What is Oolong Tea and What Benefits Does It Have?

Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea celebrated for its complex flavors, ranging from sweet and floral to rich and roasted. Made from the Camellia sinensis plant, it undergoes partial oxidation placing it between green tea (minimally oxidized) and black tea (fully oxidized). This unique processing gives oolong its distinctive taste and a wealth of potential health benefits, from boosting metabolism to potentially supporting heart health.

Whether you're a tea enthusiast or exploring healthier beverage options, oolong offers a delightful middle ground with moderate caffeine levels and a diverse flavor profile. In this guide, we’ll explore what makes oolong tea unique, its scientifically supported health benefits, how it compares to green and black teas, and the best ways to brew and enjoy it. Let’s step into the world of oolong tea and uncover why it’s cherished by tea lovers worldwide.

What is Oolong Tea?

Oolong tea is a traditional semi-oxidized Chinese tea made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The name "oolong" translates to "black dragon" in Chinese, referencing the dark, twisted appearance of the leaves or the way they unfurl during brewing. Finally, the leaves are curled or rolled into crispy shapes that resemble tiny black dragons, hence the descriptive name. Because oolong tea leaves are more mature, they are harvested later in the spring than green or white teas, usually from late April to early May.

Benefits of Oolong Tea

Over time, drinking oolong tea may have mild benefits and potential positive side effects on your body. While we don't promise any of the below, we thought we would list out bits of information that studies have shown:

• Provides Antioxidant Properties - The polyphenol properties of oolong tea are also known to remove free radicals, making it a great antioxidant. 

• Studies have shown that a daily dose of oolong can remove free radicals and slightly decrease the chances of contracting diseases such as cancer, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.

• Promotes Healthy Teeth and Bones - The antioxidant properties of oolong have been shown to potentially help protect against tooth decay, prevent osteoporosis, and strengthen the bones in the body. 

• Studies have shown that people who regularly drink oolong or black tea potentially lose bone mineral density (BMD) at a slower rate than non-tea drinkers.

• Slows bone density loss due to calcium and fluoride content.

• Strengthens tooth enamel and prevents cavities.

• Promotes Healthy Skin - The antioxidant properties of oolong tea have been shown to combat outbreaks of eczema.

• Improves Mental Clarity - Oolong tea contains caffeine, which is well known to temporarily boost alertness.

• Supports Heart Health - Reduces LDL cholesterol oxidation and improves circulation.

• Aids With Digestion - Oolong tea has been shown to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, making it highly beneficial to anyone with acid reflux or ulcer issues. Additionally, this tea has been known to combat some of the bad bacteria in the stomach.

• Brain Function & Mood - Caffeine and L-theanine may enhance focus, and memory, and reduce stress.

Does Oolong Tea Have Caffeine?

Yes, oolong tea naturally contains caffeine, though typically less than coffee and black tea. The caffeine content can vary widely depending on factors like the specific type of oolong, the tea-to-water ratio used during brewing, and the steeping time. On average, an 8-ounce cup of oolong tea contains between 30 to 102 milligrams of caffeine. For comparison, a similar serving of coffee may contain 95 to 200 milligrams. The longer the tea is steeped, the higher the caffeine content will be. The caffeine content will lessen each time tea is re-steeped, lessening by about 1/3 with each steeping.

History of Oolong Tea

Oolong (Wu-lung) tea originates from China and is actually transliterated from two words meaning “black” and “dragon” in English. Besides its inherent meaning, the two words describe the shape of the oolong leaves in their novel state. Oolong tea goes through a unique semi-oxidization process that ranges from 1% to 99%. Shortly after picking, the leaves are withered and semi-oxidized in the sun and then shade-dried. After this, they are basket-tossed to break down the cells on the surface of the leaves and wok-fired, which halts the oxidization process. Heating methods include masterfully hand-roasting the tea leaves in multiple steps, which generally take place throughout the night. Oolongs are often processed over charcoal or wood, which gives a unique flavor to the various finishing styles.

There are numerous theories about how oolong tea came to be:

The first theory called the “tribute tea” theory, claims that oolong tea stems directly from the Dragon-Phoenix Cake tribute tea, which was made up of two different tea types: “Dragon” (Long) and “Phoenix” (Fong), produced in the Beiyuan tea gardens. When loose-leaf tea came into play as the new way of serving tributes, the name was changed to “Black Dragon” or oolong tea, to associate with the dark, wiry leaves that resulted from this form of processing.

The second theory comes from the “Wuyi” theory, which claims that oolong tea was originally named after the Wuyi mountain region, where it was first documented in poems from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The third theory comes from the “Anxi” theory, which claims that oolong tea was first discovered in the Anxi region of the Fujian province when a man named Sulong, Wulong or Wuliang, accidentally allowed his tea leaves to oxidize after being distracted during the harvest.

Oolong teas reached the height of their popularity during the Qing dynasty, with the introduction of Ti Quan Yin, or Iron Goddess of Mercy, to the emperor Qian Lung, who was so enamored by the beauty of the tea that word of it quickly spread. This was also about the time that the gongfu ceremonial method of serving tea came about and played an instrumental role in political and modern warfare during that period. Oolong tea was usually served out of special handmade teapots made out of purple clay called Yixing teapots. These were designed to be used with one type of tea only to season the teapot and avoid cross-contamination of flavors.

By the mid-1900s, the popularity of oolong teas had grown so much that oolong tea production began in Taiwan. Because of the variable weather and terrain throughout Taiwan, the profiles and overall quality of teas grown there are rather unpredictable and can change dramatically from season to season.

Even though the cultivation of oolong tea has spread through various parts of Asia and all the way to India and Nepal in the past decade, the best oolongs today still tend to come from the Anxi and Fujian regions of China or Taiwan and are still best enjoyed using the methods that were crafted during its early inception.

Oolong Tea Types & Variants

Although oolong teas are primarily grown and harvested in concentrated areas of China and Taiwan, the regions in which they are grown are somewhat expansive, with varying climates and growing conditions. Thus, there is a wide array of unique oolongs with flavors and aromas ranging from robust and roasted to floral and round. Some of the more popular variants of oolong tea are:

Chinese Oolong Teas:

• Wuyi Oolong: yields a heady, floral aroma with a rich, round finish

• Iron Goddess of Mercy (Ti Kuan Yin): named after the Chinese goddess of mercy, Kuan Yin, with a smooth and slightly floral flavor and aroma.

• Big Red Robe (Da Hong Pao): a prized oolong varietal with long wiry leaves and a unique woodsy flavor.

Taiwanese Oolong Teas:

• Bao Zhong (Pouchong): closer to green tea, not as oxidized, with a brilliant jade green appearance and a slightly floral flavor.

How to Prepare Oolong Tea

Most oolong teas are best prepared at a water temperature of 185°-206° F, with a steep time of about 3-5 minutes. While this is a good rule-of-thumb, these suggested temperatures may vary depending on the type of oolong as well as the oxidation present in the dry leaf. Oolong teas can be re-steeped multiple times and unlike most other tea types, oolongs will improve and transform with each re-steeping. In most cases, the 4th or 5th steeping is often the best. For optimum results, you may want to increase the steeping temperatures slightly after the first few flushes to unlock more flavor potential. It is also suggested that you use about 1 tsp per 8oz cup for rolled oolongs and 1 Tbsp per 8oz cup for longleaf oolongs.

How to Store Oolong Tea

Proper storage is crucial to maintaining the freshness and flavor of your oolong tea. Keep your tea in an airtight container away from direct sunlight, moisture, and strong odors. A cool, dark pantry or cabinet is an ideal location.

Art of Tea Tea Recommendations

Whether you are new to oolong teas or just looking for something unique and adventurous to satiate your palate, we have a wonderful selection of teas and blends to try. Here are some of our favorites:

• Single Source – Iron Goddess of Mercy, Orchid Oolong

• Blends – Plum Oolong

• Iced – Orchid Oolong, Blue Pineapple 

Conclusion

Oolong tea offers a versatile range of flavors and scientifically backed health benefits, making it a valuable addition to a wellness routine. It is rich in antioxidants and may help with heart health, brain function, and weight management. Note that individual effects may vary, and excessive caffeine intake should be avoided. While more research is needed to confirm all of its proposed effects, oolong tea is a delightful and healthful beverage to enjoy in moderation.