Oolong Tea

Oolong sits between green tea and black tea, and the range it covers is enormous. The leaves are processed to different degrees, from barely touched to deeply roasted, and each level creates a completely different brew. A light Taiwan oolong can taste floral and buttery. A roasted Chinese oolong tastes warm, toasty, and rich. Some have been aged for years. Few tea categories offer this much variety from a single name. Our oolong tea guide maps out the spectrum so you know where to start.

The lightest versions pour creamy and smooth with a floral sweetness that lingers. Push further into the roasted end and you get grain, stone fruit, and a warmth that stays in the throat. One thing that makes oolong special is how the flavor shifts across multiple steeps. The first brew and the fifth can taste like different teas entirely. Some oolongs are also processed in a way that naturally boosts GABA, a compound that promotes calm. Browse our GABA teas if relaxation is what you are after.