Oolong tea, also known as red tea, is has the qualities in between green and black tea. Oolong-teas have a strong flower-like taste and aroma. The brew varies from green to dark red. Oolong from Taiwan is treated in high temperatures just like that of China. Therefore the taste is stronger and spicier.

Oolong in Cantonese is “Wu-long”. It means black dragon.

The tealeaves are picked four times a year. The best time to pick them is in the fall. After being picked, the leaves are spread out on a bamboo carpet in a sunny place for 30-60 minutes. After that the leaves are moved under the shade. Once an hour the tealeaves are shaken carefully so that the edges darken and the middle remains green. The process ends by drying the leaves in hot air. This is done twice, first for about fifteen minutes, then they are rolled, and then the final drying.