Oolong Tea 101 | History, Processing & Health Benefits

Somewhere between black tea and green tea you’ll find the wonder that is oolong tea. Oolong is a tea in the truest, most traditional sense since it comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. But due to its unique processing method, it sits in a category all its own. No other tea is quite like oolong–both in its mysterious shroud of origin as well as in its broad spectrum of taste.

History of Oolong Tea

The name oolong (Wu-lung) is transliterated from two Chinese words which mean ‘black dragon’. Stories vary as to how this name came about. Some say the tea gets its name from how the long, dark leaves seem to resemble a dragon dancing in the water as they unfurl. Others say that deep in the misty mountains of the Fujian province of China, a tea farmer named Sulong or Wulong discovered it by accident. The story goes that one day, he was distracted during a long day of picking by a deer. By the time he had returned home, he found that his withering tea leaves had already started to oxidize, thus creating oolong tea. Still others say that the name comes as a re-brand of Dragon-Phoenix tea cakes offered to the emperor as tribute when they transitioned to loose leaf form, since ‘oolong’ means ‘black dragon’. Alas, oolong’s true origins remain as shrouded in mist as the mountains from whence it comes.

While the exact method or time of discovery isn’t known, sometime during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) this extraordinary tea began to make itself known across China. During the Qing dynasty, the emperor was introduced to this tea, which was named Ti Quan Yin, or Iron Goddess of Mercy, after the compassionate goddess Guanyin. He became enamored with its beauty and the tea was soon highly sought after by the emperor, his court, and the rest of China. In the 19th century, seeds made their way over to Taiwan and oolong tea found yet another home for cultivation. By the mid-1900s, oolong tea production was in full swing, being exported globally. Today, oolongs are cultivated in several different places, but the most highly-regarded ones come from China and Taiwan.

Oolong Tea Processing

Oolong is like the Goldilocks of teas when it comes to its processing. Black tea is fully oxidized–meaning, its leaves have fully undergone a chemical reaction with oxygen, transforming their flavor, aroma, and turning them into their familiar black color. Green tea is hardly oxidized at all, hence its green color. But oolong tea sits right between the two because it is semi-oxidized.

To understand oolong, you have to first understand how tea is processed in general. It goes like this: once harvested, the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant are tossed and spread out for several hours to begin the withering process. In withering, the leaves start to wilt and lose their moisture content. Next, they are rolled, a process where the leaves are intentionally bruised to break down their cell walls and begin releasing the juices and enzymes which react with oxygen to create flavor compounds in the next step which is, you guessed it: oxidation! Here, the leaves are exposed to air for a certain period of time, allowing for this chemical reaction to occur. In black tea, this phase is prolonged; in green tea, it’s nearly non-existent. Once again, oolong is somewhere in-between.

This is where the craziest disparity on the tea spectrum occurs. Depending on the region it’s grown and the tea master (an expert in all aspects of tea production) who is processing it, the oxidation, flavor, and appearance of oolong tea can vary wildly. First, oolong tea leaves can be oxidized anywhere from 8-80%! Oolongs from Taiwan, for example, tend to be much less oxidized than those from China, resulting in two very different flavor profiles. Oolong tea can be light or full bodied, floral or grassy, toasty or sweet. In terms of appearance, there is a range as well. Oolong leaves can be green or yellow or brown. Adding to the disparity is the style of leaves. Oolong teas can be rolled into balls or twisted into long strands, again, depending on the tea master. Clearly, this is not a ‘tried one, tried them all’ type of a situation. The difference from one oolong to the next is truly a thing to behold and leaves room for a lot of exciting flavor possibilities.

The last step following oxidation is that of heat-drying. For oolong, this can be done with a wok or some other heating means, but often it’s done over charcoal, giving the leaves a distinctive finish. However it’s done, this final step stops the oxidation process, dries out the leaves, and imparts some additional flavor characteristics.

Health Benefits of Oolong Teas

Oolong has been praised for several of its health benefits. Studies have suggested that its antioxidants might strengthen teeth and bones, promote healthy skin, and possibly even lower the risk for certain cancers, strokes, and heart disease. Its caffeine content helps with mental alertness. And oolong teas have been prized for centuries for their ability to help with digestion, cure headaches, and have a cleansing effect on the body.

Whatever their actual health benefit, we know one thing for sure: oolong teas are a beautiful example of artisan craftsmanship. From the first pluck to the final charcoal finish, these teas are completely unique–both from other teas and one another.