For Christmas, my friend Li gave me a can of Tung Ting Oolong Tea (also known as Jade Oolong) by Ten Ren. It was my introduction to green oolong teas – oolongs which have received very little oxidation.

Tung Ting Mountain is located in central Taiwan, rising about 760 metres (2500 feet) above sea level. This is a dedicated tea region: out of a population of 20,000, 12,000 are tea farmers. If you ever get a chance to visit the Tung Ting region, drop by the town of Luku at the base of the mountain, and visit the Tea Culture Museum at the Luku Farmers Association. During spring, you can also celebrate the annual tea festival, where the tea farmers from the region compete in a tea-tasting competition.

Ten Ren’s Tung Ting is rolled into balls and has a lovely aroma: fruity with a subtle floral note. Unlike darker oolongs, which have a smokey flavour and an amber appearance, green oolongs are much lighter in colour and don’t exhibit any smokiness. My wife, who isn’t a fan of darker oolongs, quite enjoyed the Tung Ting oolong. Needless to say, so did I.

Of steepings, there were plenty. I had six excellent cups from the same leaves and I probably could have had more. Oolong teas only need to be brewed for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, and I’m sure I allowed it to steep a little too long once or twice.

Given that this was my first experience with green oolong tea, I can’t comment on how Ten Ren’s Tung Ting compares to other Tung Ting’s available, such as Adagio’s Jade Oolong tea. As a type of tea, however, I can strongly recommend it for tea drinkers who love a light, slightly sweet tea with a delicious floral scent. If you’ve never tried oolong, but you enjoy green teas, I think you’ll find tung ting oolong a pleasant change.

Credit: Some of the information for this post was found in The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, a book which I strongly recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about the world of tea.

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | Tung Ting Jade Oolong Tea by Ten Ren (Review) | 4 comments |
Post categories: Oolong tea, Tea reviews
Post tags: formosan teas, ten ren, tung ting jade oolong

Ti Kuan Yin Oolong Tea. Photo by selva.

What is oolong tea, exactly?

Like green tea, oolong tea (or wulong tea) comes from Camellia Sinensis leaves. Unlike green tea, which isn’t oxidized at all, oolong tea is partially oxidized. It receives anywhere between 10% and 80% oxidation.

Because it can be oxidized so much or so little, oolong tea is a universe unto itself. You may find that one variety of oolong tea has an amber appearance very similar to black teas, while another is golden green, practically indistinguishable from green tea infusions. The range of flavours fluctuates just as widely, from deep, rich oolongs to sweet, floral brews.

Where is oolong tea grown?

Oolong tea production makes up only a small percentage of overall tea production: around 2% of teas grown end up as oolongs. The vast majority of these oolongs come from Taiwan (Formosa) and China. A few other tea growing regions, including India, produce oolongs on a small scale, but the world’s most reputable oolongs come from China and Taiwan.

What are some of the most famous types of oolong tea?

From Taiwan, Formosa Fancy Silvertips is an oolong with 50%-60% oxidation, bearing a striking aroma and deep flavour. Tung Ting Jade is another famous Formosan variety, characterized by a fruity flavour and light green colour. Imperial Formosan is a prized oolong with a rich amber colour.

China’s most famous variety of oolong is Wu Yi, named after the Wu Yi Mountains in northern Fujian. Royal Red Robe Wu Yi Mountain comes from there and is a highly oxidized oolong (80%) that looks very similar to black tea, except for its large size. Tieguanyin is another notable oolong from China, the best of which can be infused up to fifteen times.

What’s the best way to brew oolong tea?

Oolong tea should be brewed in slightly cooled water between 82°C and 93°C (180°F – 200°F). Unlike black teas, which are best with freshly boiled water, I prefer to allow the water to cool for about a minute, defusing its intensity and allowing the flavours of the oolong to emerge nicely. However, I’d suggest varying this based on how oxidized the oolong is: if it’s highly oxidized, don’t allow the water to cool for as long, whereas with oolongs with very little oxidation, allow the water longer to cool.

Oolong tea doesn’t need a long infusion time. 90 seconds to 2 minutes is perfect, especially if you’re planning to brew the same leaves multiple times.

What are the health benefits of drinking oolong tea?

Most of the studies into the health benefits of tea have been regarding green tea, but since oolong tea is produced from the same plant, it has many of the same properties. Oolong tea reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers cholesterol levels, stimulate metabolism, prevents dental decay, strengthens capillaries, eases arthritis pain, improves mental focus, inhibits Alzheimer’s disease, boosts the immune system, fights infection, improves skin health, increases bone density and improves your memory. Like green tea, oolong tea can also help in the fight against cancer.

Does oolong tea contain caffeine?

Like all teas produced from Camellia Sinensis, oolong tea contains caffeine. Since oolong tea is partly oxidized, placing it between green tea and black tea on the scale of oxidation, many people say it contains less caffeine than black tea and more than green tea. This is a generalization which doesn’t hold true all the time. Some oolongs contain less caffeine than some greens, and some blacks contain less caffeine than some oolongs. There is too much variation based on where the oolong is grown, how it is produced and how it is brewed to be able to say, definitively, how much caffeine any given cup of oolong tea contains.

More on this: How much caffeine does green tea contain?.

Where can I buy oolong tea online?

• Adagio Teas have a handful of oolong offerings, including a sampler set for those who want to get acquainted with a variety of oolongs.
• Mighty Leaf have a good range of oolongs.

Other posts in this series

• Green Tea
• White Tea
• Black Tea
• Pu-erh Tea

© eric for Tea Finely Brewed, 2009. | 7 Common Questions About Oolong Tea | 4 comments |
Post categories: Oolong tea
Post tags: Beginner's Guide to Tea, caffeine content of tea, camellia sinensis, chinese teas, formosa fancy silvertips, formosan teas, Oolong tea, tea health, ti kuan yin, tung ting jade oolong, wild-grown tieguanyin, wu yi