Hong Guan Yin 红观音

This cultivar (the equivalent of a grape variety for wine) of oolong tea has been processed like a Chinese "Hong Xin Tie Guan Yin" red tea. The delicate harvest allows the selection of the sole three first ripe leaves. The oxidization is stronger than on a classic oolong tea and the drying process is three times longer. This brings a cocoa honeyed flavour, notes of dried citrus fruits, a smooth, sweet, lingering taste. To prepare in gong fu cha, for many successive brews. A tea to discover!

Tea and health

Red teas (often called "black teas" in Western countries) don't have the positive reputation of green, white or oolong teas in terms of health benefits, but they nevertheless have interesting properties. They contain powerful carbohydrates (polysaccharides) which slow blood sugar absorption and can help in cases of diabetes or in a weight loss diet. The antioxidants present in red teas may also play a positive role in weight loss, along the other benefits they offer, such as helping decreasing the risks of cardiovascular diseases. They relax the muscles of bronchioles, thus helping regulate and enhance breathing.  Drinking red tea is also said to help bring cortisol (the "stress" hormone) levels back to normal more quickly and might even help recover sooner after a workout. Red teas have a reputation of containing an important amount of caffeine, but they still have less caffeine than coffee. So, drinking red teas offers caffeine's benefits - alertness, concentration... - but without its more negative effects.