INFO: GABA Oolong
Welcome to the world of GABA oolong. Below I’ll share a brief overview of GABA, GABA oolong, and associated benefits. I’ll also link you to some research if you want to check out the science behind it all.
First and foremost, what is GABA?
Short for gamma-aminobutyric acid, GABA is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the human brain, plants and other animals. In humans, GABA functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter that blocks messages between the brain (namely the amygdala) and other parts of the central nervous system. This typically results in decreased feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear. In other words, GABA has the ability to calm our primal fight-or-flight response and improve our ability to process information (1) in the here and now.
As luck would have it, GABA is one of the many beneficial nutrients found in the tea plant. That puts it in the company of better-known substances like L-theanine (an amino acid that helps promote relaxation) and caffeine (a defense mechanism for the tea plant that serves as a natural stimulant). Most of the time, GABA levels in the tea plant are not concentrated enough to have a noticeable effect on our brains. Fortunately, a straightforward technique allows us to augment these levels.
How do we increase GABA content in tea leaves?
Generally speaking, when transforming raw, freshly-picked tea leaves into an oolong tea, we allow oxygen to act as the primary catalyst of fermentation. Over an extended period of time, amino acids and other compounds present in tea leaves interact with oxygen, altering the overall composition of the raw tea leaf.
In the late 1980s in Japan, tea researchers studying theanine accidentally discovered that tea leaves stored in anaerobic conditions wound up with higher levels of GABA. These days this uniquely prepared tea continues to grow in popularity, but production is still limited predominantly to Japan and Taiwan.
Today a tea is allowed to be categorized as GABA only if the GABA content is higher than 150mg/100g leaves. Any lower and the tea likely will not possess the same health benefits and cannot be packaged with a GABA label. As a heads up, some teas are marketed as GABA without meeting this standard.
Why do people like GABA oolongs?
This is an easy one! The flavor. GABA oolongs have a tremendously delicious flavor profile. Most often we hear GABA teas have a unique sweet/savory flavor reminiscent of sweet potatoes, pumpkins, or persimmons…all of which are exciting to discover in a tea.
Drinking tea with high levels of GABA has a number of purported health benefits (2) such as…
Increased focus
Lowered blood pressure
Relief for anxiety, depression, and insomnia
Hangover prevention and relief
If you’re interested in reading more about GABA, check out the links below.
Sources
2 United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Safety Review of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
Interested in Mrs. Qiu’s GABA oolong?
Our GABA is the result of a multi-year search to find an impressive representation of the style. Only in its fourth year of production, Mrs. Qiu’s GABA tea has already received recognition in competition. This GABA uses the qingxin cultivar, is grown on Alishan, and is produced only once per year during Spring harvest. The leaves have undergone an extended 3-day anaerobic fermentation process and are finished with a 4-hour roast. The broth is rich and possesses a persimmon-like flavor. The dry leaf smells of delicious baked goods, and the wet leaf presents an ethereal scent of rose.
