Oolong tea tea
Partially oxidised and masterfully tossed, offering vast complexity from floral to roasted.
Liquor colour: Amber-gold
How it is made
Oolong tea is the most technically demanding category to manufacture. Fresh leaves are withered outdoors and indoors, then subjected to rhythmic tossing, bruising, and shaking. This mechanical stress damages the leaf cell walls along the margins, exposing cellular sap to ambient air for partial enzymatic oxidation. When the desired oxidation level is attained—spanning twenty to eighty percent—the leaves are wok-fired to arrest oxidation. Finally, the leaves are rolled, twisted or rolled into tight spheres, and frequently roasted over charcoal fires.
What it tastes like
The deliberate, partial oxidation unlocks complex aromatic compounds found neither in purely green nor fully oxidised black teas. Lightly oxidised, greener oolongs express headily perfumed notes of lilac, gardenia, coconut milk, and sweet orchard fruits with a creamy, buttery finish. Heavily oxidised and roasted oolongs reveal deeper notes of dark honey, roasted hazelnuts, dried plum, and mineral flint. Across all styles, the mouthfeel is notably thick, coating, and persistent, yielding a rich, evolving aftertaste known as hui gan.
Caffeine and brewing
A typical cup delivers an estimated 30 to 50 mg of caffeine, varying with roasting depth and pluck maturity. Use water just off the boil, around 90 to 95°C, ideally re-infusing the leaves across multiple short steepings.
Good for
It suits inquisitive drinkers who adore layered complexity, changing aromatic profiles, and deeply persistent finishes.
Two common misconceptions
- Oolong is not a single uniform flavour; profiles range dramatically from floral greens to dark charcoal-roasted leaves.
- Oolong tea does not possess inherent fat-burning properties beyond any other unsweetened, hydrated tea beverage.
53 oolong tea teas
- O-TW-036 Four Seasons Oolong (Si Ji Chun)
Taiwan, typical 40 mg - O-TW-029 Jin Xuan (Milk Oolong)
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-CN-005 Shui Xian
China, typical 45 mg - O-CN-002 Tieguanyin (Light Jade)
China, typical 40 mg - O-TW-025 Alishan High Mountain Oolong
Taiwan, typical 40 mg - O-CN-020 Anxi Se Zhong
China, typical 40 mg - O-TW-034 Baozhong (Pouchong)
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-CN-003 Da Hong Pao
China, typical 45 mg - O-CN-013 Dan Cong Mi Lan Xiang
China, typical 45 mg - O-CN-014 Dan Cong Ya Shi Xiang
China, typical 45 mg - O-TW-031 Dong Ding Oolong
Taiwan, typical 40 mg - O-CN-004 Rou Gui
China, typical 50 mg - O-CN-001 Tieguanyin (Traditional Roast)
China, typical 45 mg - O-CN-021 Anxi Ben Shan
China, typical 40 mg - O-CN-023 Anxi Huang Jin Gui
China, typical 40 mg - O-CN-022 Anxi Mao Xie
China, typical 40 mg - O-TW-042 Charcoal Roasted Formosa Oolong
Taiwan, typical 30 mg - O-TW-030 Cui Yu Oolong
Taiwan, typical 40 mg - O-CN-016 Dan Cong Huang Zhi Xiang
China, typical 45 mg - O-CN-018 Dan Cong Xing Ren Xiang
China, typical 45 mg - O-TW-039 Gaba Oolong
Taiwan, typical 30 mg - O-TW-038 Honey Oolong (Mi Xiang)
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-TW-026 Lishan High Mountain Oolong
Taiwan, typical 45 mg - O-TW-035 Muzha Tieguanyin
Taiwan, typical 30 mg - O-TW-033 Oriental Beauty (Dongfang Meiren)
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-TW-032 Roasted Dong Ding
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-TW-028 Shan Lin Xi Oolong
Taiwan, typical 45 mg - O-TH-046 Thai Oolong (Jin Xuan)
Thailand, typical 40 mg - O-VN-047 Vietnamese Oolong
Vietnam, typical 40 mg - O-CN-010 Wuyi Bei Dou
China, typical 50 mg - O-CN-009 Wuyi Qi Lan
China, typical 45 mg - O-TW-041 Yu Shan Oolong
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-CN-019 Aged Dan Cong
China, typical 40 mg - O-CN-024 Anxi Huangdan
China, typical 40 mg - O-CN-007 Bai Ji Guan
China, typical 35 mg - O-CN-015 Dan Cong Song Zhong
China, typical 50 mg - O-CN-017 Dan Cong Zhi Lan Xiang
China, typical 45 mg - O-IN-043 Darjeeling Oolong
India, typical 45 mg - O-TW-040 Fushoushan Oolong
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-TW-037 Hung Shui Oolong
Taiwan, typical 35 mg - O-JP-050 Japanese Oolong
Japan, typical 40 mg - O-KE-053 Kenyan Purple Oolong
Kenya, typical 40 mg - O-MW-052 Malawi Oolong
Malawi, typical 45 mg - O-NP-045 Nepal Oolong
Nepal, typical 45 mg - O-IN-044 Nilgiri Frost Oolong
India, typical 40 mg - O-CN-006 Shui Jin Gui
China, typical 45 mg - O-CN-008 Tie Luo Han
China, typical 50 mg - O-CN-011 Wuyi Lao Cong Shui Xian
China, typical 40 mg - O-CN-012 Wuyi Zheng Yan Blend
China, typical 50 mg - O-LK-048 Ceylon Oolong
Sri Lanka, typical 50 mg - O-TW-027 Dayuling Oolong
Taiwan, typical 45 mg - O-GE-051 Georgian Oolong
Georgia, typical 35 mg - O-KR-049 Korean Oolong
South Korea, typical 40 mg