Have you ever wondered what oolong tea tastes like?
Do you look suspiciously at oolong and think "not this time, I'll just go back to my usual", but secretly desire it because it's a little bit new and different, but get overcome with the fear of the unknown and then dismiss that uncomfortable feeling, while hoping someone driven and adventurous might answer the question for you without all the risk of change?
You're not alone.
Every month, thousands of people around the world ask Google this very question.
Even more aren't even sure what oolong tea is.
Here it is, nice and simple (with a bit of fun on the side):
What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like?
Firstly, we need to take a tiny step back and address the elephant in the room.
What even is oolong tea?
What is Oolong Tea?
Oolong is tea's very own middle child.
Where black tea is the hard-working first born and green tea is the charming precious baby, oolong is the forgotten, sometimes neglected, desperate for recognition, FABULOUS middle child.
Technically speaking, where black tea is fully oxidised, and green tea is not oxidised at all, oolong tea is SEMI-oxidised. For those still filling in the gaps, yes, you're right, these varieties all come from the same tea plant (camellia sinensis).
The. Same. Tea. Plant.
If your mind is blown right now, you may wish to take a moment to recover and have a cup of tea.
Let's get back to the question at hand:
What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like?
The simple key is knowing oolong tea is SEMI-oxidised.
There is a pretty big spectrum of oxidation levels in different oolong teas.
The oxidation level is the main thing that will determine the flavour of each oolong tea.
(There's a bunch of other factors too, but let's keep this nice and simple.)
A teeny tiny bit of oxidation will mean an oolong tea tastes almost like green tea. The leaf colour is generally lighter and greener.
A whole lot of oxidation (but not fully) will result in an oolong tea that resembles a black tea. The leaf colour is generally darker.
The result is a wide range of flavours, from floral and fruity, with undertones of orchid or jasmine (a little oxidised) to earthy, robust, smoky and toasty (a lot oxidised).
Oolong Tea We Recommend
Midnight Blossom Oolong Tea
Tielka's Midnight Blossom oolong tea is a blend that features Tieguanyin oolong tea, Australian-grown lemon myrtle, and jasmine flowers. It won silver in the 2018 oolong blend category of the Golden Leaf Awards.
Tieguanyin oolong tea is a type of Chinese oolong tea that is lightly oxidised and known for its floral aroma, smooth nutty taste, and lingering sweetness. The leaves are rolled up like tight little fists that unfurl spectacularly while brewing. You only need a tiny amount for each cup.
This oolong blend is a wonderful cleansing and calming tea, perfect for the afternoon when life can get a little hectic.
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