Oolong TEA

browse oolong teas

Notice the color of each Oolong tea's infusion.  The difference is due to unique degrees of fermentation.

  • Oolong is also referred to as Wulong
  • Oolong is known as semi-oxidized tea
  • Oolong is not only a class of tea, like green tea or black tea, but also the name of a particular tea
  • Oolong presents a thick and aromatic infusion which varies according to ‘degree of fermentation’
  • Oolong fermentation levels span from light to heavy; approximately 7.5% to 70% fermentation
  • Oolong caffeine content lies somewhere between black and green teas

Oolong Tea, otherwise known as semi-oxidized tea, is best defined in terms of degree of oxidation in relationship to both green and black tea. If we consider green tea as completely un-oxidized tea and black tea as fully oxidized tea then oolong tea, conversely, spans almost the complete panorama of oxidation levels ranging from slightly oxidized to nearly completely oxidized. Oolong tea, which is often simplified by referring to as half-oxidized tea, actually spans a range of oxidation levels ranging from as little as 7.5% to as high as 70% depending on the variety of oolong at hand! The result is a mixture of spirited and flowery aromas similar, sometimes similar to green tea, and a range of comparable black tea characteristics such as mellow and robust body. Oolong in turn presents one of the most diverse ranges of teas within any one tea class, representing a wide variety of flavor palettes and aromatic compositions.

 

Here are a few famous Oolong teas; Anxi Tie Guanyin from Fujian Province, Dong Fang Mei Ren from northwestern Taiwan, and Da Hong Pao from Wu Yi Mountain in Northern Fujian Province.  Listed from lightest to deepest fermentation here are a few characteristic oolong teas to help get you acquainted:

 

  • Lightest: Taiwan Bao Zhong (Fermentation: 7.5-19%)
  • Not so light: Taiwan Dong Ting Oolong (Fermentation: 20-30%)
  • Somewhere in the middle: Anxi Tie Guan Yin (Fermentation: 40-50%)
  • Now you’re getting there: Anxi Se Zhong (Fermentation: 50-60%)
  • Darkest: Taiwan Oriental Beauty (Fermentation: 70%)