Description

Gaba Oolong

Gaba Oolong is a very tasty and very easy to brew oolong from Taiwan.

Origin, processing, trees

The name of Gaba Oolong comes from gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) which is the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human body which means that it’s slowing down neuronal activity. The Japanese National Research Institute of Tea in the 1980s developed a method of tea processing in which the tea leaves form especially high amount of GABA.

GABA doesn’t penetrate the blood-brain barrier when you ingest it but in practice people often feel very relaxed when drinking gaba oolong.

Taste, aroma, mouthfeel

It has cookie like and a bit roasted taste and aroma. It doesn’t get bitter easily.

Qi, TCM, my experiences

According to TCM this level oxidized oolong has neither warming nor cooling character.

Has a quite strong relaxing Qi.

Gaba oolong is a very popular tea for people getting into tea drinking more deeply. It’s so easy, tasty, effective and perfect for leaves in a bowl.

Brewing tips

Gaba oolong is a very nice leaves in a bowl tea but obviously works well brewed in a teapot (gong-fu or side-handle). When brewing this gong-fu I usually use 85-90 degree water which I found makes the tea a bit smoother and creamier than with boiling water.

Availability, price, source info (updated 9.12.2021)

Not available anymore.
I’m trying to find another clean gaba oolong at the moment.