Your Tea Garden

Welcome to the fascinating world of Oolong teas! If you are looking for an extraordinary taste experience, then Oolong tea is just the thing for you. Choosing high-quality, natural tea without flavorings or additives is essential for enjoying great tea. Compared to the more well-known green or black teas, Oolong offers a much broader variety of flavors. Want to buy Oolong tea but get lost in all the confusing Chinese names? High quality Oolong tea often has confusing Asian names. But don’t worry, this article will help you discover the best Oolong tea for you.

From Green to Dark Oolongs: The Diversity of Oolong Teas

Oolong Tee Jade und Oriental Beauty
 
 

Oolong teas are known for their impressive range of flavors. The growing conditions of the tea plant and its processing play a decisive role. When processing Oolong tea leaves, the qualities of green tea and black tea are artfully combined. This type of tea therefore combines the best of both worlds.

In contrast to green tea, without oxidation, Oolong teas are only partially oxidized. Black tea, on the other side, is fully oxidized. The partial oxidation allows the fresh, floral aroma and light taste of green tea to be combined with the depth, complexity and full-bodied flavor of black tea.

But there is not one specific level of oxidation. When shopping for Oolong teas, you’ll see Oolongs which are very green in appearance, as well as very dark, almost black leaves. They come with very different and distinct aromas. If you like light, floral notes with a creamy sweetness, a green Oolong is ideal for you. If you are a coffee-lover dark Oolongs could be a great choice. These heavily oxidized varieties offer a depth of flavor and complexity reminiscent of coffee, but without the sharp bitterness. They are rich and full-bodied with hints of cocoa, roasted nuts, and dark fruits.

If you want to try and buy Oolong tea, this article is ideal for you. I’ll guide you through the different sorts of Oolong teas and help you find the ones, that will delight your palate the most.

Green Oolongs: Creamy sweetness

Grüner Jade Oolong Tee
 
 

The lightly oxidized Oolongs are also known as “jade”, which reflects the light, green color of the tea leaves. The infusion offers an invigorating, fresh experience and an unmistakably smooth taste, making it a favorite among tea lovers. The infusion is also good to drink cold. Some examples of green Oolong are:

  • Dong Ding Oolong (Tung Ting): This tea comes from the mountainous region of the same name in Taiwan and is known for its rich, fruity character and floral aroma. The leaves are traditionally tightly rolled, resulting in an intense and long-lasting flavor. Here you can find my favorite Dong Ding Oolong.
  • Jin Xuan: The true Milky Oolong (as opposed to artificially flavored or milk-steamed versions). The Jin Xuan cultivar is naturally creamy and sweet, reminiscent of milk. You can also discover gentle floral notes and subtle fruitiness. I have tested many to find the best Jin Xuan.
  • Tie Guan Yin: This cultivar is sometimes more heavily oxidized but is usually processed as a green Oolong. With this tea, you get a velvety-creamy mouthfeel with a light sweetness and mineral accents. You can order a great Tie Guan Yin directly from us!

High Mountain Oolongs: A touch of elegance

Tea field high in the mountains
 
 

High Mountain Oolongs, as the name suggests, are grown in Taiwan’s high mountains and thrive under optimal conditions. The expertise of a tea master in refining and innovating the Oolong tea craft has led to the development of distinct styles and flavors of high mountain Oolongs. They are characterized by their smooth, creamy mouthfeel with floral undertones.

  • Lishan Oolong: Lishan comes from one of the highest and coldest tea regions in Taiwan. The tea is known for its pronounced nuances of stone fruit and its rich, buttery texture.
  • Da Yu Ling Oolong: Da Yu Ling is one of the most exclusive and highest grown Oolongs. It is characterized by its complex, floral aroma and its remarkable sweetness, which lingers for a long time. It is a unique tea that is prized for its elegance and refinement.

Rock Oolongs: The flavors of the mountains

Oolong tea from the picturesque Wuyi mountain region in China grows on very rocky ground, which gives the tea a deep and complex character, with mineral notes and a hint of smokiness. You will often find these teas under the name Yancha.

  • Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe): This heavily oxidized Oolong tea is one of China’s most famous tea varieties. When infused, the tea leaves develop their rich, robust and full-bodied quality with hints of dark chocolate, stone fruit and roasted nuts. Get Da Hong Pao here!
  • Shui Xian: This Oolong tea, known for its lingering floral aroma, is a popular choice among tea lovers. Sweet and mineral notes with a hint of orchids offer a unique drinking experience.
  • Rou Gui: The advantages of this tea are a pronounced cinnamon note and a full, spicy taste, paired with a sweet aftertaste.

Oriental Beauty: The sweet delight

Oriental Beauty Oolong
 
 

Oriental Beauty has a very special story that shows why tea farmers often have no interest at all in using pesticides for high-quality tea. Even without organic certification. Compared to other types of Oolong teas, such as Iron Goddess (Tie Guan Yin), Oriental Beauty stands out with a very unique characteristic. The uniqueness of Dong Fang Mei Ren (the Chinese name for Oriental Beauty) is due to cicadas biting the leaves. This makes the plant produce a natural repellent in the leaves, which is delicious for us humans. It’s strongly reminiscent of honey and muscatel when infused in hot water.

Phoenix Dan Cong Oolongs: A symphony of flavors

Dan Cong is a variety of the Camellia Sinensis plant that produces an impressive range of flavors. Several types of tea are made from it. Each has a unique character:

  • Huang Zhi Xiang: The literal translation “geranium scent” describes this Oolong very well. It has a fruity aroma and subtle nuances of flowers.
  • Mi Lan Xiang: This infusion has nuances of orchids and honey.
  • You Hua Xiang: A sweet and floral Oolong with notes of pomelo blossoms.
  • As an affordable alternative to the sought-after “Single-Bush” Dancongs, I offer this Dancong Oolong in my shop, featuring a complex, mineral aroma with fine citrus and orange notes and a subtle orchid fragrance.

Special variations

Milky Oolong: A hint of milk

In addition to the natural “Milky Oolong” Jin Xuan mentioned above, there are also more affordable Oolongs where the tea leaves are steamed with milk to impart a gentle and creamy aroma. The result is a tea with a fascinating combination of milk notes and the natural sweet nuance of light Oolongs. You can order such a Milky Oolong directly from my shop.

Jasmine Oolong: Scented with flowers

Jasmine Oolong is a fragrant tea in which the tea leaves are refined with fresh jasmine blossoms. The jasmine often comes to the fore and is backed by the floral sweetness of Oolong tea. This tea preparation is often perceived as calming and relaxing.

Gaba Oolong: a healthy treat

In order to preserve the natural content of gamma-aminobutyric acid (Gaba) during production, the leaves are treated with nitrogen to stop oxidation. Gaba is a natural substance found in the brain and plays a crucial role in stress regulation. It is believed that the infusion of Gaba Oolong can contribute to stress reduction and relaxation. The taste is mild and slightly nutty with a pleasant sweetness.

Conclusion: Which is the best Oolong tea?

Oolong teas are a real discovery for all tea lovers looking for new taste experiences. Hardly any other type of tea offers such a variety of flavors. Whether you are looking for floral lightness, fruity refreshment or dark, strong aromas, there is sure to be an Oolong tea to suit your individual preferences. Therefor nominating one tea as “the best Oolong tea” wouldn’t be fair to the broad range of excellent, high quality Oolong teas.

Here you find my full range of Oolong teas. Let yourself be inspired by the different varieties and immerse yourself in the unique taste experience of Oolong teas! I hope this article could help you find and buy Oolong tea that you’ll love. Let me know in the comments which teas you have chosen, what your experience was like or what questions are still on your mind. I’ll show you in another article How to prepare Oolong tea correctly.

FAQ

What is Oolong tea good for?

Oolong tea is known for its numerous health benefits, including improving metabolism, supporting heart health and strengthening the immune system. It can also help to reduce stress and improve concentration.

How much Oolong tea per day?

It is generally recommended to drink 2 to 3 cups of Oolong tea a day. This should be enough to reap the health benefits of the tea without risking excessive caffeine consumption.

When should you drink Oolong tea?

As Oolong tea contains caffeine, it is best to drink it in the morning or early afternoon to avoid sleep disturbances. Some people also drink it before meals to stimulate the metabolism and aid digestion.

What effect does Oolong tea have?

Oolong tea has a calming effect and can help reduce stress. It also has a stimulating effect due to its caffeine content, which can help to increase alertness.

Does Oolong tea have side effects?

As with any caffeinated beverage, excessive consumption of Oolong tea can cause insomnia, nervousness, headaches and other side effects. The caffeine content of Oolong tea can vary and depends on many factors. You can reduce the caffeine content by brewing at lower temperatures.

How healthy is Milky Oolong tea?

Milky Oolong tea shares many of the health benefits of other Oolong teas, including heart health and weight loss. In addition, it has a unique creamy flavor and rich aroma that many tea drinkers love.