What is Oolong Tea?
Somewhere between black tea and green tea you’ll find the wonder that is oolong tea. Oolong is a tea in the 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. As they’re processed, all black, white, green, and oolong tea leaves undergo the same four steps: wither, roll, oxidize, dry. What makes them distinct from one another is the amount of time they are allowed to oxidize. You see, black tea is fully oxidized. This means that 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. Oolong tea sits right between the two because it is semi-oxidized. Although oolongs can vary widely in oxidation—ranging anywhere from 8% to 80% depending on the tea farm—they always have a distinct flavor that sets them apart from both black and green teas. This makes oolong a really exciting tea to try, as the flavor profiles can range from floral or grassy to toasty or sweet.
Brewing Ratios & Temperature
If you are new to the tea world, it can be intimidating to figure out how to brew tea the correct way, especially when the different tea types require specific measurements, steep times, and water temperatures. One of the most essential and straightforward rules for tea brewing is to use clean, filtered water. The quality of the water is almost as important as the tea itself. Tap or low-quality water can negatively alter the flavor profile of the tea. When it comes to oolong tea, the ideal brewing temperature is right around 195° in order to fully extract the flavor without burning the leaves.
The amount of tea leaves used depends on the style of oolong you’re using. For tightly rolled oolong, you will want to use 1 tsp. For a more voluminous variety, you will want to use 1-2 tsp. Once your leaves are in your mug or teapot, you first want to rinse them. Pour in enough water to cover the leaves, swirl it around a few times, and then discard the water. This step not only rinses the leaves, it prepares them to unfurl in the next step in order to fully release their flavor. Next, steep the tea in 8 ounces of water for 3-5 minutes, but keep in mind that steeping times vary with oolong since there is such a wide variety. Some oolongs may need more steeping time; others less. Once you’ve steeped your oolong, don’t discard it! Oolong can actually be re-steeped multiple times. In fact, sometimes the flavor continues to improve even with the 4th or 5th steep!
