I am writing my first post for T Ching about GABA tea partly because I am full of the subject, which makes for easy writing. I’ve been researching it a lot lately and writing articles on my website about it, as well as getting lots of inquiries about it. But the main reason I chose to write about GABA tea is because I want to spread the word about its amazing health properties, especially for the millions of people who are coping with obesity, high blood pressure, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and other disorders. Since I was introduced to the tea culture, I have come to enjoy tea in so many wonderful ways, which I love! The more I learn of the health benefits of tea, the more passionate I become in finding ways to get tea to the people who really need it for the sake of their health. Tea is not a miracle cure, but there has been enough research done and tests made to convincingly show that regularly drinking tea will make a positive difference in one’s health.
From what I understand, through my limited research to date, all teas have similar health benefits, primarily because of their antioxidants, catechins, flavanoids, and polyphenols, which are more concentrated in some teas than in others. In addition, there are other valuable qualities and nutritional content in tea, especially if it is organically grown. GABA oolong tea has all of these qualities, but it is also one of the richest food sources available for natural GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) – an important amino acid that functions as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
GABA, as a health supplement, is being used by many pharmaceutical companies these days for a variety of health disorders as well as by some commercial food and drink companies as a popular additive. Some of the health benefits being promoted for GABA supplements include:
– Reduces high blood pressure
– Relieves stress and anxiety
– Deceases hypertension
– Increases mental alertness
– Increases memory retention
– Increases energy levels and exercise endurance
– Promotes weight loss
– Acts as an antibacterial
– Alleviates alcohol withdrawal symptoms
– Prevents and cures hangovers
– Offers anti-aging properties
– Improves sleep
– Improves skin elasticity and de-emphasizes wrinkles
– Increases sexual performance
– Aids in overcoming depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders
The Japanese originally “discovered” GABA tea and have long recognized the health benefits of it as a key source of GABA. In fact, it has almost become a staple part of the Japanese diet.
GABA tea is made naturally by exposing the tea leaves to nitrogen – instead of oxygen – during the oxidation process. The result is a heavily oxidized oolong tea (approximately 70-80%) that has a pleasant, slightly sweet taste, almost more like a black tea flavor than a regular oolong.
I’m totally unfamiliar with GABA tea. Thanks for calling it to my attention and providing the initial investigation into this interesting Oolong tea. My initial interest in tea was due to its perceived health benefits. As you report, more and more research continues to support that view. Do you have a favorite brand of GABA that you can recommend?
I personally like the GABA tea made from Taiwanese Gaoshan Oolong tea and this is also becoming quite popular in western countries now people find out more about it & realize that is actually tastes good (not just a “health medicine”). The Japanese have their own GABA tea, which I haven’t tasted yet. It is also produced in some parts of China as well as in northern Thailand.
Thanks for the post. I led the World Tea Tour’s: China Tea Tour to Taiwan last July. We visited a tea factory and garden (run by some Buddhist monks) and experienced GABA tea production for the first time. Quite interesting and yes, tasty too. Wish I was more knowledgable on the bio-chemistry but found it quite intriguing. Since the leaves are exposed to Nitrogen rather than Oxygen, is “oxidized” the correct term? I haven’t had Japanese GABA tea but imagine it is made as a green tea (not oxidized). Wonder how that works.
Our body needs anti-oxidant inorder to battle against all different kind of diseases. To fight these diseases, we should increase our body’s immune system and keep us healthy. Toxins within our body should be excreted as well. Promotion for GABA supplements is needed to give us more health benefits to the food we eat.
How do you OXIDIZE tea with NO OXYGEN?
It is blasted or “treated” with nitrogen