Oolong sits between green and black tea: the leaves are partly oxidized, so flavours range from light, creamy and floral to roasted, mineral and honeyed. It is grown mainly in Taiwan and in China’s Fujian and Guangdong, and the same leaves can be steeped again and again, each cup a little different.
Oolong Tea
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Oolong tea in Canada: how to choose
Oolong is best chosen by how oxidized and roasted it is. Lightly oxidized teas are green, creamy and floral: Ali Shan High Mountain from Taiwan and Tie Guan Yin, the classic orchid-scented oolong from Anxi. Heavily roasted teas are darker and mineral: Da Hong Pao is a Wuyi rock tea with toasty, honeyed depth.
Want something soft and easy? Quangzhou Milk Oolong is naturally creamy, and Gaba Oolong is smooth and gently sweet. For a fragrant, fruity cup, try Dan Cong Ya Shi. Browse our oolong tea blends for flavoured options. Good oolong is made to be re-steeped: use short steeps first and add a little time with each infusion.
| Style | Taste | Water and time | Try |
|---|---|---|---|
| High mountain | Creamy, floral, sweet | 90–95°C, 3–4 min | Ali Shan High Mountain |
| Tie Guan Yin | Orchid-like, fresh, smooth | 90–95°C, 3 min | Tie Guan Yin |
| Roasted rock oolong | Toasty, mineral, honeyed | 95–100°C, 3–4 min | Da Hong Pao |
| Milk oolong | Creamy, buttery, soft | 85–90°C, 3 min | Quangzhou Milk Oolong |
| GABA oolong | Smooth, gently sweet | 90–95°C, 3 min | Gaba Oolong |
| Dan Cong | Fragrant, fruity, bright | 90–95°C, 2–3 min | Dan Cong Ya Shi |
Oolong tea FAQ
How do I brew oolong tea?
Use 1 to 2 teaspoons per 250 ml cup and water at 85 to 96°C. Use the lower end for green, floral oolongs and the higher end for roasted ones. Steep 3 to 5 minutes, or brew gongfu style with more leaf and many short 20 to 40 second steeps.
How many times can I steep oolong?
Good oolong is made to be re-steeped. Rolled oolongs often give 3 to 5 western-style infusions, and even more with gongfu brewing, as the leaves slowly unfurl.
What is milk oolong?
Milk oolong is usually made from the Jin Xuan cultivar, which has a naturally creamy, buttery taste and aroma. There is no milk in the tea itself.
What is GABA oolong?
GABA oolong is processed with a period of oxygen-free fermentation, which raises its natural GABA content and gives it a sweet, fruity, slightly tangy flavour, a bit like dried fruit or baked apple.
How do you drink oolong tea?
Drink oolong plain, without milk or sugar. Brew it at 85–95°C (185–203°F) for 3–5 minutes, then steep the same leaves again; each cup tastes a little different.
Does oolong tea have caffeine?
Yes. A cup of oolong typically has about 30–50 mg of caffeine, between green and black tea and well below a cup of coffee.
What does oolong tea taste like?
It ranges from light and floral (green oolongs like Tie Guan Yin) to toasty and rich (dark roasted oolongs), depending on how the leaves are processed.