Oolong green tea is a popular drink at local bubble tea and beverage shops, and I end up having several cups a day. Is oolong green tea classified as oolong tea or green tea? And where can I buy it?
Chang Hsing Tea: Green tea is a non-fermented tea, while oolong tea is partially fermented, making the distinction between the two quite clear. Literally speaking, oolong green tea is brewed by combining oolong tea and green tea. The exact recipes used by various beverage shops are trade secrets so we can’t know for sure, but it’s generally made by blending oolong and green tea, or by brewing a lightly fermented, lightly roasted oolong tea that leans closer to green tea.
If you want to buy tea leaves to brew at home, you can simply purchase a lightly fermented, lightly roasted oolong tea. Machine-harvested teas priced around NT$350 per 600 g on the market actually have a great flavor. Brew them hot and add some sugar at home, and they taste just as good as what you get from commercial beverage shops. Plus, 600 g of NT$350 tea can easily make about 80 cups. Even with the cost of sugar, it comes out to less than NT$10 a cup, making it very affordable and cost-effective.
▲Just 600 g of machine-harvested oolong tea can make over 80 cups of oolong green tea!
My personal method for brewing oolong green tea: Take 50 g of oolong tea, add it to 5,000 cc of 95°C hot water, and steep for about 10 minutes. Remove the tea leaves and let it rest for another 40 minutes before drinking. The amount of tea leaves and water can be adjusted to your preference. The finished oolong green tea can also be served with ice cubes and cane sugar, offering a flavor that rivals any shop-bought beverage.