A common question among tea beginners: “Is Dongding Oolong tea a roasted tea?” and “Does ‘roasted tea’ mean it’s more fermented?” Actually, “raw” (sheng) and “roasted” (shu) teas in Taiwan aren’t about the level of fermentation—they refer to the roasting process! Today, let’s take just 3 minutes to easily understand the differences between raw tea, half-raw/half-roasted tea, and roasted tea in Taiwan.
What Do Raw Oolong, Half-Raw/Half-Roasted Oolong, and Roasted Oolong Mean?
“Raw tea” and “roasted tea” are determined by whether the leaves have gone through a roasting process. Simply put:
- Raw Tea: Unroasted or only very lightly roasted, preserving the tea’s fresh aroma and vibrant crispness (e.g., lightly fermented high-mountain oolong).
- Half-Raw/Half-Roasted Tea: Medium-roasted, offering a mellower aroma and taste than raw tea (e.g., medium-roasted oolong).
- Roasted Tea: Medium-to-heavily roasted, resulting in darker leaves, a richer and smoother flavor profile, and sometimes hints of caramel (e.g., heavy-roasted oolong).
The purpose of roasting isn’t just to lower moisture content to extend shelf life; it also enhances the tea’s flavor and creates a fuller, smoother liquor through the Maillard reaction, though it does tone down some of the fresh, floral aromas.
So, Is Dongding Oolong Tea a Roasted Tea?
The answer is: Dongding Oolong can be both half-raw/half-roasted and roasted! Dongding Oolong undergoes medium or medium-to-heavy roasting, so some styles fall into the half-raw/half-roasted category while others are considered roasted teas. If you prefer a half-raw/half-roasted style, you can ask your tea merchant for a “medium roast (6-fen fire)”. If you want a roasted tea, just ask for a heavy-roasted Dongding Oolong.
Aside: The terms “raw tea” (生茶) and “ripe tea” (熟茶) in Taiwanese tea are completely different from Pu-erh tea! Pu-erh raw and ripe teas are distinguished by whether they undergo pile-fermentation (wodui), not by the level of roasting. This is a common point of confusion for tea lovers, so don’t get them mixed up next time!