What is Oolong Tea?

Are you familiar with wu-long tea (sometimes called oolong)?

Not know much about it? ...Let me help you!

-The name in China means black dragon
- Oolong in China means black dragon OR "champagne tea"
- They are mostly grown Taiwan.
- Fresh leaves are partially dried (or fermented) in direct sunlight
- leaves are black with a hint of red
- Has a very nice flowery fragrance
- Taste is bold but not as much as black tea
- This tea is now one of the most popular teas in Japan.

This tea sometimes has the nick name as the child of green tea and black tea. It's true! Green tea is un-oxidized. Black tea is fully oxidized. So this kind of tea would be semi-oxidized. Some people may call it a type of light green tea because this kind of tea is often used in place of other expensive green tea. They have some similarities in taste.

The name is sometimes written as Wu-long. In Chinese, it means black dragon and black snake. One word refers to both animals.Most of Oolong tea is cultivated in Taiwan. Some are cultivated in high mountains in Fijian, China. Formosa Oolong tea is known as the best oolong tea in the world.

Many countries have tried to produce this wu-long tea. But no other product can replace the original. Formosa Oolong tea has brownish color with a fruity flavor. It is a close relative of original Chinese wu-long tea, but more delicious, especially to Americans. This special blend of tea is one of American's favorite teas starting around 1920s. The discovery of wu-long tea was rather accidental. Original wu-long tea plants were first grown in province Fukien of China.

When the people of Fukien province migrated to Formosa, they attempted to cultivate the tea plants there. They tried to produce the original oolong tea.
Although the growing and processing methods are exactly the same, the oolong tea from Formosa tastes rather different, in a good way.Methods of processing can be mimicked. But there are 2 things that can't be.Due to the differences in soil fertility and the weather conditions between Fukien and Formosa, the Formosa oolong tea is more delicious and full-flavored.