---
title: "Oolong Tea: What It Is, Half Way Between Green and Red"
description: "Oolong is a partly oxidised tea between green and red: creamy body, long finish, lilac or embers depending on the roast. Brewed at 85–95 °C, many steeps."
canonical_url: https://leafspirit.store/knowledge/oolong
lang: en
last_updated: 2026-07-26
site: Leaf & Spirit - Chinese tea house in Phuket, Thailand
---
# Oolong Tea: What It Is, Half Way Between Green and Red

Oolong (wulong cha, 乌龙茶 - “black dragon tea”) is the family of partially oxidised teas between green and red. It is the most virtuoso chapter of Chinese tea craft: some oolongs are fresh and floral like a spring garden, others roasted and deep like baked fruit in caramel.

## Taste and character

What all oolongs share is a buttery density and a long, fragrant finish. Light oolongs (Anxi Tieguanyin, Taiwanese high-mountain teas) smell of lilac, cream and fresh greens; dark ones (Wuyi rock teas, Da Hong Pao) of embers, spice and honey. Oolongs also take flavours gracefully: osmanthus and peach sit especially well on their creamy base.

## In the Chinese tradition

It was around oolong that gongfu cha - “tea with great skill” - took shape: a small pot, tiny cups, many short infusions and attention to every sip. In Fujian and Taiwan oolong inspires the same pride and argument as cheese in France.

## How to brew

Water at 85–95 °C, a small vessel, many steeps - the exact numbers by style are in the [oolong brewing guide](https://leafspirit.store/knowledge/how-to-brew-oolong.md). Oolong dislikes long standing - it prefers quick infusions in which the aroma opens in steps: flowers first, then fruit, and honey and cream at the end. The whole spectrum, from floral to roasted, is mapped in our [types of oolong guide](https://leafspirit.store/knowledge/types-of-oolong.md); the creamy one has [a story of its own](https://leafspirit.store/knowledge/milk-oolong.md).

Where oolong stands next to green, red and the rest of the six categories - see the [Chinese tea types guide](https://leafspirit.store/knowledge/chinese-tea-types.md).

## Buy these teas

- [Osmanthus Oolong](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/osmanthus-oolong.md) - from 280 THB
- [Peach Oolong](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/peach-oolong.md) - from 280 THB
- [Milk Oolong](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/milk-oolong.md) - from 480 THB
- [GABA Oolong Amber Smoke](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/gaba-oolong-amber-smoke.md) - from 650 THB
- [Red Oolong No. 12](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/red-oolong-no-12.md) - from 690 THB
[Shop Oolong Tea in our catalog](https://leafspirit.store/catalog/tea/oolong.md)

*Updated 2026-07-26 · Reviewed by tea master Ms. Judy (Wang Mengyu)*

Notes on traditional properties are part of Chinese tea culture and are not medical advice.

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