Oolong Tea
Smooth, lightly sweet and toasty with nutty notes, our Formosa Oolong is an easy-to-prepare tea and a very good introduction to the world of oolong.
History & Heritage
Taiwan, once known to the West as Formosa, became famous for oolong in the 19th century. Tea plants and know-how came across the strait from Fujian, and in the 1860s the British merchant John Dodd began financing local farmers and processing their tea. In 1869 he shipped Taiwanese tea directly to the United States, and "Formosa Oolong" soon became a sought-after name. Oolong itself has deep roots in Fujian, where tea makers developed the art of partly oxidizing tea leaves, creating teas between green and black in character.
Interesting Facts
"Formosa" is the old Portuguese-derived name for Taiwan, and it is still used for Taiwanese oolongs today.
Oolong is semi-oxidized: the leaves are bruised to start oxidation, then heated to stop it partway.
Our Formosa Oolong is grown at 1,000 to 3,000 feet.
Taiwan's oolong trade grew from cuttings and expertise brought over from Fujian.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
Mellow and toasty with a gentle sweetness and nutty finish. It is satisfying hot, and many enjoy it iced as well. Pair it with dim sum, roasted vegetables, grilled fish, or almond cookies. Because it is so forgiving, it is an ideal everyday oolong.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Formosa Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price, with sample and larger sizes so you can find your favorite. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.
Stunning leaves, a fragrant cup and a perfect balance between green and black tea: this Jade Oolong is entirely handmade in Taiwan.
History & Heritage
Taiwan, once known to the West as Formosa, became famous for oolong in the 19th century. Tea plants and know-how came across the strait from Fujian, and in the 1860s the British merchant John Dodd began financing local farmers and processing their tea. In 1869 he shipped Taiwanese tea directly to the United States, and "Formosa Oolong" soon became a sought-after name. Oolongs follow almost the same production as black tea; the major difference is a much shorter oxidation, which is why oolongs are often called semi-fermented teas.
Interesting Facts
Formosa Jade Oolong undergoes a 60% shorter fermentation period than black tea, resulting in a 20–25% fermented oolong with qualities of both black and green teas.
Our Jade Oolong is grown at 1,000 to 2,000 feet.
Like all oolongs, the same leaves can be infused multiple times.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
When infused, the tea is complex: smoother than black tea, less grassy than green tea, with a balance and harmony that is almost orchid-like. We recommend drinking it straight, without milk or sugar, to appreciate its subtle complexities. Pair it with steamed fish, fresh fruit, or a light lunch.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Jade Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price, with sample and larger sizes so you can find your favorite. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.
Toasty, earthy and layered with honeyed flavor, our Wuyi Oolong is a full-bodied tea with a floral aftertaste. It is exceptionally well balanced and complex.
History & Heritage
Wuyi Oolong, also known as Wuyi Rock Oolong or Da Hong Pao ("Big Red Robe"), comes from the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province, China. Its name comes from one of China's best-known tea legends. Legend has it that a scholar traveling to the imperial exams was refreshed on his journey by tea from bushes growing on the Wuyi cliffs. After he passed the exams with honors, he returned and draped his red robe over the bushes in gratitude. The original "mother trees" still grow on a cliff at Jiulongke.
Interesting Facts
The tea is famous for its "dragonfly's head, frog's limbs and three colors," the last referring to the green, red and brown colors in the cross-section of each leaf.
It is often a favorite among Gong Fu tea drinkers, and in China it is found on the menus of many high-end restaurants.
Wuyi oolongs are known as "rock teas" because the bushes grow in rocky mountain terrain.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
Wuyi Oolong can be infused several times, with each infusion revealing a new nuance of its toasty, earthy and floral character, along with hints of honey. Pair it with roast duck, grilled meats, dark chocolate, or nuts.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Wuyi Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price, with sample and larger sizes so you can find your favorite. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.
Light, floral and softly sweet, this premium oolong from Taiwan's Ali Shan Mountain is a showcase of Taiwanese craftsmanship. It is very clean, with notes of orchid and honey and an underlying complexity.
History & Heritage
Taiwan, once known to the West as Formosa, became famous for oolong in the 19th century. Tea plants and know-how came across the strait from Fujian, and in the 1860s the British merchant John Dodd began financing local farmers and processing their tea. In 1869 he shipped Taiwanese tea directly to the United States, and "Formosa Oolong" soon became a sought-after name. In the 20th century, Taiwan's growers increasingly moved to high mountain gardens above 1,000 meters, where cool, misty conditions produce especially floral, delicate oolongs. Ali Shan became one of the most famous of these high mountain teas.
Interesting Facts
The Ali Shan mountainsides are covered with fog and clouds, ideal for growing top-grade oolong.
This Ali Shan is entirely handmade, a top-grade, full-grown big leaf style that is lightly oxidized and very green in appearance.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
When infused, the tea is complex: smoother than black tea, less grassy than green tea, with an almost orchid-like harmony. Like all oolongs, Ali Shan is best enjoyed straight, without milk or sugar, to appreciate its subtleties. Pair it with fresh fruit, steamed seafood, or delicate pastries.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Ali Shan Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price, with sample and larger sizes so you can find your favorite. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.
Warm, welcoming and fragrant, this classic oolong from Fujian Province is one of China's most consumed oolongs. It brews a nutty, mineral cup with a lingering floral, orchid finish.
History & Heritage
Ti Kuan Yin, or Tieguanyin, means "Iron Goddess of Mercy," and it comes from Anxi in Fujian. Two folk legends explain the name. In one, a poor farmer named Wei cared for a neglected temple of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, and was rewarded in a dream with directions to a tea bush, which he cultivated and shared with his neighbors. In the other, a scholar named Wang found the bush and presented the tea to the emperor, who gave it its name. Both are cherished legends rather than documented history.
Interesting Facts
The semi-oxidation gives oolong more body than green tea but less than black tea.
The leaves are wilted in direct sun and then shaken in bamboo baskets to bruise the edges, so the edges oxidize faster than the center. You can often see the slightly brownish edges in the infused leaf.
After 15 to 25 minutes, depending on temperature and humidity, the tea is fired to stop oxidation.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
Nutty and mineral with a lingering orchid fragrance. Pair it with dim sum, roasted nuts, or a fruit plate.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Iron Goddess Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price, with sample and larger sizes so you can find your favorite. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.
Smooth, toasty and honeyed, our Shui Xian (Water Spirit) is a traditional Wuyi oolong. It brews an amber cup that is gently earthy, with noticeable notes of honey and peach.
History & Heritage
Shui Xian is one of the most widely grown tea varieties of Fujian Province. Local records trace it to a village in the Jianyang area in the early 19th century, from where it spread to the Wuyi Mountains and became one of the major varieties of Wuyi "rock tea." Our Shui Xian is produced in the mountainous Wuyi region, from bushes grown at 2,600 feet, and processed using a traditional method very similar to other Wuyi Yancha, or rock teas. The Wuyi Mountains are also home to Da Hong Pao, the "Big Red Robe," and are often named as the birthplace of oolong-style rock teas.
Interesting Facts
The name Shui Xian means "water spirit" or "water sprite," and it is also the Chinese name for the narcissus flower.
Like other Yancha oolongs, Shui Xian is famous for its earthy mineral taste, toastiness and honey notes.
This reasonably priced oolong is a great option for oolong lovers.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
Mellow and full, with a smooth toasty character and a sweet finish. Pair it with roasted meats, mushrooms, nuts, or a dark chocolate square. It can be infused several times, and each cup brings out a little more of its honeyed sweetness.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Shui Xian Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.
Creamy, buttery and floral, this special Taiwanese oolong lives up to its name. Despite the "milk," there is no milk or dairy in this all-natural tea.
History & Heritage
Taiwan, once known to the West as Formosa, became famous for oolong in the 19th century. Tea plants and know-how came across the strait from Fujian, and in the 1860s the British merchant John Dodd began financing local farmers and processing their tea. In 1869 he shipped Taiwanese tea directly to the United States, and "Formosa Oolong" soon became a sought-after name. Milk Oolong is made from a relatively new tea cultivar developed in Taiwan in the 1980s. Known as Jin Xuan, it was bred at Taiwan's tea research station by Wu Zhenduo and officially released in 1981. Its naturally creamy character quickly made it one of the island's most popular teas.
Interesting Facts
The production method is similar to other greener Taiwanese oolongs such as Tung Ting and Ali Shan: the leaves are semi-oxidized, lightly roasted and tightly rolled.
It is produced in small batches and grown in the high mountains of Taiwan.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
The taste is naturally creamy and buttery, with light notes of orchid and toasty nuts, and an incredibly smooth mouthfeel. Like other oolongs, Milk Oolong can be infused multiple times. A must-try for oolong lovers who prefer a light-bodied, greener style. Pair it with butter cookies, pastries, or fresh fruit.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Milk Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price, with sample and larger sizes so you can find your favorite. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.
Warm, nutty and gently sweet, this delicious tea is a charcoal-roasted version of Tung Ting Oolong, also called Dong Ding, from Taiwan. The infusion is bright and golden.
History & Heritage
Tung Ting means "frozen summit," the name of a mountain in Taiwan's Nantou County. According to tradition, a scholar named Lin Fengchi brought 36 oolong tea cuttings from the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian back to Taiwan in 1855, and those plants became the start of Dong Ding tea. Taiwan, once known to the West as Formosa, became famous for oolong in the 19th century. Tea plants and know-how came across the strait from Fujian, and in the 1860s the British merchant John Dodd began financing local farmers and processing their tea. In 1869 he shipped Taiwanese tea directly to the United States, and "Formosa Oolong" soon became a sought-after name.
Interesting Facts
The roasting process gives this tea its unique taste profile and lowers its caffeine level.
Our Roasted Tung Ting is grown at 1,000 to 3,000 feet.
Traditionally it is served hot, but we also recommend trying it iced or cold-brewed.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
A medium-bodied tea that is nutty and mellowly sweet with light floral notes. This well-rounded tea demonstrates the sophistication of Taiwan's oolong making. It will please seasoned oolong drinkers and is also a great starter tea for anyone new to oolong. Pair it with roasted pork, mushrooms, sesame cookies, or caramel desserts.
Brewing tips (general guideline): use 1–2 teaspoons (about 3 g) per 8 oz of water at 185–205°F, steeped 3–5 minutes. The same leaves can be infused several times, with each cup revealing new notes. Adjust to taste.
Like every tea at Beantown Tea & Spices, Roasted Tung Ting Oolong is a quality loose-leaf tea offered at an affordable price, with sample and larger sizes so you can find your favorite. Explore more in our Oolong Tea collection, or pair it with our tea accessories.