What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like?
If you’ve never tasted it, you’re likely wondering what does oolong tea tastes like?
Oolong tea is unique because it sits between green tea and black tea. The taste and color of oolong tea can vary greatly depending on the oxidation process, variety of oolong, and origin. Lighter grades of oolong tea have a more delicate flavor with a floral aroma, while darker varieties will have a much bolder taste with roasted notes.
We’ll review an in-depth taste profile if you’re curious about what oolong tea tastes like. You’ll learn about the unique aroma and its potential health benefits.
Grab your favorite brew and read on to learn everything you need to know about oolong tea.
The Origins of Oolong Tea
Oolong tea has been enjoyed for centuries. It originated in China’s Fujian province, and the name is derived from the Chinese words “Wu Long, ” meaning “black dragon.” Oolong tea is grown in mainland China and Taiwan, and 20% of the world’s oolong tea comes from Taiwan.
Like black and green tea, oolong tea is made from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis. They’re typically rolled into small balls or twisted into long curly leaves, giving them their unique appearance as opposed to other teas.
Oolong teas are rolled, twisted, or curled into tight small balls to give them their authentic shape. Rolling is the most important process of cultivation in oolong teas because the rolling of the leaves decides the tea’s final appearance, aroma, and color.
Unlike black teas, which are fully oxidized, and green teas, which are only partially so, the leaves for oolong teas are oxidized to anywhere between 8-85%. This produces a range of flavors that can go from light and floral to deep and roasted.
What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like?
Oolong tea has a unique flavor profile with sweet, woody, and slightly floral notes. It has a rich, full-bodied flavor on the palate, ranging from fruity and light to smooth and roasted. The sweet aftertaste comes from the partial fermentation process, which causes tea oxidation.
Some variations of oolong tea can also have mineral, buttery, honey-like, or nutty undertones, depending on where it’s grown.
Oolong tea’s flavor and oxidation level sit between green and black tea. Oolong teas are known for their complexity in flavor due to their oxidation level – the longer you steep the leaves, the more intense flavors will be released.
Each variety of oolong has a unique taste profile because of how it’s processed and brewed. To get a sense of an oolong tea’s flavor, you should sample different kinds of oolongs to find the one that suits your palate best.
Tie Guan Yan (Iron Goddess of Mercy)
Legends say the monks had monkeys pick Tie Guan Yan tea leaves from high altitudes. Although monkeys didn’t help harvest the tea leaves, this type of oolong does grow in high-altitude terrains, which makes them more laborious to pick and more expensive.
Tie Guan Yan has a unique aroma and comes in lightly and heavily roasted versions. It’s naturally sweet with floral hints, while the longer roasted variety is darker and nuttier.
Dong Ding Oolong (Frozen Summit)
Frozen Summit Oolong tea grows at 1,000 meters above sea level altitudes. The high altitudes and rich soil naturally create the perfect tea-growing conditions. This is why the flavor of this type of oolong is so aromatic and intense.
Dong Ding Oolong has a strong, fresh, and sweet aftertaste. Some even taste hints of honey and caramel, depending on the roast.
Milk Oolong
Milk oolong originates from the Jin Xuan tea bush and is named for its creamy, sweet, and flowery flavor. Legends say milk oolong was created when the moon fell in love with a comet. When the comet passed, the moon cried milky tears, which withered the tea leaves to create its distinct creaminess.
As the name suggests, milk oolong tastes fresh, floral, and smooth with hints of sweet milk. It’s one of the most popular oolong teas and should be enjoyed thoroughly!
What Tea Tastes Similar to Oolong Tea?
Several other teas have a similar taste profile, including white, pu-erh, and green tea.
White tea is made from young leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant, just like oolong. Its delicate character produces a light infusion with subtle notes and mild sweetness.
Pu-erh tea is also quite similar in flavor to oolong but with an earthier feel due to the extra step of the aging process involved in producing it.
When comparing oolong tea vs. green tea, they’re similar in complexity but lack the same depth of flavor and body.
What Does Oolong Milk Tea Taste Like?
Oolong milk tea is often called bubble tea, a Taiwanese beverage known for adding brewed tea, milk, and tapioca balls to give it a sweet taste. The taste of oolong milk tea is sweet, creamy, and floral flavor.
The brewed oolong tea provides a distinct floral aroma. Sugar or honey is added to provide sweetness, and milk adds creaminess.
Health Benefits of Oolong Tea
Oolong is known for its unique taste and fragrance, but there are also some amazing health benefits associated with this special type of tea.
Like black and green tea, oolong comes from the Camellia sinensis plant leaves, which have many health benefits.
1. Aids in Digestion
One key benefit of oolong tea is that it can aid in digestion. This is because oolong alkalizes the digestive tract, which is helpful for people who deal with acid reflux.
Additionally, oolong can help the body get rid of bad bacteria in the gut because it is mildly antiseptic.
2. Helps with Weight Loss
Oolong tea has also been found to be beneficial for weight loss and metabolism. The caffeine found in oolong tea can act as an appetite suppressant by helping people feel fuller for longer.
Additionally, research has shown that oolong tea can increase metabolism, leading to more calories burned throughout the day.
3. Lowers Cholesterol
Studies have shown that drinking oolong regularly can reduce cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. Since oolong is semi-oxidized, it contains polyphenols that help reduce inflammation and reduce fat.
How to Brew Oolong Tea
Oolong tea starts with high-quality loose leaf tea, which should be kept in an airtight container away from light, moisture, and heat to maintain freshness. It does come in teabags if you’re looking for something more convenient and simple. Generally, loose leaf teas are of higher quality compared to teabags.
Many people who use a Yixing clay teapot will only steep one tea in each teapot to ensure future brews are optimized for flavor. Brewing multiple tea varieties in the same teapot will cause flavor profiles to mix.
A regular teapot, kettle, and mug also work perfectly to brew oolong tea.
Here are some simple instructions on how to brew a flavorful cup of oolong tea.
- Boil filtered water until it meets the right temperature. Oolong is best brewed between 180°F to 200°F.
- Warm up your cup by pouring a small amount of boiling water. This is an optional step, ensuring your tea stays warm.
- Put 1-2 teaspoons of oolong tea directly into your cup or within an infuser.
- Pour the hot water onto the tea leaves and steep for 1 to 5 minutes. The length of time depends on your taste preference because the longer steep will result in a stronger taste.
- Take out the infuser and enjoy!
Oolong tea can be brewed multiple times, and each additional infusion will have a slightly different flavor. Each subsequent brew will produce a lighter color and weaker flavor than the first.
Final Thoughts
Oolong tea is popularly known for its distinct flavor. Brewing oolong tea is simple but requires precision to get the most out of the tea.
It’s best brewed between 180°F and 200°F, ensuring to warm the cup beforehand by pouring a small amount of boiling water into it. The amount of tea used should be 1-2 teaspoons, depending on the desired strength, and steeped for 1-5 minutes. You can enjoy the oolong tea once it’s done steeping.
Taking time to experiment with different brewing temperatures and steeping times can help to bring out even more flavor nuances in oolong teas, allowing you to get new depths of flavor from these highly aromatic teas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to sweeten oolong tea?
Oolong tea is best enjoyed alone, but some may prefer a sweetened variation. Honey is a natural sweetener that can enhance the flavor of oolong tea without overpowering the natural taste. Simply add a teaspoon of honey to your cup of oolong tea and stir well.
What does oolong tea smell like?
Oolong tea has a unique aroma that can vary depending on the specific type of oolong tea and how it’s processed. Generally, oolong tea has a floral and fruity fragrance with hints of honey, earthiness and woodiness, with a subtle hint of smokiness.
Does oolong tea taste good?
Yes, oolong tea tastes good if you prefer a slightly sweet, earthy, floral tea. However, everyone’s taste preferences are different. Oolong has a unique and complex flavor profile that is sweet and earthy, with hints of floral and fruity notes. It’s less bitter than black tea and grassy than green tea, making it a perfect choice for those who prefer a milder taste.
What is special about oolong tea?
What makes oolong tea special is the oxidation process which gives it a distinct flavor and aroma. Oolong is partially oxidized, which sits between black and green tea. Due to the oxidation process, oolong tea has a complex flavor profile that is sweet and earthy, with hints of floral and fruity notes.
Do you put milk in oolong tea?
Whether or not to put milk in oolong tea is a matter of personal preference. Some people enjoy adding milk to oolong tea to create a creamy and rich flavor, while others prefer to drink it plain to appreciate its unique taste and aroma fully. One popular variation is oolong milk tea, which combines oolong tea, sweetener, milk and tapioca pearls to create a sweetened drink.
Does oolong tea have caffeine?
Yes, oolong tea does contain caffeine, although the amount can vary depending on the specific type of oolong tea and how it is processed. On average, an 8-ounce cup of oolong tea contains about 30-60 mg of caffeine, less than black tea but more than green tea.
