Is oolong tea or chamomile tea a better choice? It depends on whether you’re trying to wake up or fall asleep.
Oolong tea and chamomile tea have many differences, starting with their origins. Oolongs are made with partially oxidized tea leaves from camellia sinensis (tea plant). Chamomile tea is made using fresh or dried chamomile flowers. Oolong tea also contains caffeine, while chamomile tea is caffeine-free.
The differences don’t stop there. Let’s take a detailed look at the differences between oolong tea and chamomile tea to help you choose the right option.
Oolong Tea
If you’re not familiar with oolong tea, it’s a category of partially oxidized tea. Oxidation involves letting the harvested leaves age before processing. Green tea is barely oxidized, black tea is fully oxidized, and oolong tea is partially oxidized.
As oolong tea only undergoes partial fermentation, it has a wider spectrum of tastes compared to other true teas. The flavors range from fruity to woody or roasted.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea comes from the flowers of the chamomile plant. It’s known for its calming and soothing properties. You drink chamomile tea when you need to relax or get better sleep.
Chamomile tea has a gentle, floral aroma and flavor. It’s a comforting, fragrant beverage that may help alleviate stress and keep you from tossing and turning all night.
Oolong Tea vs. Chamomile Tea
Oolong tea is a traditional tea from the tea plant, while chamomile tea is an herbal infusion made from chamomile flowers, but there are still more differences to explore.
Origin and Cultivation
Oolong tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, otherwise known as the tea plant. It’s the same plant used to make white, green, and black tea. The main difference between oolongs and other teas is the oxidation level.
After harvesting, the tea leaves are exposed to air. Exposure to oxygen starts the oxidation (or fermentation) process, and the leaves gradually turn from green to brown to black. Black teas are fully oxidized, while green teas are considered unoxidized. Oolongs fall in the middle.
The idea of partially oxidizing tea leaves originated in the Fujian province
in China hundreds of years ago. It’s now produced in China, Taiwan, and a few other parts of South Asia.
Oolong tea leaves are also typically twisted during harvesting. Twisting the leaves helps bring out the flavors and enhances the aromas.
Chamomile tea is an herbal infusion made from dried flower heads of the German or Roman chamomile plant. It was first used as a tea in the past couple of hundred years. However, it’s been used medicinally since at least 1550 BCE.
Chamomile is often used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
To make chamomile tea, the flowers of the chamomile plants are harvested and dried. Drying the flowers immediately after harvesting helps lock in the flavors and medicinal properties. After drying for several days, the flowers are prepared for commercial distribution either as loose dried herbs or in tea bags.
Taste and Aroma
Oolong teas and chamomile teas both have distinct flavors and aromas. Oolong tea gives you a wide range of flavors, which can vary depending on the brand.
It often has a floral flavor profile with fruity notes. Darker oolongs are a little toasty and more robust. The lighter oolongs are more floral and fresher.
The aroma typically matches the flavors. If it’s a light oolong tea with notes of citrus, it may have a slight citrusy aroma. If it’s a darker oolong with a toasty flavor, it may have a toasty scent.
Chamomile tea also has distinct flavors and aromas, but it’s a little milder and less nuanced. It mostly has a floral taste that people often describe as apple-like.
You’ll notice that chamomile tea isn’t astringent, which is a common taste in traditional teas such as oolong tea. If you’re not really a tea person, you may prefer chamomile tea due to this difference.
The aroma of chamomile tea is often compared to the smell of fresh apples. It has a light, pleasant aroma that helps contribute to the overall relaxing effect of the tea.
Caffeine
Oolong tea contains caffeine, while chamomile tea is caffeine-free. All traditional teas have caffeine, as all parts of the tea plant have caffeine.
Oolong tea typically has less caffeine compared to black tea and more caffeine compared to green tea. Lighter teas often have less caffeine, as halting the oxidation process reduces the caffeine level of the tea.
Oolong tea typically has about 30 to 50 milligrams of caffeine in a one-cup (eight-ounce) serving.
The water temperature and how long you steep the tea can also impact the caffeine content. Lighter teas are often brewed at lower temperatures and for shorter periods, limiting the extraction of caffeine.
Chamomile tea, on the other hand, has no caffeine. In fact, it’s a popular caffeine-free alternative to traditional teas, particularly in the evening or at bedtime. The soothing properties can help you relax and drift off to sleep.
Health Benefits
Oolong tea and chamomile tea offer some of the same potential health benefits, along with a few distinct advantages. Drinking either tea may help with digestion.
Warm beverages help increase blood flow to your digestive system. It stimulates your digestive organs, which improves your overall digestive health. This can help ease stomach discomfort, bloating, and other digestive problems.
Oolong tea offers a few additional health benefits, as it’s packed with beneficial antioxidants. The antioxidants found in tea leaves can combat oxidative stress and contribute to your overall cellular health.
Regular consumption of oolong tea is also linked to better cardiovascular health. It may lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Oolong tea may also help with alertness. It contains caffeine, but not too much caffeine. You get enough of a dose of caffeine for a mild energy boost without the jitters that you may get from a strong cup of coffee.
Studies suggest that regularly consuming oolong tea may also help improve insulin sensitivity. This may reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes or help with blood sugar regulation for those who already have diabetes.
Some research suggests that drinking oolong tea may also help with bone health, skin health, and stress relief. Oolongs have minerals that can promote better health but may not be as effective as getting the same minerals from food and supplements.
Chamomile tea also offers a long list of potential health benefits, from promoting better cognitive function to boosting your immune health.
The antioxidants in chamomile tea can fight free radicals and support your body’s defense mechanisms. With a stronger immune system, you become less likely to get sick during the cold and flu seasons.
Antioxidants found in chamomile tea may also protect your brain. They have neuroprotective effects, which means that they protect neurons against damage.
Drinking more chamomile tea may also improve the quality of your sleep. Some people toss and turn instead of sleeping soundly through the night, which can leave you drowsy and groggy throughout the day.
Poor sleep quality is often linked to poor lifestyle habits, such as drinking caffeine in the evening. With chamomile tea, you can cut down on caffeine consumption, especially later in the day. The calming effects can also help you gradually relax and prepare for sleep, increasing your ability to get a good night’s rest.
Brewing Techniques
Brewing chamomile tea and oolong tea can often involve mostly the same steps. You steep the tea bag or loose herbs in hot water for a few minutes. However, there’s a little more to it if you want a quality cup of tea.
For starters, you must avoid using boiling water when brewing oolong tea. The leaves are more sensitive to hot temperatures. The boiling water could cause a nasty, bitter taste.
The ideal temperature range is about 180 degrees to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. As the water heats, measure the tea. You should use about one to two teaspoons of tea per eight ounces (240 ml) of water.
Preheat your teapot by swirling hot water around the inside. Add the tea leaves to your preheated teapot and slowly add the heated water.
Steep for three to five minutes. If you want, you can infuse the tea multiple times. After your first cup, steep the tea leaves again. Experiment with steeping times and multiple infusions to suit your tastes.
You can use the same steps to brew chamomile tea. However, instead of steeping for three to five minutes, steep the chamomile flowers for about five to seven minutes.
As with oolong tea, you can adjust the steeping time to suit your tastes. Steeping for longer will create a stronger flavor, while steeping for a shorter time will produce a mild flavor.
Basically, any brewing technique you use for oolong tea you can replicate with chamomile tea, other than steeping chamomile longer.
Along with the traditional tea-brewing method, you can use the gong fu brewing style. It’s a traditional Chinese tea brewing method that uses a small teapot and teacups.
The leaves are rinsed in hot water to awaken the tea and remove any impurities. Brewing then involves multiple short infusions. You start by steeping the tea for 5 to 10 seconds and repeat the process 5 to 15 times. With each infusion, you increase the steeping time.
Cost and Convenience
Chamomile tea is often cheaper and more convenient to buy compared to oolong tea. It’s more readily available and budget-friendly. You can even purchase it in bulk, saving more money.
Oolong tea isn’t quite as popular, which means that it’s not available at every grocery store. When you do find it, it’s likely to cost a little more compared to chamomile tea.
Yet, oolong tea has a couple of advantages, including its shorter steeping time. You can enjoy a cup of tea sooner, as it only takes a few minutes to steep oolong tea.
Oolong tea also has a complex, nuanced flavor profile that you typically don’t want to mask with sweeteners. You can drink it as-is instead of using honey or sugar to sweeten the drink.
Cultural Relevance
The ceremonial aspect of tea is something that we’re all aware of. In certain cultures, preparing and serving tea is a formal process with etiquette to follow.
Oolong tea also has specific cultural relevance in East Asia. It originated in China and remains an important part of traditional Chinese tea ceremonies. There are also many artisanal oolongs from Taiwan, particularly in the Nantou and Alishan regions.
Oolong tea has historically been associated with sophistication and status, as it was originally prepared specifically for the emperor and his family. It’s often given as a gift or used during formal and celebratory occasions.
Chamomile tea isn’t as deeply rooted in traditional tea cultures as oolong tea. However, chamomile has been used for hundreds of years. It was used by ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians.
In modern times, chamomile tea gained popularity as a useful tea for promoting relaxation and stress relief. Most people associate chamomile tea with rest. It’s often considered a good late-night beverage for helping people sleep.
Conclusion
Oolong tea and chamomile tea are both great beverages with distinct flavors, aromas, and potential health benefits.
You can prepare either beverage using hot water and a teapot or cup. Though, you may want to drink them at different times of the day.
Oolong tea is great during the daytime, including first thing in the morning. It has caffeine and an invigorating aroma and flavor that can help keep you alert and focused.
Caffeine isn’t such a good idea toward the end of the day. When you’re ready to relax and unwind for the evening, switch to chamomile tea. It’s caffeine-free and is known for its calming effect. It may help you sleep better, giving you more energy for the following day.
The bottom line is that you don’t need to choose between oolong tea and chamomile tea. You can enjoy both!