Alright, let’s talk about this bao zhong oolong tea, or whatever they call it. I ain’t no fancy tea expert, mind you, just tellin’ it like it is.

What is this bao zhong stuff anyway?

Well, from what I gather, it’s kinda like a mix between green tea and that other tea, the oolong. Not too strong, not too weak, just somewhere in the middle. They say it’s twisted up like a rope, green color, with little white spots. Kinda like when you twist the dishrag, but greener, hah! And they don’t roast it much, so it ain’t got that burnt taste, ya know? More like flowers, they say. I ain’t smelled too many flowers, but it does smell kinda nice.

• Twisted shape, like a rope
• Green color with white spots
• Not roasted much, flowery smell

Where does it come from?

Heard it comes from a place called Taiwan. Way back when, some farmers there went and got some tea trees and learnin’ from another place called Fujian. They named it bao zhong, which means somethin’ like “wrapped up.” Guess they used to wrap the tea up all nice and pretty. Folks these days just throw it in bags, ain’t got no time for wrappin’, I reckon.

Is this tea good for ya?

Now, I ain’t no doctor, but folks say it’s got them anti-somethin’s, like them greens and other teas. Keeps ya healthy, they say. Fights off the bad stuff in your body, like when you eat too much fried food. And it’s got that caff-feen stuff too, but not too much. Keeps ya awake, but not jumpy like them strong coffees the city folks drink. A cup of this tea, they say it’s got about as much caff-feen as a cup of that green tea, maybe a little less than that oolong stuff. It’s supposed to help with swelling up and fighting off germs too, which is good, I guess. Don’t want no germs gettin’ ya down.

How do you make it?

Well, I just boil some water, just like for any other tea. Then I toss some of them twisty leaves in the pot and let it sit for a bit. Don’t make it too strong now, or it’ll taste bitter. Just enough to get that nice flowery taste. Some folks like to fuss with it, using fancy teapots and timers, but I say ain’t nobody got time for that. Just boil, steep, and drink, that’s what I say.

My take on it:

It’s alright, this bao zhong tea. Not too strong, not too weak. Got a nice smell and taste to it, kinda like flowers, I guess. And if it keeps me healthy, well, that’s a good thing too. I ain’t complainin’. It’s a good tea for sittin’ on the porch and watchin’ the world go by. Better than that muddy water they call coffee, that’s for sure. And it don’t give you the jitters like that strong stuff. So, if you’re lookin’ for a new tea to try, give this bao zhong oolong a shot. You might like it, you might not. But hey, at least you tried somethin’ new, right? And that’s gotta be worth somethin’. It ain’t the fanciest thing around, but it does the job. And that’s all that matters, I reckon. Keeps you goin’ and tastes alright doin’ it.

So, there you have it. That’s my take on this bao zhong oolong tea. Hope it makes some sense to ya. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go put the kettle on. All this talk about tea is makin’ me thirsty.

Tags: [bao zhong oolong, taiwan tea, health benefits, caffeine, tea leaves, steeped tea, floral tea, antioxidants, lightly oxidized tea]