O-JP-050
Japanese Oolong
日本烏龍茶
Lightly oxidised steamed or pan-fired oolong, from Shizuoka, Japan.
Oolong tea
Japanese Oolong is strongest on smoothness, floral and sweetness. Typical tasting words: jasmine, peach, fresh grass, grapefruit, steamed greens. Developed in tea research stations and craft farms during the late twentieth century using floral and black tea cultivars such as Benifuuki. A growing niche in Japanese specialty tea culture, appreciated as an indigenous counterpart to imported Chinese oolong.
Also known as Nihon Oolong and Shizuoka Oolong.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Shizuoka, Japan
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, Benifuuki, Koushin, or Yabukita
- Harvest
- summer (second crop)
- Elevation
- low
- Oxidation
- 15 to 35%
- Roast
- very light
- Leaf
- twisted
- Price band
- mid-range
- Availability
- specialist
- Ageing
- a little
- Forgiving to brew
- 3 of 5
- L-theanine
- moderate
Made by: solar withering, then indoor withering, then bruising, then pan-firing or steaming, then rolling, then drying.
Caffeine
A cup of Japanese Oolong carries a typical estimate of 40 mg of caffeine, within a range of 25 to 55 mg depending on leaf amount, water temperature and steeping time. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Better earlier in the day if you are sensitive to caffeine. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.
How to brew it
| Method | Leaf | Water | Steeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western, 250 ml | 3 g | 80 to 88 °C | 2 min, 2.5 min, 3 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 5 g | 85 to 90 °C | Rinse, then 20 s, 25 s, 35 s, 50 s, 70 s, 90 s |
| Cold brew, 250 ml | 3 g | Fridge | 6 to 10 hours |
Up to 3 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- morning
- afternoon
- afternoon
- midday
- relaxing
Pairs with sushi, seafood and salads. Milk: no. Iced: yes. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- O-TW-036Four Seasons Oolong (Si Ji Chun)
shares floral and sweetness - O-CN-023Anxi Huang Jin Gui
shares smoothness and floral - G-IN-043Nilgiri Green
shares smoothness and sweetness - O-TW-034Baozhong (Pouchong)
shares smoothness and floral - G-TW-018Taiwan High Mountain Green
shares smoothness and floral - O-TW-041Yu Shan Oolong
shares smoothness and floral
More: all oolong tea teas, teas from Shizuoka, Japan, or filter the whole drawer.