Community Poll
Oolong Teas
Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea, produced through a unique process that includes withering under the strong sun before curling and twisting. Most oolong teas, especially those of fine quality, involve unique tea plant cultivars that are exclusively used for particular varieties. The degree of fermentation can range from 8% (our Jade Oolong from Taiwan) to 99% (our Purple Oolong from Indonesia), depending on the variety and production style. This tea category is especially popular with tea connoisseurs everywhere, as is the tea brewing ceremony that originated from China: gongfu tea-making, or the gongfu tea infusion approach. The taste of oolong ranges hugely amongst various sub varieties. It can be sweet and fruity with honey aromas, or woody and thick with roasted aromas, or green and fresh with flowery aromas, all depending on the cultivation and style of production. Several sub varieties of Oolong, including those produced in the Wuyi Mountains of northern Fujian and in the central mountains of Taiwan, are among the most famous Chinese teas. Different varieties of oolong are processed differently, but the leaves are formed into one of two distinct styles. Some are rolled into long curly leaves, while others are 'wrap-curled' into small beads.
