Over the last few years green tea has become very popular and

is available in most stores and cafés. It is also used in all

kinds of products such as shampoo, face cream, candles and many

other daily items. Oolong tea is produced from the same plant,

which is called Camellia Sinensis. The difference is that

Oolong is a semi-fermented brew whereas green tea is

unfermented.

The fermentation process is carried out by a skilled worker who

can ferment the tea to many different levels to create different

varieties. The leaves are stimulated until the oxidization

process reaches the desired level and then cooked to finish the

process.

The leaves are further processed after the fermentation to

enhance the smell, texture and the flavor. This is done by

rolling and rubbing the tea. It it possible to achieve many

different levels of tea, and when the processing is over a

knowledgeable master of Oolong will check the leaves and give

them a grade.

The history of Oolong tells us that it was first produced in

Fujian province in China. Some of the finest tea still comes

from this area although it is now also produced in many other

places including Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand.

One of the reasons that green tea has become so popular is that

there are believed to many health benefits which can be obtained

by regular drinking. These benefits are also reported to exist

in Oolong and are retained even after the tea is processed.

Some of the common benefits claimed are the stimulation of the

metabolism and the ability to enhance the digestion.

If you are interested in trying some Oolong then it is

recommended to find a quality supplier. There are many sellers

on the Internet who can supply good tea and many who can supply

not so good tea. The stuff in the local Chinese store tends to

be of very low quality and not worth buying. Look for a

specialist tea merchant and try a few different ones to find

the best quality.

Some of the more popular varieties include Gao Shan, Tie Guan

Yin, Vietnamese Golden Buds and Formosa Oolong which comes from

Taiwan. Don't be afraid to get stuck in and try a few varieties.

I can tell you that a good Oolong is really a great tea so if

you are not impressed with what you buy then shop around for

another merchant because the good stuff is out there.