Ten Wu Fine Oolong tea, grown in the Wusheh Mountains in Taiwan, contains two weight-loss properties: caffeine and antioxidants. The difference between Ten Wu and other oolong teas may be mostly one of taste preference. Ten Wu tea, golden when brewed, boasts a smooth, rich taste with a refreshing aftertaste.
Properties of Ten Wu Tea
Ten Wu tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant, the same plant from which black, green and white teas are derived. The difference between Ten Wu and other oolong teas is the elevation -- 4,000 ft -- and soil conditions under which it is grown. It shares weight loss properties with other oolong teas. It contains more antioxidants and less caffeine than black tea. It compares favorably to green tea for its ability to boost metabolism, although its fat-burning characteristics differ.
Catechins in Ten Wu Oolong Tea
Ten Wu tea contains catechins, also found in other teas and in some foods and beverages, including blueberries, blackberries, chocolate and red wine. Oolong tea is a zero-calorie method to obtain the health benefits of catechins, including reductions in belly fat. Participants in a United States study led by private researcher Kevin Maki significantly reduced their waistlines and lost a total of 5.4 lbs. in 12 weeks when consuming 680 mg of catechins.
Amount Needed for Weight Loss
You would need to drink at least 6 cups of Ten Wu tea daily to consume enough catechins to enjoy appreciable weight loss results. A cup of oolong tea contains about 50 mg of catechins, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. A review of 15 weight loss studies by Craig Coleman, associate professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut, found that people who consumed 300 mg of catechins daily lost weight. Oolong tea contains fewer catechins than green tea but more than black tea. To consume the number of catechins consumed by participants in Maki's study, for instance, you would need to drink 5 cups of green tea, 13 cups of Ten Wu tea and 24 cups of black tea.
Polyphenols in Ten Wu Tea
Although oolong tea contains fewer catechins than green tea, the polyphenols in Ten Wu tea make it more effective than green tea in fighting fat, according to Guo Xirong, an award-winning obesity researcher. Your body contains fat-dissolving enzymes called lipase. The polyphenols in oolong tea are especially prone to activating lipase, accelerating weight loss. It is the type and not the amount of polyphenols in oolong tea that kicks your body's fat-burning powers into high gears, says Xirong.
Additional Benefits
Drinking Ten Wu tea may also help you lose fat in your arms. In a study conducted by Masatoshi and others at Aichi Medical University in Japan, eight out of 12 participants lost fat in their upper arms. The results were achieved by drinking one liter or more of oolong tea for a month. Some participants in the study, presented in October 2001 at the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, also reduced their cholesterol levels by 25 percent and lost significant amount of fat in their waists.
References
- Ten Ren: Ten Wu Fine Oolong
- "The Washington Post;" Give Green Tea a Try, but Get a Handle on the Perfect Brew for You; Robert L. Wolke; April 25 2007
- USDA: Brewing Up the Latest Tea Research
- "The Daily Yomiuri;" Oolong Tea Proven to Have Fat-Fighting Power; Kinji Ito Yomiuri; Sept. 15 2001
- "Journal of Nutrition;" Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults; Kevin Maki etal; February 2009
- Relax Sip and Enjoy: Catechins
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