 

Oolong Tea Properties

Caffeine	Epigallocatechin Gallate	Fluoride
Kaempferol	L-Theanine	Magnesium
Manganese	Myricetin	Niacin
Polyphenols	Potassium	Quercetin
Sodium	Theaflavins	Thearubigins

The nutrients mentioned above have a considerable role in combating free radicals in the body. Doing so slows oxidative stress and, in turn, reduces the risk of developing a multitude of chronic conditions.

Among the ailments that it can help you prevent - albeit only to a minimal degree - are cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, dementia and even, potentially, certain types of cancer. 

Oolong Tea Benefits

The well-documented benefits of drinking Oolong Tea sometimes depend on the specific type you choose. To be classified as an Oolong, oxidation levels must be between 8% and 80%.

An infusion that has been oxidised to the lower end of the scale might produce traits similar to the Benefits of Green Tea. One that has been oxidised to the higher end could be reminiscent of Black Tea benefits. 

Comprehensive research from the latest scientific studies has highlighted the Tea’s ability to support your health and wellbeing. We’ll be showcasing much of it in a moment to back the claims long made by its frequent consumers.

Please keep reading to realise how it promotes weight loss, enhances the skin’s vitality, reduces blood pressure, alleviates anxiety, improves digestion and more.

Oolong Tea Weight Loss

Does Oolong Tea help you lose weight? More specifically, does Oolong Tea burn fat? It might, according to a 2001 study published in the Journal of Nutrition. The admittedly somewhat dated evidence points to it boosting the metabolism of fat cells.

This then enables the body to burn fat quicker and more efficiently, even during rest periods. And that could just be the beginning of what it can achieve. 

According to a 2018 animal-based study published in the Journal of Molecules, it likewise increases fat oxidation. In other words, it assisted in decreasing body fat in a direct manner.

Then there are the negligible two calories in Oolong Tea, making it a viable alternative to unhealthier beverages. The one caveat is that it won’t do all of the hard work for you. Continue to exercise and eat well for true change. 

Is Oolong Tea Good for Your Skin?

Oolong Tea benefits for skin health are far-reaching. Perhaps most interestingly, correlations have been established between using Oolong Tea and eczema symptom reduction. According to an old 2001 study, 118 participants consumed the Tea daily for a month.

The conclusion was a moderate improvement in the individuals’ conditions, 54% of whom recorded similar circumstances five months later. 

Then there is the topical application of Oolong Tea for acne. You already know that the presence of antioxidants neutralises free radicals, slows oxidative stress, and treats certain ailments.

One such ailment is acne, alongside other skin complaints. Its potent anti-inflammatory properties, too, play an important part in decreasing inflammatory signs of acne, including whitehead breakouts.

Can Oolong Tea Help You Sleep?

Does Oolong Tea help you sleep? It’s a little complicated. The primary issue is that it contains caffeine, a stimulating chemical compound famous for providing an energy boost when ingested.

By that rationale, brewing a cup of caffeinated Oolong Tea before bed will make you alert at a time when you’re looking to relax. But there is another chemical compound within it worth acknowledging: L-theanine. 

L-theanine is an amino acid that has a positive influence on the body’s neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters, meanwhile, are the brain’s messengers involved in sleep, stress, mood, memory and focus.

In one study of 30 volunteers, adults received L-theanine or a placebo daily over four weeks. The L-theanine group took less time to fall asleep and had fewer disturbances than the placebo group.

Does Oolong Tea Lower Blood Pressure?

Maintaining a healthy heart is one of the most vital factors in ensuring a long and vibrant life. Near the top of the list of cardiovascular priorities is keeping an eye on your blood pressure.

You can do just that by checking your systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. In short, the former is the pressure your heart requires to pump blood out. The latter is the pressure between heartbeats.

How can Oolong Tea for high blood pressure help? The answers come from a large 2004 Chinese study. It saw 1,507 subjects - 711 men and 796 women - drink 120-ml (approx. half a cup) of the Tea over a year.

The results showed a 46% lower chance of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) than the non-Tea drinkers. Those who had up to two and a half cups daily reduced the risk by 65%. 

Oolong Tea for Anxiety and Brain Function

That’s the research into Oolong Tea and blood pressure covered. We move on now to Oolong Teas for anxiety and brain function. Anxiety is a general uneasiness that can manifest itself as worry, fear or nervousness.

It is a feeling that almost everyone will face at some point or another during their life. It turns out that the infusion’s wealth in L-theanine can assist in alleviating mild anxiety. 

In a 2014 meta-analysis, it was reported that a combination of caffeine and L-theanine boosted alertness and attention within the first one to two hours after consumption.

Additionally, according to a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the amino acid lowers the risk of cognitive impairment and cognitive decline. Therefore, it helps prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Oolong Tea for Digestion

Oolong has a curious nickname: Chinese Restaurant Tea. This refers to the fact that it is a popular choice in restaurants across China and beyond. But why is it so sought after? Of course, its divine taste has something to do with it.

However, its impressive capacity to ease the gastrointestinal tract and prevent digestive complaints is another contribution it offers before, during or after a meal. 

Is Oolong Tea good for digestion in reality, or is it a myth? While few scientific studies have been conducted, the belief is that it alkalises the digestive tract to alleviate acid reflux and ulcer problems.

Furthermore, its anti-inflammatory properties could reduce digestive inflammation, and its antiseptic properties could clear harmful bacteria in the stomach. The word is “could” until evidence surfaces. 

Is Oolong Tea Good for Diabetes?

Type-2 diabetes is a condition where a person has too much sugar (glucose) in their blood. When left unchecked, it can lead to several other health complications, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and sight loss.

It is paramount that you seek medical treatment if you have type-2 diabetes. Drinking Oolong Tea for diabetes could nevertheless serve as an accompaniment. 

According to a 2003 study, the Tea can lower plasma glucose in patients living with type-2 diabetes. More recently, in a 2021 study of all types of Tea, its regular consumption improved blood sugar management.

The specific reason remains unknown, although it is likely related to its antioxidants. The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company does not endorse it for such a purpose until we know more. 

Oolong Tea and Cholesterol

The fatty substance called cholesterol in your bloodstream can reach unhealthy levels when you overeat fatty food, exercise little, and smoke or drink excessively. It can block your blood vessels, causing heart issues or strokes.

Since it has no symptoms, the only way to discover your cholesterol levels is a blood test. Lifestyle changes might be in order if you have high “bad” LDL cholesterol in your system. 

In 2013, Chinese scientists studied the correlations between Oolong Tea and cholesterol, the findings of which were published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Researchers recognised that those who drank the most Oolong Tea had lower risks of high total cholesterol in their blood.

Another study with Japanese participants concluded that the beverage lowered the chances of heart disease caused by cholesterol. 

Oolong Tea Side Effects

A quick recap: oolong tea leaves the mind, body and soul in a plethora of ways. It can, among other abilities, improve skin health, digestion, anxiety, insomnia, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.

Unfortunately, there is likewise a possibility of experiencing Oolong Tea side effects in rare instances. These occur predominantly because of the caffeine in Tea and Coffee. 

Though caffeine might enable you to get out of bed in the morning, too much of it can cause jitteriness, sleeplessness, headaches, irregular heartbeat and blood pressure spikes. As a result, it is essential that you monitor your caffeine intake.

Anyone suffering from the aforementioned side effects should avoid drinking Oolong Tea and speak to a doctor, nurse or another medical professional. 

Can I Drink Oolong Tea While Pregnant?

The vast majority of midwives and similarly qualified experts recommend that pregnant women have no more than 200-mg of caffeine daily. Overconsumption has been linked to dangerous rises in blood pressure and heart rate in expecting mothers.

It also increases the frequency of urination, perhaps leading to dehydration, and heightens the risk of fetal growth restriction, low birth-weight and miscarriage. 

The 200-mg caffeine marker, which amounts to about 2-5 cups of Oolong daily, has been deemed a safe amount by the medical community. Alternatively, you could consider a Decaf Tea or caffeine-free Herbal Tea (depending on the type as some could cause pregnancy-related complications).

The same standards appear to apply to consuming Oolong Tea while breastfeeding. 

Oolong Benefits Summary

There you have it: benefits of oolong tea and side effects in one place for you to weigh up and decide whether to put the kettle on. Better still is that you can Buy Oolong Tea online or in-store here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company.

Since our founding in 1982 - over 40 years ago - we’ve packed our products by hand and fresh to order, thereby ensuring the utmost quality and consistency.