Oolong tea is largely produced in China and Thailand. There are many varieties of oolongs. Those that are semi-oxidized are known as oolongs. Depending on oxidation levels, some oolongs have more black characteristics whereas some have more green tea characteristic. In any case, oolong tea is a great tea for re-steeping and the taste gets better with each new infusion.

If you haven't had the chance to make this unique type of tea, maybe now is the good time. So, today we are going to share the tips on how to brew oolong tea and get the best possible flavor. Read on to find out.

Choose the Tea Set

The choice of the tea set will not make a huge difference in the end result of the tea. But, it will at least make it look pretty and pleasant. Many people love fancy and nice-looking tea sets, so if you are one of them, choose a nice one for yourself and make the tea drinking experience even more enjoyable.

For the vast majority of people, a cup and a ceramic teapot make a pretty good experience. There is also an option of putting an infuser into the cup and brewing a single serving. Moreover, you can find a Yixing clay teapot as it is a part of a Chinese tea ceremony. Furthermore, many people find this the best way to drink oolong tea.

Place Loose Leaf Oolong Tea in the Teapot/Cup

Naturally, the best way to brew oolong tea is to get loose leaf tea, when compared to the tea bags. And, this is not only the case with oolong tea, but with any other teas as well. There are so many varieties of loose leaf oolong tea and the amount depends on personal preference. So, for starters, try the given amount of tea for every 6 ounces (180 mL) of water:

• If the leaves are in the shape of wiry strips, put in 1¼ to 2 Tbsp (18–30 mL).
• In case the leaves are in the shape of balls, put in 2 tsp (10 mL).
• If the leaves look like they are broken, put in 1 to 2 Tbsp (15–30 mL).
• In case you have a kitchen scale, you can measure out 2-3 grams of tea.

Heat the Water

Well, this is the standard phase when you brew oolong tea. Just as with brewing any tea, you'll need to heat the water. It's probably the best to choose spring, filtered and fresh water as it will keep the good taste.

Anyway, the ideal temperature for brewing oolong tea is 185–205ºF (85–96ºC). This boiling temperature won't break down oolong tea's aromatic chemicals. In case your kettle doesn't have a temperature button, simply remove the water from heat when bubbles start to appear. Another option is to heat the water to boil ad then let it sit for a couple of minutes to cool down.

Rinse the Tea and Let the Tea Steep

A great trick to get the best possible tea taste is to rinse the tea leaves before steeping. Simply pour some hot water over the leaves and then spill the water without loosing any tea leaves. This will open up the cellular structure of the oolong tea leaves and wash away impurities.

So, after you rinse the tea, pour hot water in the container and let it steep. You can steep your tea for about two to five minutes. Of course, this depends on how concentrated you would like your tea to be.

Finally, this is how to brew oolong tea. The steps are fairly easy and it doesn't take too much time. If you want to drink oolong tea like in a real Chinese culture, find your own Yixing clay teapot and enjoy. Until you do that, make sure to visit Teabloom and check out other tea recipes, brewing techniques and tips.