| Oolong tea | |||||||||||||||
Rolled oolong tea leaves
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| Traditional Chinese | 烏龍茶 | ||||||||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 乌龙茶 | ||||||||||||||
| Cantonese Jyutping | wu1 lung2 caa4 | ||||||||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | wūlóng chá | ||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | black dragon tea | ||||||||||||||
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Oolong RP: /uːlɒŋ/, GA: /ulɑŋ/ (simplified Chinese: 乌龙; traditional Chinese: 烏龍; pinyin: wūlóng) is a traditional Chinese tea (Camellia sinensis) produced through a unique process including withering the plant under the strong sun and oxidation before curling and twisting.[1] Most oolong teas, especially those of fine quality, involve unique tea plant cultivars that are exclusively used for particular varieties. The degree of oxidation can range from 8 to 85%,[2] depending on the variety and production style. Oolong is especially popular with tea connoisseurs of south China and Chinese expatriates in Southeast Asia,[3] as is the Fujian preparation process known as the Gongfu tea ceremony.
In Chinese tea culture, semi-oxidised oolong teas are collectively grouped as qīngchá (Chinese: 青茶). The taste of oolong varies widely among different subvarieties. It can be sweet and fruity with honey aromas, or woody and thick with roasted aromas, or green and fresh with bouquet aromas, all depending on the horticulture and style of production.[1] Several subvarieties of oolong, including those produced in the Wuyi Mountains of northern Fujian, such as Da Hong Pao, are among the most famous Chinese teas.
Different varieties of oolong are processed differently, but the leaves are formed into one of two distinct styles. Some are rolled into long curly leaves, while others are 'wrap-curled' into small beads, each with a tail. The former style is the more traditional of the two in China.
The name oolong tea came into the English language from the Chinese name (Chinese: 烏龍茶), meaning "black dragon tea."
Contents
Possible origins[edit]
There are three widely accepted explanations of the origin of the Chinese name.[citation needed] According to the "tribute tea" theory, oolong tea came directly from Dragon-Phoenix Tea Cake tribute tea. The term oolong tea replaced the old term when loose tea came into fashion. Since it was dark, long, and curly, it was called Black Dragon tea.
According to the "Wuyi" theory, oolong tea first existed in the Wuyi Mountains region. This is evidenced by Qing dynasty poems such as Wuyi Tea Song (Wuyi Chage) and Tea Tale (Chashuo). It was said that oolong tea was named after the part of the Wuyi Mountain where it was originally produced.[citation needed]
According to the "Anxi" theory, oolong tea had its origin in the Anxi oolong tea plant, which was discovered by a man named Sulong, Wulong, or Wuliang.[citation needed]
Another tale tells of a man named Wu Liang (later corrupted to Wu Long, or Oolong) who discovered oolong tea by accident when he was distracted by a deer after a hard day's tea-picking, and by the time he remembered to return to the tea it had already started to oxidize.[4]
Varieties[edit]
- Sikkim Temi oolong tea
- Darjeeling oolong: Darjeeling tea made according to Chinese methods.
- Assam smoked oolong: Assam's tea made according to Chinese methods, and delicately smoked over open fire
- Vietnamese oolong
- Thai oolong
- Indonesian oolong tea: made in Lebak-Banten, Indonesia
- African oolong: made in Malawi and in Kenya
- Nepali oolong
- Dahongpao
- Tieluohan
- Baijiguan
- Shuijingui
- Wuyi Cinnamon
- Wuyi Daffodil
- Phoenix Daffodil
Wuyi rock (cliff) tea (武夷岩茶 Wǔyí yán chá) from Fujian province[edit]
The most famous and expensive oolong teas are made here, and the production is still usually accredited as being organic. Much Shuǐ Xiān is grown elsewhere in Fujian. Some of the better known cliff teas are:
- Red Robe Dà Hóng Páo (大红袍)
- in Chinese, a highly prized tea and a Sì Dà Míng Cōng (四大名樅, literally: The Four Great Bushes). This tea is also one of the two oolongs that make it to the list of Chinese famous teas.
- Gold Turtle Shuǐ Jīn Guī (水金亀)
- in Chinese, a Si Da Ming Cong.
- Iron Monk Arhat Tiě Luóhàn (鉄羅漢)
- in Chinese, a Si Da Ming Cong tea
- White Comb Bái Jī Guān (白鸡冠)
- in Chinese, a Si Da Ming Cong tea. A light tea with light, yellowish leaves.
- Cassia Ròu Guì (肉桂)
- in Chinese, a dark tea with a spicy aroma.
- Narcissus Shuǐ Xiān (水仙)
- in Chinese, a very dark tea, often grown elsewhere.
Fújiàn province[edit]
- Iron Goddess Guanyin Tiě Guānyīn or Ti Kuan Yin (鐵觀音)
- in Chinese, this is a tea from Anxi in South Fujian. It is very famous as a 'Chinese famous tea' and very popular.
Golden Cassia Huángjīn Guì (黄金桂）
- or Golden Osmanthus is another tea from the Anxi area of Fujian Province. It resembles Tiě Guānyīn with a very fragrant flavor.
There is a story regarding the origin of the Tiě Guānyīn variety: There was once a poor farmer who was devout and dedicated to maintaining the temple of Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy. One day, to reward him for his loyalty and commitment to her, she told him that the key to his future was outside the temple. Outside he found a scungy old bush, which he nursed to a flourishing bloom of greenish leaves.
Guangdong province[edit]
- Single Bush Dān Cōng (单枞)
- A family of stripe-style oolong teas from Guangdong Province. The doppelganger of teas, Dancong teas are noted for their ability to naturally imitate the flavors and fragrances of various flowers and fruits, such as orange blossom, orchid, grapefruit, almond, ginger flower, etc.
The name dan cong originally meant phoenix teas all picked from one tree. In recent times though it has become a generic term for all Phoenix Mountain oolongs. True dan congs are still being produced, but they are extremely high quality and almost impossible to get in western markets.
- Yu Lan Xiang (玉蘭香)
- Magnolia Flower Fragrance
- Xing Ren Xiang (杏仁香)
- Almond Fragrance
- Zhi Lan Xiang (芝蘭香)
- Orchid Fragrance
- Po Tou Xiang (姜花香)
- Ginger Flower Fragrance
- Huang Zhi Xiang (黄枝香)
- "Orange Blossom Fragrance
- You Hua Xiang (柚花香)
- Pomelo Flower Fragrance
- Mi Lan Xiang (米蘭香)
- Honey Orchid Fragrance
- Rou Gui Xiang (肉桂桂香)
- Cinnamon Fragrance
- Gui Hua Xiang (桂花香)
- Osmanthus Fragrance
Taiwan[edit]
Tea cultivation began in Taiwan in the 18th century. Since then, many of the teas which are grown in Fujian province have also been grown in Taiwan.[5] Since the 1970s, the tea industry in Taiwan has expanded at a rapid rate, in line with the rest of Taiwan's economy. Due to high domestic demand and a strong tea culture, most Taiwanese tea is bought and consumed by the Taiwanese.
As the weather in Taiwan is highly variable, tea quality may differ from season to season. Although the island is not particularly large, it is geographically varied, with high, steep mountains rising abruptly from low-lying coastal plains. The different weather patterns, temperatures, altitudes, and soil ultimately result in differences in appearance, aroma, and flavour of the tea grown in Taiwan. In some mountainous areas, teas have been cultivated at ever higher elevations to produce a unique sweet taste that fetches a premium price.[5]
- Dong Ding, Dòngdǐng (凍頂)
- The name means Frozen Summit or Ice Peak. Dong Ding is a mountain in Nantou County, Central Taiwan. This is a tightly rolled tea with a light, distinctive fragrance.
- Oriental Beauty, Dōngfāng Měirén (東方美人茶)
- The name means Oriental Beauty. Also known as White Tip Oolong, Bai Hao Oolong, or Braggart's tea. This tea is tippy (the leaves frequently have white or golden tips), with natural fruity aromas, a bright red appearance, and a sweet taste.
- Alishan oolong, Ālǐshān (阿里山茶)
- Grown in the Alishan area of Chiayi County, this tea has large rolled leaves that have a purple-green appearance when dry. It is grown at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,400 metres. There is only a short period during the growing season when the sun is strong, which results in a sweeter and less astringent brew. It produces a golden yellow liquor which has a unique fruity aroma.[6] Alishan oolong is also referred to as Alishan High Mountain Tea or 阿里山高山茶 Ālǐshān gāoshānchá.
- Lishan oolong, Líshān (梨山)
- Grown in the north-central region of Taiwan, this tea is very similar in appearance to Alishan teas, and is often considered to be one of the best teas from Taiwan. It is grown at an elevation above 1,000 metres, with Dayuling, Lishan, and Fusou being the best known regions and teas of Lishan. It is often grown on the extremely rare Taiwanese Mango, a sub-species of the tropical mango tree. Its thin, sturdy branches support the tea vines well and provide good sun exposure.
- Pouchong, (Bāozhǒng) (包種茶)
- Also romanized as Bāozhǒng, the lightest and most floral oolong,[citation needed] with unrolled leaves of a light green to brown color. Originally grown in Fujian it is now widely cultivated and produced in Pinglin Township near Taipei, Taiwan.
- Ruan Zhi, (Ruǎn Zhī) (軟枝)
- This is a light variety of oolong tea. The tea is also known as Qingxin and as # 17. It originates from Anxi in Fujian province, China.
- Jin Xuan, (Jīn Xuān) (金萱)
- This is a variety of oolong tea developed in 1980. The tea is also known as "Milk Oolong" (Nai Xiang) because of its creamy, smooth, and easy taste. Traditional milk oolongs have no actual milk in them, but some companies are adding things like milk powder or steaming the leaves over milk to make a counterfeit. It originates from Taiwan.
New Zealand[edit]
In the early 1990s a Taiwanese migrant to New Zealand was intrigued by the similarities between his native Taiwan's high mountains and New Zealand north Island's climate. He imported camellia sinensis cuttings into New Zealand and the plants thrived. Two oolong cultivars (qin xin and jinxuan) now spread across just under 40 hectares and have developed their own unique terroir character. The leaves are processed into oolong and black tea and exported worldwide under the trade name Zealong.
Steeping[edit]
Generally, 3 grams of tea per 200 ml of water, or about two teaspoons of oolong tea per cup, should be used. Oolong teas should be prepared with 200 to 205 °F (93 to 96 °C) water (not boiling) and steeped 3–10 minutes.[7] High quality oolong can be steeped several times from the same leaves and, unlike other teas, it improves with rebrewing: it is common to steep the same leaves three to five times, the third or fourth steeping usually being considered the best.[8]
A widely used ceremonial method of steeping oolongs in Taiwan and China is called gongfucha. This method uses a small steeping vessel, such as a gaiwan or Yixing clay teapot, with more tea than usual for the amount of water used. Multiple short steeps of 20 seconds to 1 minute are performed; the tea is often served in one- to two-ounce tasting cups.
Caffeine[edit]
Oolong generally contains caffeine, although the caffeine content in tea will vary based on terroir, when the leaf is plucked, and the production processes.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Zhongguo Chajing pp222-234, pp419-412, & pp271-282, chief editor: Chen Zhongmao, publisher: Shanghai Wenhua Chubanshe (Shanghai Cultural Publishers) 1991.
- ^ 施海根，中國名茶圖譜、烏龍茶黑茶及壓製茶花茶特種茶卷 p2，上海文化出版社 2007 ISBN 7-80740-130-3
- ^ Joseph Needham, Science and Civilization in China vol 6 part V 40f Tea Processing and Utilization, pp535-550 Origin and processing of oolong tea
- ^ Fergus Ray-Murray, "Oolong (Wu Long) Tea"., oolong.co.uk
- ^ a b Guang Chung Lee (2006). "The Varieties of Formosa Oolong". Art of Tea. Retrieved 2006-12-12., Issue 1 www.the-art-of-tea.com
- ^ The Tea Cup, "Oolong Tea"., theteacup.co.uk
- ^ Upton Tea Imports, "A Brief Guide to Tea" (PDF).
- ^ Dragon Pearl Whole Teas, "Oolong Tea".
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