A Guide to Oolong Tea

by Whittard of Chelsea4 Minute Read

Oolong is a hidden gem. Somewhere between the grassy freshness of green and the comforting familiarity of black, there's the lesser-known oolong - a versatile tea with flavours ranging from light and floral to toasted and buttery.

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What does 'Oolong' mean in Chinese?

Derived from the Chinese word “wūlóng”, “oolong” translates
to “black dragon” in English. What gives this tea its mythical namesake, you ask?

Some say it’s the long, curly leaves which dance in water, resembling Chinese dragons. Others believe it comes from a 17th-century Fujian folk tale, when a farmer was startled away from his tea harvest by a black snake. On returning, the tea had fermented in the open air, creating (we think) the most delicious accidental flavour profile in history.

What exactly is oolong tea?

You’ve ordered it. You’ve inhaled its aromatic scent. And you’ve savoured every sip. But you’ve never quite understood what makes oolong different.

Oolong is partially oxidised, meaning it falls between green and black tea in terms of flavour – so different blends often taste more like one or the other, depending on how long they oxidise for. Green oolong tea experiences 30-50% oxidation, while dark oolong is more like 60-70%.

How is oolong tea made?

There’s a whole spectrum of fragrant oolong flavours, but each comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves for green oolongs are plucked at high altitudes from April through to October, while more mature leaves are harvested in late spring for darker oolongs.

As for production, it’s complex, laborious and worth every second. Oolong leaves are withered, fired and uniquely hand rolled, giving them their pleasingly curled bead shape.

How much caffeine is in oolong tea?

If you’re keeping tabs on your caffeine intake, Oolong is a shelf staple. With 31mg per 100ml, it’s less caffeinated than black tea but more than white or yellow – but of course, this depends how you take yours.

How to Make

Oolong Tea

Time

10 Minutes

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

1

  1. 1.
    Fill your kettle with fresh water, boil it, and leave it to cool to around 90°C.
  2. 2.
    Take your favourite mug infuser or teapot and add one teaspoon (2g) of loose leaf tea per cup.
  3. 3.
    Pour the cooled water over your tea leaves.
  4. 4.
    Brew your oolong for three minutes, but experiment to see if your taste needs longer or shorter.
  5. 5.
    Oolong can be steeped up to four times so you can enjoy it throughout the day.

Oolong Tea and Tea Equipment

A rectangular box of Garden Party Oolong Loose Leaf Tea, viewed from above on a white background, with the blend visible inside—dried black leaves mixed with colorful pieces like red and yellow petals.
A beautifully crafted box of Garden Party Oolong Loose Leaf Tea, featuring botanical illustrations and a minimalist gray and white packaging design—an elegant fruit-infused tea that offers the refreshing taste of oolong.

Fruity, floral & sweet

Garden Party Oolong Loose Leaf Tea

£12.95
A rectangular, open box filled with Jade Oolong Loose Leaf Tea, its rolled green leaves viewed from above on a white background.
A silver-grey box of Jade Oolong Loose Leaf Tea, adorned with botanical illustrations and branding, labeled as single origin tea crafted from Taiwan high mountain leaves.

Buttery, smooth & delicate

Jade Oolong Loose Leaf Tea

4.6
From £15.95
A white rectangular box with an open top, filled with Milk Oolong Loose Leaf Tea featuring dark green and brown leaves, viewed from above on a plain white background.
Milk Oolong Loose Leaf Tea
Bestseller

Creamy, buttery & earthy

Milk Oolong Loose Leaf Tea

4.6
£19.95
An open rectangular box of Peach Oolong Loose Leaf Tea, viewed from above against a white background. The box features white sides with a dark blue edge and is filled with aromatic tea leaves inside.
Peach Oolong Loose Leaf Tea

Juicy peaches & stone fruits

Peach Oolong Loose Leaf Tea

5.0
From £12.95
A black borosilicate glass mug with a metal infuser and lid sits on top of a gray Whittard box labeled Black Glass Pao Infuser Mug, making it the perfect tea infuser mug for enjoying your favorite loose leaf blends.
The Black Glass Pao Infuser Mug, crafted from clear borosilicate glass with a handle, features a metal mesh infuser and a black-rimmed lid resting on top. Set against a plain white background, this elegant tea infuser mug appears empty.

Black Glass Pao Infuser Mug

4.7
£24.95
A Chelsea Glass Teapot with Infuser, featuring a clear borosilicate glass body and a metal infuser and lid, is displayed on a white box labeled "The Chelsea Teapot" from Whittard against a plain white background.
The Chelsea Glass Teapot with Infuser showcases a transparent borosilicate glass design, enhanced by a metal lid and an elegantly curved spout. Displayed on a plain white background, this teapot is completed with a round handle for comfortable pouring.
Bestseller

Chelsea Glass Teapot with Infuser

4.7
£35.00
A clear glass teapot with a metal infuser and lid sits on a white Whittard box labeled The Pimlico Teapot. The box features the Whittard logo and brief product details.
Clear glass teapot with a round body, metal infuser, and metal lid with a round handle, shown on a white background.
Bestseller

Pimlico Glass Teapot with Infuser

4.5
£30.00
A clear glass infuser mug with a metal strainer and a light green lid, placed on top of a white Whittard Pao packaging box.
A clear glass mug with a handle, containing a metal tea infuser and topped with a light green lid, set against a plain white background.

Pistachio Glass Pao Infuser Mug

£24.95
A Mug Infuser with a stainless steel body, black rim, and two handles is displayed in front of its packaging box against a plain white background, making it an ideal addition to your tea accessories collection.
The Mug Infuser is a stainless steel tea infuser with handles on both sides and a black lid, featuring a pattern of small holes—making it the perfect accessory for brewing your favorite loose leaf tea.
Bestseller

Mug Infuser

4.7
£10.95
A clear glass teapot with a metal lid and infuser sits atop a gray box labeled The Greenwich Teapot by Whittard. The background is white and minimalistic.
A clear glass French press with a metal lid, plunger, and handle, shown on a white background.

The Greenwich Teapot

4.6
£25.00
Top-down view of a Nova Double-Walled Mug made from borosilicate glass, filled with dark tea or coffee on a white background. The handle is positioned on the right, and the liquid appears smooth with subtle reflections.
The Nova Double-Walled Mug, made of clear borosilicate glass with a handle, is displayed against a plain white background.
Bestseller

Nova Double-Walled Mug

4.6
£12.00

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