Chacodex

What is Oolong Tea?

Partially oxidized, spanning the full spectrum between green and black - 63 varieties.

Oolong tea occupies the vast spectrum between green and black tea, with oxidation levels ranging from 15% to 85%. This incredible range produces everything from light, floral teas like Baozhong to dark, roasted styles like Da Hong Pao. Oolong craftsmanship is considered the pinnacle of tea-making art, with skilled artisans coaxing complex layers of flavor through precise withering, rolling, and roasting.

How oolong tea is made

Steps: Pluck → Wither → Bruise & Tumble → Partial oxidation → Kill-green → Roll & Dry

The artisan controls how much the leaf oxidises by timing the bruising and the kill-green step. This window - a few hours at most - determines whether the result reads closer to green tea or black tea.

63 Oolong Tea Varieties

Frequently asked about oolong tea

What is oolong tea?
Oolong is partially oxidized tea, sitting between green and black. Oxidation ranges from about 15% to 85%, producing everything from light and floral to dark and roasted styles. It is widely regarded as the pinnacle of tea craftsmanship.
Is oolong tea caffeinated?
Yes, oolong has moderate caffeine, roughly 30 to 50mg per cup, between green and black tea. Brewed gongfu style in many short infusions, the caffeine is spread across the whole session.
What does oolong tea taste like?
It depends on oxidation and roast. Light oolongs like Tieguanyin and Alishan are creamy and floral, while roasted oolongs like Da Hong Pao are toasty, mineral, and rich.
How do you brew oolong tea?
Oolong shines brewed gongfu style: a high leaf-to-water ratio, near-boiling water, and many short steeps that evolve across infusions. Western style (1 to 2 teaspoons, 90 to 95°C, 2 to 3 minutes) also works well.
What are the most popular oolongs?
Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao, Alishan, Dong Ding, Oriental Beauty, and the Phoenix Dan Cong fragrance teas are among the most celebrated.