Traditional Green and Oolong Teas
Oolong tea is a traditional Asian Tea made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The same plant, Camellia sinensis, is used to make Green and Black teas. The difference is in the amount of Oxidation. Oxidation is what turns Green tea leaves into a deep dark red (or black) color.
Oolong teas have a rich, sweet flavor, but lack the strong aroma of black teas or the grassy notes of a green tea. Oolong teas are processed directly after picking by leaving them to wilt in the sun for a brief period of time. After this wilting, the leaves are shaken in a basket to bruise the leaves, allowing them to begin fermentation. Once they’ve reached the desired level of oxidation, the leaves are quickly roasted to halt fermentation. After this, the leaves are either rolled into pearls to preserve freshness, or they are left in their traditional long leaf form.
Teas labeled as Green Oolong are teas on the lighter side of oxidation and would best be described as a Green Tea. The slight oxidation removes the grassy notes that are commonly associated with a zero oxidation Green tea. It is this semi-oxidation that allows complex flavors and notes to become the defining characteristic of some of the world's best teas.
Our extensive Oolong collection has many different varieties, offering you a wide variety of flavor notes and richness. Each Oolong tea varies in its sweetness, richness, and smoothness. We have the one of the best collections of high quality oolong teas in the country and several of our teas have even won awards at national tea competitions. We hope you enjoy our Oolong teas.