Brewing & Drinking Oolong Tea

Although brewing a delicious cup of Oolong tea isn’t rocket science, there are a few things you should know in order to get the best results.

Use Pure Water

Impurities in regular tap water will effect the flavor of the tea. Use natural spring water or filtered water to ensure the best taste possible.

Steeping Time

If the water temperature is too hot, the tea may become bitter. Preferred temperature for Oolong tea is 85-90 degrees Celsius, which is roughly just as soon as the water boils.

No matter which method you chose, the recommended steeping time for Oolong is around three to five minutes. Lower water temperature requires a longer steeping time.

Oolong Teabags
Portable, convenient, and mess-free, Oolong teabags are perfect for on-the-go and the times when you don’t want to bother with loose leaf tea. Be aware that cheap teabags often contain small, dusty leaves from floor sweepings that release tannin quickly, making the tea taste harsh. The good news is that this won’t be a problem with a quality tea company.

Loose Leaf Oolong

Tea purists will probably want to hang us for even mentioning teabags. To keep them off our back we definitely have to mention that you’ll get the best quality tea and the finest flavor from loose leaf Oolong.

The drawback from brewing Oolong from loose leaves is the extra work involved. However, many people enjoy the process so much that they wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, brewing tea is a delicate art that is centuries old.

Brewing Oolong the Traditional Way

Brewing Oolong the traditional way requires an entire set of tools and utensils. As we mentioned earlier, it’s an entire art in itself. If you’re interested, check out the Making Chinese Oolong Tea 1 & 2 videos, or click on one of the links below.

Preparing Oolong Tea
How to Make Good Oolong Tea

Using an Infuser

A tea infuser is a wonderful invention that allows you the excellent flavor and quality of loose leaf Oolong with minimal fuss. Some infusers are small and meant for one-person use while others are large and used for an entire teapot. Either way, using an infuser is one of our favorite methods for brewing and drinking Oolong tea.