How to Brew Oolong Tea: A Guide to a Rich, Layered Cup

Oolong tea is known for its unique balance between green and black tea, offering a complex flavour profile with floral, fruity, and sometimes toasted notes. Brewing oolong tea requires a gentle touch to reveal its layers. Here’s a guide to help you create a perfect cup of oolong, bringing out its richness and depth with each infusion.

1. Choose Quality Oolong Tea

Oolong tea comes in a variety of styles, from lightly oxidised, floral teas like Tie Guan Yin to more oxidised, roasted teas like Da Hong Pao. Loose leaf oolong tea is best, as it allows the leaves to unfurl fully and release their flavour over multiple infusions.

2. Use Hot, Not Boiling, Water

Oolong tea is sensitive to temperature, so using water that’s hot but not boiling is essential for avoiding bitterness and unlocking the tea’s complex layers.

• Ideal Temperature: Use water at 85–90°C (185–194°F). After boiling, let the water sit for a minute or so to cool slightly.
• Tip: For lighter, more floral oolongs, lean towards the lower end of the temperature range. For darker, roasted oolongs, use water closer to 90°C to enhance the tea’s warmth.

3. Measure and Rinse the Tea Leaves

Use 3-5g of loose oolong tea per cup (250ml) of water, as the leaves often expand significantly. A quick rinse with hot water helps awaken the leaves, especially with tightly rolled oolongs.

• Rinse: Pour hot water over the tea leaves, then discard the water after 5–10 seconds. This step enhances the flavour by priming the leaves for brewing.

4. Steep and Re-Steep to Uncover Layers

Oolong tea is ideal for multiple steepings, with each infusion offering new layers of flavour.

• First Steep: Steep for 1–3 minutes, depending on the tea and your taste preference. The first steep is often delicate, showcasing floral or fruity notes.
• Re-Steep: For each subsequent infusion, increase the steeping time by 30 seconds to a minute. Oolong can handle up to 5–7 steepings, each bringing out different nuances, from floral to sweet to slightly toasted.

5. Pour and Savour

Oolong tea is best enjoyed plain, allowing you to appreciate its natural complexity and shifting flavours. Pour into a small cup to enjoy the tea’s vibrant colours and aromas with each sip.

Why Oolong Steeping Is Unique

Oolong tea steeping is more of an unfolding experience than a simple process. The leaves, often rolled or twisted, gradually unfurl with each infusion, creating a beautiful visual experience. Unlike other teas, oolong’s flavours evolve over multiple infusions, each one revealing a new layer. This requires a bit more attention to temperature and timing, but the reward is a richly layered tea journey that invites you to slow down and enjoy each change in taste and aroma.

While it may not be as straightforward as brewing black or green tea, oolong’s steeping ritual can be one of the most rewarding. With each steep, you’re invited to explore a new side of the tea, making it a perfect choice for moments when you can enjoy the process mindfully.

Brewing oolong tea is a ritual of exploration, with each cup uncovering a new layer of taste. By following these steps, you’ll experience the full depth of oolong’s complex character—perfect for any moment that calls for a thoughtful, soothing break. Happy brewing!