It's All About Tea — oolong

Today we'll talk about a firm favorite among China's 6 tea types - Oolong tea. This remarkable tea is also known under a couple of other nicknames. Some of them include "the perfume of teas" and "the champagne of teas" - all for a good reason! Indeed, Oolong - or Wu Long - is among the most aromatic teas out there. Let's discover the secret behind its charming aroma!

Oolong is a semi-oxidized tea. It stands between non-oxidized green tea and fully oxidized red tea (Hong Cha). It is the last among China's six tea types, created as late as the Qing dynasty. Its name translates as "black dragon" (Wu Long, 乌龙) and is tied to a number of legends on its origins. Oolong originates in China's Fujian province. From there, it quickly spread out to the neighborhoods of Guangdong and Taiwan, shaping the unique Gong Fu Cha tea culture. (Read more)

Last week in part one of this blog post, we discovered the relationship between tea and Traditional Chinese Medicine and how tea turned into "a medicine for ten thousand illnesses". We also talked about two of the three most suitable teas to drink in wintertime - black tea and dark tea (like shou pu-erh and Liu Bao). We discussed how they support vital body functions and help preserve our health during the colder months. Now let's go on with the last suggestion - and a bonus mention!  (Read more)

Tea drinkers worldwide have a special spot in their hearts for the warm, roasted notes of Wuyi Mountain tea (yancha) with its unforgettable Yan Yun. Within the vast history of tea, the Wuyi Mountains are a relatively new growing region. Nonetheless, they continue to produce mesmerizing tea, which we cannot stop talking about. This time, we will go a little more into detail about the different growing regions within Wuyi Shan (Wuyi Mountain) itself.  (Read more)

Bug Bitten Oolong originated in Taiwan in the early 20th century. Once, there was a tremendous amount of leafhoppers feasting on one farmer’s tea bushes. Instead of forsaking the whole harvest, he decided to proceed with processing these tea leaves. Thus, the first Oriental Beauty Oolong came into existence — the forerunner of bug-bitten tea. (Read more)