Shhh… want to know a Japanese Secret… GABA Oolong is here

GABA Oolong is a new tea on the eteaket shelves. Haven’t heard of it? Well let us fill you in.

What is GABA tea?

The Japanese are to thank for the discovery of GABA. In particular DR. Tsushima Tojiro who in the 1980s, discovered that anaerobic conditions encourage the conversion of glutamate to GABA^[1]. Basically DR. Tsushima and his group of researchers at the National Institute of Tea (sounds like a great place to us) produced a new type of tea.

GABA stands for (prepare yourself for some long words) gamma-aminobuytric acid. GABA reportedly is a chemical messenger or neurotransmitter (yes tea is that cool) that naturally occurs in the brain and helps ensure that information reaching your brain is fast and effective. I certainly need some assistance with that every now and again!

GABA is found naturally in Camellia Sinensis (the amazing plant where all tea comes from) but by oxidising tea in a high nitrogen, oxygen free (anaerobic) environment instead of oxygen during the oxidisation process the amount of GABA is allegedly significantly increased because the glutamic acid in the leaves is converted to GABA. Pretty clever huh!

What are the potential health benefits?

GABA is very popular in Japan being found in drinks, cakes, chocolate and anything digestible really. It has a cult following in Japan much like Matcha for its apparent health benefits and natural calming properties. The positive effects that GABA can have on your whole well-being have long been studied. Lots of research has been published on GABA including in a journal named ‘biofactors’ ^[2]who noted that it had many positive effects on users overall well-being. According to that journal, some of the positive effects that the tea might have are:

• To reduce stress levels
• Improve sleep
• Reduce the symptoms of depression
• Reduce anxiety
• Aid your circulatory system
• Aid weight loss
• Proven to have anti-ageing properties

Who knows for sure but I can certainly personally testify to its calming properties. Anything that might potentially aid sleep and reduce stress levels is very important for our overall wellness. The average human should be getting around 7 – 9 hours sleep per night but with the introduction of blue light devises and never ending to-do lists most people are apparently only getting around 6.8 hours.

It should be noted that tea is not medicine and there is much debate about some of the GABA health claims. As a company, we have not yet commissioned any research ourselves into this area so we do not make any health claims. In any event, it’s a stunning drink with a velvety, earthy aroma and surprising fruity notes. Whether you’re keen to try out some of the potential health claims or not it’s worth getting simply for its taste appeal.

Treat yourself to an #eteaketmoment

If you find yourself in need of a little mood boost (perhaps your Metal element is off kilter), then carve out a little you time to pause, re-balance and calm your mind as you mindfully sip a cup of eteaket GABA oolong.

Treat yourself to an #eteaketmoment and snap up some of our GABA Oolong in our Concept Store on Rose Street or online on our website (www.eteaket.co.uk ). Don’t forget to tag us in any pictures you take enjoying some tea time, we love seeing what you all get up to!

100g of eteaket GABA Oolong | £15.95 | enough for 80 cups of tea based on 2 steeps | 17p per cup

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^[1]  Production of a New Type Tea Containing a High Level of ϒ-Aminobutyric Acid

Authors: Tojiro TSUSHIDA, Toshinobu MURAI, Masashi OMORI, Jyunko OKAMOTO

Nippon Nōgeikagaku Kaishi/ Journal of Japan Society for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Volume 61 (1987) Issue 7, Pages 817-822

^[2] Biofactors, 2006;26(3):201-8. doi: 10.1002/biof.5520260305, Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans
Adham M Abdou 1, S Higashiguchi, K Horie, Mujo Kim, H Hatta, H Yokogoshi

https://doi.org/10.1002/biof.5520260305