Answering The Question: How To Brew Oolong Tea?

Brewing oolong tea is an art form that combines tradition, technique, and a sprinkle of personal flair. If you're a tea enthusiast looking to dive into the delightful world of oolong tea, you’ve come to the right place! Here we’ll discuss how to brew oolong tea, focusing on various methods, share tips for perfecting your brew, and even steps on how you can make that creamy milk oolong tea that you’ve probably heard so much about. Do grab your favorite teapot and let’s get started, shall we?

What is Oolong Tea?

Before we jump into brewing, let’s quickly jog our memory on what oolong tea is. Oolong tea is one of the most popular teas in Asia and its popularity has slowly and steadily been increasing in the Western world as people are discovering its unique flavor profile. The literal translation of oolong is “black dragon”. While some say it is because of the way the tea leaves resemble a dancing dragon as it is brewed in the water, others believe that it is named after the black snakes that are sometimes found wrapped around the branches of the trees.   

Oolong tea is a semi-oxidized tea that sits comfortably between green and black teas. Oxidation levels of oolong tea can range from as low as 10% to as high as 70%, giving it a wide spectrum of flavors, aromas, and colors. Lighter oolongs tend to often have floral notes, while darker ones are known for their earthy flavors. 

For a lighter oolong tea experience, you can check out our Amma Oolong Tea. With its citrusy and fruity flavor profiles, it makes for the perfect beverage for people looking for a quick morning or afternoon pick-me-up. 

Similarly, for a more robust oolong tea experience, you can check out our exquisite Shangri-La Oolong. It’s flavor profiles of caramel and biscuits, it can be a perfect beverage companion for an evening unwinding session. 

Now with that out of the way, let’s get into the meat of the matter! 

How to Brew Oolong Tea: The Basics

Step 1: Choose Your Brewing Vessel

When it comes to brewing oolong, the vessel you choose will impact the flavor. Traditionalists often opt for a Chinese gaiwan or a yixing teapot, which are perfect for capturing the essence of the tea. However, if you’re just starting out or prefer a more casual approach, any teapot or even a mug with an infuser will do. Just make sure it’s big enough to allow the leaves to unfurl fully!

Step 2: Measure Your Tea

As a rule of thumb, for a standard brew, use about 5 grams of loose-leaf oolong tea for every 16 ounces of water. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, you can use a teaspoon for your measurement. 5 grams is usually 1 - 2 teaspoons depending on the type of oolong.

Step 3: Prepare Your Water

Remember! Water quality matters! We advise you to avoid distilled or tap water, as they can dull the flavors. Instead, always opt for filtered or spring water. When heating the water, you want it to be just shy of boiling, ideally around 195°F (90°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, just boil your water and then let it sit for a minute or two. 

Step 4: Rinse the Leaves

An important part of the process! Rinse your oolong leaves to help awaken their flavors. Simply pour a small amount of hot water over the leaves and swirl it around for a few seconds. Remember to discard the rinsed water.  This quick rinse opens up the leaves and prepares them for the actual brewing. 

Step 5: Steep Your Tea

This is where the magic happens! Fill your brewing vessel with hot water and let the tea steep. You can also use a spoon to stir the leaves within the vessel and make sure that all the leaves are submerged in the water. For most oolongs, a steeping time of 3 minutes is a good starting point. After that, taste it! If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can steep it a little longer.

Step 6: Enjoy and Re-steep

Now to the most important part! Enjoy the soothing aroma and flavors of oolong tea. As you slurp the magical potion, allow the delicate notes of floral, fruity, and caramelized undertones to dance on your palate. 

Furthermore, one of the best things about oolong tea is that you can re-steep the leaves up to up to two times! Each infusion will bring out a new layer of flavors, so don’t shy away from experimenting. Just remember to increase the steeping time slightly with each infusion. 

How to Brew Milk Oolong Tea

Jin Xuan tea or as it is more commonly known, milk oolong is a special treat that many tea enthusiasts adore throughout the world. It is a distinctive type of Taiwanese tea cultivar that’s known for its creamy and smooth flavor profile and texture. As Kimberley's Kyusu mentions, milk oolong is any oolong that is created using the Jin Xuan cultivar TRES 12 – developed by the Taiwanese Tea Research and Extension Center (TRES).

Here’s how you can brew an amazing batch of milk oolong tea: 

1. Use the Same Basics: Start with the same vessel and measurements as you would for regular oolong.
2. Water Temperature: When it comes to milk oolong, you will need to use slightly cooler water, around 185°F (85°C) compared to 185°F for regular oolong. Doing this helps preserve its delicate flavors.
3. Steeping Time: Steep for around 2-3 minutes for the first infusion. As with other oolong teas, you can also re-steep milk oolong multiple times.
4. Taste and Adjust: As with all teas, adjust the steeping time based on your taste preferences.

How Long to Cold Brew Oolong Tea

A new concept that’s been gaining popularity worldwide is cold brewing tea. Cold-brewing oolong tea is a fantastic way to enjoy its refreshing qualities, especially during warmer summer months. Here’s how you can enjoy a refreshing batch of cold brew oolong tea:

1. Measure Your Tea: Use about 1 tablespoon of loose leaf oolong for every 8-12 ounces of cold water.
2. Combine and Steep: Place the tea leaves in a pitcher or jar, add cold or room temperature water, and let it steep in the refrigerator for 6-12 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor will be. We recommend doing this before bed. This way you can wake up the next morning to a refreshing batch of delicious cold brew oolong tea.
3. Strain and Enjoy: After steeping, strain out the leaves and enjoy your chilled oolong tea! It makes for one of the perfect beverages to sip on a hot day. You can also experiment with the cold brew by adding fruits and spices to taste. 

We also recommend using a teaware like the cold brew infuser bottle from Nepal Tea Collective to make a delicious and refreshing cold brew oolong tea. With its ergonomic shape, beautiful design, and durable nature, crafting a cold brew beverage becomes a piece of cake. As it also comes with a detachable strainer, you won’t have to worry about the leaves slipping through to your teacup.

Brewing oolong tea is a delightful journey that invites you to explore its rich flavors and aromas. Whether you prefer the traditional methods or a quick cold brew, the key is to experiment and find what works best for you. Remember that there’s no one “right” way to brew oolong tea—just your way!