The 12 Best Oolong Tea For Those Who Are Trying For The First Time

Are you new to the world of oolong tea? As oolong tea is not widely known, people often mix them with black tea. The tea has a fruity, floral flavor and also contains caffeine to give the perfect boost between meetings. The tea has antioxidants that will enhance your immunity to fight diseases. 

The oolong tea comes from the same plant Camellia sinensis that is used to manufacture green tea and black tea. They differ in the manufacturing process of the teas. Not to mention, this tea is processed in different shapes and different oxidation levels which you need to keep in mind before buying the best oolong tea.


Best Pick

Twinings of London Pure Oolong Tea

The Twinings of London Pure Oolong is our best pick on our list because the tea leaves come in a 40-gram packet. The tea leaves are accumulated together to form a tea bag and then singly wrapped in foil to keep the freshness intact. Not to mention, the leaves are selected by the expert of the leaves and are tested several times before selecting the leaves for packing.

Budget Pick

FGO Organic Oolong Tea

The FGO Organic Oolong Tea is our best budget pick because it comes in eco-friendly tea bags that do not contaminate your tea with chemicals. The tea bags have no tags that reduce the waste. Moreover, you will get to enjoy the natural flavor of the tea as the tea is collected and oxidized in china.


Quick Comparison: Top 12 Best Oolong Tea


1. Twinings of London Pure Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • The tea leaves are collected from the Fujian province of China
  • The tea is processed in a special technique that gives a warm toasty taste when brewed
  • Each of the tea bags is individually wrapped to keep the aroma intact
  • The tea is kosher certified that is helpful for a certain group of people

The oolong tea sits between black tea and green tea. The oolong tea from the Twinings is plucked from a Chinese province. Most of the best teas are grown in China and premium quality leaves are collected to process this tea. The pack contains 20 tea bags that make storage easier. 

Moreover, you can carry the tea bags which are individually packed. No artificial ingredients are used to enhance the flavor of the tea. Immersing the tea bag in 6 to 8 ounces of hot water for a few minutes brews a golden color liquor. You can make iced oolong tea as well where you need to immerse the tea bag for a longer period. 

One thing that concerns us is that there is certification of the tea being vegan, gluten-free. We are not sure if the tea is manufactured in an area where wheat, grains are not packed.


2. FGO Organic Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • It is 100% raw tea that is imported from China
  • It gives a nutty and warm flavor after the infusion of the tea
  • The packet has a lining of foil that keeps the tea fresh
  • The tea bags are made of and have chlorine, dyes, or any other harmful things
  • The tea is certified organic by the USDA

This is a 40 grams pack that contains 20 tea bags for you to sip the perfect tea after your meal. The fine tea leaves are plucked from China which are then packed in the USA. The tea bags are not drowned in chlorine bleach and have no glues or toxic dyes that can cause any harm to your body. 

All the tea bags come together in a resealable natural kraft bag. The bag has a zipper and has a 5 layer structure with a lining of foil. So whenever you prepare the tea, you can enjoy the freshness.  

Moreover, no genetically modified product is not added for creating flavor in tea. The most important thing we would like to mention is that the tea is packed in a facility where peanuts, tree nuts are also packaged. So, if you have an allergy to nuts, you should avoid this tea.


3. Davidson's Tea Bulk Oolong

Highlighted Features

  • The tea comes as loose leaves in a packet of 1 pound
  • The tea is processed in the Chinese method that gives the curling shape of the leaves
  • It is certified as organic by the USDA
  • The tea comes in a kraft stand-up pouch to make storage easier

This pack of tea comes in bulk as we can tell from the name. The packet contains 16 ounces of freshly processed oolong tea. This pack is great for using in a restaurant or office as it can serve more than 100 cups easily. 

The Davidson's packed the tea in a way that it will stay fresh for a long time. It has an aluminum foil lining that prevents the air from entering. Just by immersing a tablespoon of oolong leaves in hot water for 3 to 4 minutes gives light yellow color liquid. You can increase the strength of the liquor by immersing it for a longer duration. 

Also Read  The 12 Best BBQ Gloves in 2023

You can prepare iced oolong tea with this as well. However, this giant pack is not suitable for a small family as it comes in large amounts. Also, you need to clean the tea infuser each tie you drink a cup of oolong tea.


4. Prince of Peace Organic Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • It is a pack of 100 tea bags that are individually packed for easy portability
  • This tea has a woody flavor and the caffeine content makes it energizing
  • The tea is organic and is certified by the USDA

For those who love to drink oolong tea during the day, this is the perfect package. Prince of Peace packaged them in a way that makes it easy for people to use or travel with them. First of all, the tea comes in 100 tea bags that will last more than 2 months if you consume 2 to 3 cups every day.

The feature we like about this tea is that the tea bags are packed individually. You can carry the tea bags for picnics or traveling in a small pocket in your purse. It creates less mess, as you store the used tea bag in the wrapper. Each tea bag is 1.8 grams that are enough for a perfect brewed cup. 

This tea is a great option to lower the intake of black tea or coffee. This tea has 30 to 40 milligrams of caffeine which allows you to drink 2 to 4 cups regularly. You can drink this tea without any concern if you don't have any allergies. This tea is 100% organic but we are not sure if the tea is manufactured in a dairy-free or wheat-free facility.


5. Imozai Organic Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • The tea leaves are handpicked from the garden to give an aromatic flavor
  • The tea bags are packed one by one with a separate wrapper to keep the tea fresh
  • It is approved as organic by the USDA

The tea leaves are plucked from the garden of Fujian, China, and then processed to prepare the perfect cup of tea to enjoy. For your convenience, the tea leaves are packed in tea bags and are individually wrapped. So in between your busy schedules, you need to tear the pouch and place the teabag on the water. 

A bright color liquor will be visible with a mild aromatic flavor. You can enjoy the tea cold by adding some ice cubes. However, the tea is identified as organic but we are not sure if it is packed on premises where meat or dairy products are packed.


6. VAHDAM Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • The packet is packed with loose leaves that can serve 5 cups easily
  • The source of this premium quality tea is Darjeeling, India which is known for finesse tea quality
  • The tea is certified as a plastic neutral product as no tea bags are used
  • A reddish liquor is obtained after brewing the tea which is different from others

This tea originated from India, which is also famous for its flavorful tea. This tea is plucked, processed, and manufactured in India. Loose leaves are given in the packet which helps you brew the intensity of the tea as you like. The leaves are oxidized close to 80% which will give a reddish liquid after brewing. 

The thing we like about this tea is that it is a carbon-neutral and plastic-neutral brand. The owner of VAHDAM is a 4th generation entrepreneur who is against the pollution and waste that are caused by the industries. For this, you get a pack of fresh loose leaves. However, for those who are comfortable with tea bags, it can be hard to manage the loose tea. But the loose tea leaves are more flavorful than the tea bags.


7. Cha4TEA Oolong Tea Pods

Highlighted Features

  • The oolong tea comes in k cups that are compatible with any Keurig brewers
  • The pack has 36 serving pods to get the refreshing tea
  • The tea has a roasted aroma and a slightly sweet taste
  • Hybrid black tea and green tea are used as ingredients to make a perfect blend

For those who own Keurig brewers, these tea pods are useful for them. It can be hard to find pods that contain oolong tea. These pods will serve 36 cups of oolong tea from your Keurig brewers. The tea is prepared from 100% original leaves to present you with the perfect flavor.

However, green tea and hybrid black tea are used as ingredients for this. For this, the tea may taste different from others as oolong tea has different processing techniques. The tea is caffeinated with some floral aroma that will make you feel refreshed after a meal.


8. The Republic Of Tea Oolong Tea

If you are looking for gluten-free tea, The Republic Of Tea brings the tea for you. With this tea, you can be sure enough that the tea is not manufactured in an area where other gluten products are packed. Also, we like the packaging of the as it comes in an airtight container. 

Moreover, the tea has the classic taste as it goes through the real process of oolong tea. The tea is kosher certified which makes it acceptable for a certain group of people. You need to carry the whole container if you want to carry the tea with you. You can savor the tea hot or cold and you set the intensity of the tea by adding more tea bags.


9. The Tao of Tea, Black Dragon Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • The leaves are a blend of 12 varieties of oolong tea leaves
  • The tea is 40% oxidized that gives an aromatic and light roasted flavor
  • It is a tin packed with loose oolong tea leaves

The version of oolong tea from The Tao of Tea comes from the plants that are solely kept for oolong tea. The tea plants are grown in the mountains Anxi, where 12 varieties of oolong tea plants are seen. The tea is called a black dragon because the tea is highly oxidized to ensure the roasted flavor. 

As the tea leaves are loose, it comes in a tin. You can easily store the tin in your kitchen cupboard. The tin is 100 grams which you can easily carry with you. Oolong tea contains caffeine and this tea also contains moderate caffeine that will make you feel refreshed. However, there is no mention of the product being completely organic.


10. Bigelow Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • This is a pack of oolong tea with 20 tea bags
  • The tea has a classic aroma that gives mellow notes
  • Foil pouches are wrapped around the tea bags to protect the flavor of the tea
  • This gluten-free tea is kosher certified
  • This tea is great for health as it has less caffeine and is calorie-free

The Bigelow Oolong Tea has a classical flavor that will be loved by anyone who is trying oolong tea for the first time. It has all the neutral ingredients that provide all the natural flavor in the tea. The brand has been making tea since 1945 which gives them enough experiences to provide the perfect blend of tea.

Moreover, the tea bags are easy to use and decompose as they come in a foil wrapper. You don't have to worry about storing the tea. For those who are health-conscious, you can add this tea to your diet as it has no calories.


11. Summit Tea Company-Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • The loose leaves are highly oxidized in this pack of tea
  • The pack can serve 100 cups of tea easily
  • The tea has a fragrant aroma that spreads throughout the room

Summit Tea Company uses high-quality tea in its tea packets. The packet has loose leaves that you can easily immerse in water for a few minutes to get the tea you desire. You can increase or decrease the strength of the tea by adding or reducing the number of leaves. 

Moreover, the packet has a ziplock that protects the tea leaves from the air. The pouch can stay in a stand-up position. As a result, you don't need to store the leaves separately in another container. The leaves are curled into a ball and are a very light green color. After brewing the tea, you will get a light golden color with a soothing smell. If you want sweetness in your tea, add a spoon of honey to it.


12. Teamonk Global Oolong Tea

Highlighted Features

  • 75 cups can be served with this pack of loose tea leaves
  • This tea is free from gluten, oils, GMOs, etc
  • This tea accelerates your weight loss along with your other activities
  • It is a medium caffeine content tea that will reduce the intake of coffee

Lastly, we have tea from Teamonk Global where they make sure the tea is hand-plucked that retains the actual flavor of the tea. The unique thing about tea is that it is designed to promote weight reduction. Whether you are on diet or having some gym time, this tea will hydrate you and the moderate amount of caffeine will keep you energized. 

The leaves are plucked from the Indian garden and no oils are added to enhance the flavor of the tea. Also, the tea is vegan and contains no gluten ingredients that make the tea safe to drink for everyone. This tea also helps with glowing skin, detox, and relaxing after a hard day of work.


Things to consider before purchasing the Best Oolong Tea

Did the oolong tea that you drank at your colleague's place last week grabbed your attention? If you want to try more of that tea, you need to know some basics as they kind of look similar to black tea. This tea requires the same preparation time as others but is healthier than green and black tea. 

Also Read  The 12 Best Store-Bought Bone Broths for a Healthy Lifestyle

Oxidation level of the leaves

The term oxidation is essential in this tea because the oolong tea is prepared by oxidizing 8% to 80%. Oolong tea sits between black tea and green tea. Black tea is produced by oxidizing it heavily whereas green tea is minimally oxidized. The oxidation level needs to be controlled for oolong tea. 

The process of oxidation starts as soon as the leaves are plucked out of the tea. To retain the flavor of the tea, controlling the oxidation rate is necessary. The oxidation range determines the flavor of the tea. 

Taiwanese or Chinese oolong tea

China has been popular for tea from ancient times but Taiwan is also known to be a country that produces premium quality tea. These two countries have different processing methods for oolong tea. For this exact purpose, the flavor of the teas of both countries differ. 

The Taiwanese oolong leaves are in ball shape as they are processed in that way. The shape helps to keep them fresh. The leaves undergo a minimum level of oxidation that brews tea of light golden color. 

The processing method of Chinese oolong is different as they bake the leaves at a higher temperature for a longer time. Due to high oxidation, the liquor of the tea is dark and provides an intense flavor. 

The shape of the leaves

Oolong tea is not commonly discussed so people can easily deceit you by telling you that the oolong tea looks like black or green tea. To keep in mind, the Chinese and Taiwanese oolong tea differ in shape as well. If you are buying a tea bag, there is no possibility of seeing the tea leaves. 

The oolong tea looks like curved balls of leaves. The color and liquor of the tea vary due to the oxidation level of the leaves. 

The intensity of the liquor and flavor

The intensity of the tea depends on how much the leaves have been oxidized. The leaves that are minimally oxidized have light liquor with a flowery, fruity flavor that helps you to feel refreshed after taking a sip. On the other hand, the higher the oxidation occurs, the strength of the liquor increases. The highly oxidized tea might look like black tea. 

The level of oxidation also affects the smell. The lightly oxidized tea has a subtle aroma whereas the highly oxidized tea gives a roasted smell.  

FAQ

Why is oolong tea beneficial?

The oolong tea is beneficial for teeth, brain, and bone as it has Manganese, Potassium, Fluoride, etc. The tea is partially fermented,  catechins and theaflavins are present in the tea. 

How many cups of oolong tea can I drink every day?

You can drink 2 to 3 cups of tea every day. 

When should I drink my oolong tea?

It is better to drink oolong tea after your meal. It helps with digestion if you have a meal rich in oil. 

Are there any side effects of oolong tea?

Dizziness, nervousness, irregular heartbeat, vomiting, etc are the side effects of oolong tea when you have had more than 4 cups of tea. The oolong tea has caffeine that will create imbalances in your body that will make you feel uneasy. 

Can a high blood pressure patient drink oolong tea?

Consult your doctor before drinking oolong tea as it contains caffeine that raises blood pressure. 

How long does it take to prepare the perfect oolong tea?

You can steep the oolong tea for 4 to 5 minutes to prepare the tea. The longer you steep the stronger the liquor becomes. 

Can I add milk to my oolong tea?

Milk neutralizes the tannin present in the tea. If you want to enjoy the flavor of the tea, it is better not to add anything externally.  

How to brew a cup of oolong tea?

For the perfect cup of oolong tea, follow the steps in the video

Conclusion

Oolong tea is the perfect tea if you want to cut the intake of caffeine. It has a moderate amount of caffeine that helps you with caffeine withdrawal. It has antioxidants to fight diseases as well but make sure they are packaged on a safe premise. 

Yet, it can be hard to choose, if you want loose leaves or tea bags. Also, check on the mention on the notes on the packet if you want allergy-free tea. In our article, we have mentioned the feature of the tea to help you choose the best oolong tea as your healthy drink.

Leave a Comment