Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Drink T
Product Description:
Gaba tea is a relatively new type of tea with special health benefits. It was first discovered in 1987 by Japanese researchers looking for a way to preserve food. They discovered a process that produced high levels of gamman-amino butyric acid (GABA), an amino acid which occurs naturally in the human body. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the nervous system and also in the retina, which helps prevent the over-firing of neurons. Meaning, GABA can help reduce stress and anxiety. Today, Gaba tea is very popular in Japan and is prized for it many health benefits as well as providing a calming effect when consumed.
Our Gaba tea is grown and produced in Taiwan according to strict standards set by the Japanese government, and meets or exceeds the Japanese standard of 150 mg of GABA per 100 grams of tea.
Gaba tea brews to a dark brown color with a pleasing, light taste of cinnamon. It can be served either hot or iced. To enhance the subtle flavor, try it hot with a cinnamon stick.
Taster’s Review:
I admit that I’ve not had a lot of experience with Gaba Oolong tea. But, since I love Oolong, I was certain I’d also love this. Of course, I love this!
That being said, it tastes a bit different from a typical “green” Oolong, and different from a more oxidized Oolong (what I often refer to as a “darker” Oolong). But if I were to compare it to the two, I’d say this one tastes more like a darker Oolong. It has a roasted, nutty flavor with hints of fuzzy peach taste, as well as a subtle spiced undertone.
It’s that subtle spicy taste – not exactly spicy as in spicy-hot, but more like a sweet cinnamon taste – that is the most surprising flavor profile of this cup. It is a mellow taste, but it adds such a delightful layer of flavor to this tea.
I really enjoyed this tea – and as I sipped it, I could feel my muscles start to relax, as if the stress were somehow evaporating from my body. A refreshing, calming tea that is also delicious!
Organic Gaba Oolong Tea from Zi Chun Tea Co
Tea Type: Oolong (Gaba)
Where To Buy: Zi Chun Tea Co
Product Description:
This is a great tasting oolong tea – with a flavor more closely resembling a light tasting black tea. It is becoming very popular because of it’s unique health properties. It contains copious quantities of GABA – a highly sought after health supplement.
Tasters Review:
It’s a beautiful thing when you find something that tastes good and is good FOR you, right!? Well, this Organic Gaba Oolong from Zi Chun fits the bill for both!
This is a very refreshing tea! A solid Oolong! This also has slight nutty-sweet type notes throughout the sip which I really appreciate!
If you haven’t tried Gaba yet PLEASE do! And this one is a great please to start!
Frankincense GABA Oolong from Aftelier Perfumed Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Aftelier Perfumed Teas
Product Description:
This organic oolong tea is especially rich in GABA, a human enzyme that calms and relaxes. The finest hojary frankincense, with its balsamic notes and citrus undertones, marries beautifully with this full-bodied tea. These rolled leaves provide up to 4 infusions.
Taster’s Review:
I should preface this review by saying that I’ve not had a lot of experience with frankincense. So this shall be quite an adventure!
This is my third tea I’ve sampled from Aftelier Perfumed Teas collection. And each time I try one of these teas, I am amazed. Going in to the experience, I don’t expect to like it; I fear that it’s going to be too strongly perfumed for my liking. But each time, I am surprised at just how much I do like it.
And I like this one too. The aroma is exotic and heady, evoking seductive images of a dimly-lit room that is enveloped with the smoke of incense. It’s very enchanting and I am captivated.
The Oolong is lightly roasted, which creates a faint caramel-y note. The frankincense is not as perfume-y tasting as I thought it would be. It has hints of spice and flower. It is what I would call an androgynous tea as it possesses both masculine and feminine qualities. There are hints of smoke in the background – which may be from the Oolong or from the frankincense. The smooth, buttery essence of the Oolong seems to unite all of these flavors, making this a seamless tea experience.
As with the other teas that I’ve tried from Aftelier, I recommend steeping this in a gaiwan, using short steeps. Too long a steep will result in too strong a perfume-y taste, but with the short steeps the flavor comes out just perfect – no need for additions – it’s just delightful as is. While this is not a tea that I would want to drink every day, it certainly would make a great tea for a special occasion – perhaps a romantic rendezvous? It is a very special tea, indeed!