Oolong Tea

A: Yes, oolong tea contains caffeine. While the exact caffeine content of a particular tea depends on a number of factors, oolong teas tend to be less caffeinated than black teas, but more caffeinated than green teas. On average, they tend to have less than half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

A: Steeps times vary depending on the particular tea, but in general we recommend infusing oolong teas for around two to three minutes. For subsequent infusions, you can infuse the tea for a longer period of time.

A: Oolong tea and black tea are made from the same plant, but they are two different types of tea. Black teas are usually fully oxidized, meaning that the leaves have turned brown. Oolong teas tend to be partially oxidized. Oolong tea leaves are often also rolled into tight balls.

A: Loose leaf oolong tea is usually consumed on its own, without any milk or added sweeteners. That said, milk tea is a popular take on tea that often uses oolong tea as a base. While milk can sometimes drown out the delicate flavors present in an oolong tea, there's nothing wrong with adding milk if that's the way you like it!

A: Oolong tea tastes incredibly diverse, bridging green and black teas with flavors ranging from light, floral, and creamy (low oxidation) to toasty, nutty, fruity (stone fruit), and mineral-rich (higher oxidation), often with sweet notes and a smooth, complex finish.

A: Neither oolong nor green tea is definitively "healthier"; they offer similar benefits from the same plant but with different strengths due to oxidation levels, with green tea often having more catechins (antioxidants) and oolong falling between green and black tea, providing unique polyphenols that aid metabolism and bone health, making the best choice dependent on personal health goals and taste.