How to Find the Best Oolong Tea

At Art of Tea, our mission is to help our customers enjoy everything that the wonderful world of tea has to offer by providing the highest-quality loose leaf tea, tea mugs, and tea making accessories sourced from all over the world. Oolong tea is one of the most diverse varieties of tea in the world, with flavors ranging from light and floral to bold and complex and everything in between. If you’re interested in experiencing all that oolong tea has to offer, you’ve come to the right place – and here are a few things to look for in great oolong tea.

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What Is Oolong Tea?

First thing’s first: what’s oolong tea? Oolong tea is a variety of traditional Chinese tea produced by oxidizing the tea leaves under strong sunlight, then curling and twisting the tea leaves. What makes oolong tea unique is the oxidation and treatment process: depending on how it’s processed, oolong tea can showcase dark, bold flavors, or lighter and more refreshing aromas. The darkest, strongest oolong teas like our Purple Oolong are subjected to a heavy roasting process – and some can even brew a cup almost as dark and thick as coffee. Ultimately, any type of oolong tea can produce a flavorful, rewarding cup – what matters is finding high-quality tea sourced from reputable growers.

How to Brew Oolong Tea

Oolong teas can pack a complex, evolving flavor, and how you brew them is important in drawing out the complexities. Oolongs steep best in water that’s just off boiling, so you’ll want a hotter steeping temperature than lighter teas like green or white tea. To fully appreciate the flavors that an oolong has to offer, we’d recommend brewing it in short spurts. You’ll also want to use a higher concentration of tea leaves– at least 10-15 grams per 8 oz cup. Brew in bursts of about 30 seconds, tasting after each steep to see how you like the flavor and adding more if need be.

Order Premium Loose-Leaf Oolong Tea Online

At Art of Tea, we’re proud to source only the finest loose-leaf teas from the most prestigious tea producing regions in the world – and if you want to experience everything that oolong tea can offer, our selection is the perfect place to start. Browse our inventory of premium oolong tea and order online today. We guarantee you’ll get a cup that’s bursting with flavor whether you choose a light oolong or a dark, heavy-roasted oolong tea.

Want to learn more about oolong? Here’s a quick Oolong 101 from our CEO and founder, Steve Schwartz. 

How to Plan a Tea Party

With spring almost here and warmer days upon us, it’s the perfect time to host an afternoon tea party. Spring is the season for tea parties! Follow these tips to help plan your own afternoon tea party.

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*Decide on a budget and theme. Do you want a formal or informal party? Spring themes often focus on spring holidays like St. Patrick’s Day or Easter. Other common themes are: “Alice In Wonderland” or “big hats for a garden party.”

*Finalize a date, time and location. Afternoon tea parties are typically around 2 to 5 p.m. Will the party take place indoors or outdoors, in a garden?

*Make a guest list and send out invitations accordingly. Evites (evites.com) are an easy, eco-friendly and free way to invite 10 or more people. Facebook (facebook.com) invites are also a great way to get the word out. If you’re having a more intimate gathering, it might be nice to get crafty with a handmade invitation or a phone call would suffice.

*Create the food and tea menus. Make sure to buy or make a variety of sweet and savory treats to complement the teas. Food infused with tea is an excellent way to showcase the tea. Try some of our favorites made by Katie Kirby, our social media maven. Click on these links to past posts for recipes: Matcha Cupcakes, Tea Truffles and Earl Grey Chocolate Cake.

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Tea party menus typically include a mix of pastries and sandwiches. Think bite-sized appetizers or finger food. You can find many recipes on Pinterest.com with or without an account.

Select teas that will pair well with your food options. Here are Art of Tea recommendations:

Black Teas: Earl Grey, Earl Grey Crème, Tali’s Masala Chai, English Breakfast, Starry Night

White Teas: White Coconut Crème, Silver Needle, White Acai, Amore

Green Teas: Jasmine Pearls, Green Pomegranate, Happy Tea, Sencha

Oolong Teas: Mandarin Silk, Iron Goddess of Mercy, Plum Oolong

Pu-erh Teas: Naked Pu-erh, Pu-erh Tuo Cha, Coconut Cacao Pu-erh

Herbal/Tisanes: French Lemon Ginger, Egyptian Chamomile

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If you want to serve one tea at a time, we recommend tasting light to dark for a smooth transition for your palate. Take your guests on a tea journey starting with white; then green, followed by oolong and ending with black or pu-erh tea if adventurous. If you are new to pu-erh teas, refer to this two-part article on re-steeping pu-erh: Part 1 and Part 2. You should also have herbal blends available to accommodate guests who do not want caffeine.

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Lastly, since tea is the star of the party, you may want to share more fusions or unique teas like blooming teas such as Halo or Beach Flower. If you want to go a step further, you can make tea cocktails or tea-tinis! Check out these recipes from past posts: Happy Hour with AOT’s Blooming Teas and Hibiscus Cooler cocktails.

Learn about recommended steeping times. We recommend 1 tsp per every 8 oz.

*Make sure you have the proper teaware and accessories-teapots, teacups, kettle and water heater. Get some teaware tips from the last post on: How To Choose The Right Teapot. If you don’t have enough mugs, you can ask your guests to bring their favorite teacup, which will also add to the party décor.

Hope these tips were helpful! Enjoy sharing cups of tea with great company. Cheers!

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

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