For tea enthusiasts, Oolong is perhaps the most sought-after of all tea types. These teas are very diverse from one another, with unique leaves, color nuances, countless degrees of oxidation, ranging from 25% to 80%, repeated roasting, as well as where and how these teas are produced. Based on all of this, along with the tea master’s personal interpretation, we experience a diversity of character. Oolong offers a wide spectrum of aromas and sophisticated flavor experiences.
Where does Oolong come from? China is the original homeland of Oolong tea, and in the southeastern provinces of Fujian and Guangdong, some of the best Oolong teas in the world can be found.
Fujian has a treasure trove of fantastic teas, to mention just a few: Jasmine Pearls, Yin Zhen Pekoe, Lapsang Souchong, as well as many superb oolong teas.
In northern Fujian, Wu Yi Shan rock oolong teas have been prized throughout history. Wu Yi Shan is a picturesque area with spectacular rivers, bamboo forests, and classic limestone mountains (rocks). This area supports the natural tea varieties that grow in the mineral-rich iron oxide red soil along the mountain tops and edges. The highest mountain edges in Wu Yi Shan are home to the most sought-after and expensive teas in China’s exceptional treasure trove. Many of these tea bushes are 50 years old or more and yield only a limited harvest of leaves each April/May. It is from here that Simply Tea sources their Da Hong Pao (Red Robe oolong) and Rou Gui oolong teas. Not all Wu Yi Shan oolong teas are harvested from these bushes. These teas are very unique, and the best teas rarely leave China. Other superb rock oolong teas from this area include Qian Li Xian Eight Immortals and Shui Xian Narcissus.
In southern Fujian, you can see terraces of tea gardens carved into the mountains around the city of Anxi. This coastal area has a subtropical climate and rich, fertile soil, perfect for the red and white heart Guan Yin bushes used for Tie Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy). Tie Guan Yin is produced in more than 27 villages in Anxi. Most commercial Anxi teas are grown at around 400 meters above sea level, but Simply Tea’s High Mountain Oolong is grown far from the city and its population on a protective mountain at about 800 meters high, covered in mist. The result is a tea rich in amino acids with a complex aroma and a slight hint of citrus. With this tea, the master is very careful to keep the leaves whole to create a smooth flavor that never becomes bitter. This is a special tea made exclusively from leaves of the Tie Guan Yin bush. Anxi oolong teas undergo a unique rolling process. About halfway through production, the leaves are packed into a cloth bag that is tightened into a hard ball. The ball is placed in a machine that very gently rolls it, then the leaves are loosened, and the process is repeated about 16 times, partly to give the tea its well-known semi-ball shape and partly to activate the juices that give the tea its distinct aroma of acidity.
In the northeastern area of Guangdong Province, around the city of Chaozhou, there are five mountain peaks belonging to the Phoenix Mountains. These mountains are famous for a unique oolong that competes with Wu Yi Shan rock oolong, namely Feng Huang Dan Cong. Dan Cong is harvested from old, wild, large-leaved trees that grow at 1400 meters in the Phoenix Mountains. Some of the trees are over 700 years old and are picked once at the end of April or the beginning of May, depending on the weather. In appearance, Dan Cong resembles Rock oolong as the leaves are twisted to resemble a dragon figure. The name oolong comes from Wu long. Wu refers to the origin place Wu Yi Shan, and Long means dragon. It was Europeans who renamed Wu Long to Oolong.
Health Benefits of Oolong Tea Recently, oolong teas have generated great interest in the West due to current research on obesity and weight loss. However, the darker oxidized oolong teas have been famous for centuries for aiding digestion, curing headaches, and have been used to cleanse the system after excessive use of cigarettes and alcohol. Despite research being published, weight loss is not scientifically documented by Western medical research. Beware of unscrupulous dealers who use weight loss claims to disguise poor-quality teas.
As with all teas, one should consider the health benefits as the icing on the cake; the flavor experience of drinking these teas is what it’s all about.
Nevertheless, the physiological relief from drinking oolong can be quite evident if one consumes some teas (especially Dan Cong!) after a heavy meal. It can have a soothing effect on the stomach; oolong tea is a great counterbalance to rich or fatty foods, which is why I often recommend it during Afternoon Tea.
Rock Oolong tea also provides nutrients from the mineral-rich soil of Wu Yi Shan, which is believed to benefit health by alleviating joint and muscle pain, and it is very popular in Japan for protecting the liver.
On the other end of the oolong processing spectrum, Anxi oolong, the lightly oxidized tea, is recommended in traditional Chinese medicine for the benefit of the respiratory system.
Three Tips for Assessing the Quality of Chinese Oolong Tea:
- The best oolong tea never becomes bitter, regardless of how long it is allowed to steep. It is true that some good Dan Cong oolong teas may have a certain bitterness, but this is sought after, especially among locals; however, the best Dan Cong oolong teas are sweeter and smoother. A rich flavor with multiple infusions and a long aftertaste should be expected from all oolong teas.
- With Anxi and Dan Cong oolong, most leaves should not be damaged and should be whole when brewed. Because rock oolong goes through several stages of roasting, the leaves can be expected to be more fragile and are usually not whole.
- After the tea is brewed, the leaves should appear tender, flexible, and fresh. The leaves should never be tough, old, or thick – these are signs of a harvest that was done too late.