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Oolong Tea

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The Unique Drinks

Oolong Tea is produced through a unique process including withering under the strong sun and oxidation before curling and twisting. The production of oolong requires that the leaves be processed directly after picking. First the leaves are wilted in the sun for a short period of time. They are placed into baskets and shaken, which bruises the leaves. The juices in the leaves are now exposed to the air, which begins the process of oxidation. The leaves are then spread out to dry. After a period of time--less than 2 hours for Chinese oolongs, longer for Taiwanese oolongs, the tea is fired, which stops the fermentation process.

Oolongs are traditionally fired into hot frying pan and cooked very quickly. After that is done, the leaves may be further fermented, and then fired again. Ultimately we have crisp and dry leaves. Oolong tea is usually scented with jasmine flowers. Jasmine flowers are picked, and the tea leaves are steamed in order to hold scent well. Different varieties of oolong are processed differently, but the leaves are formed into one of two distinct styles. Some are rolled into long curly leaves, while others are 'wrap-curled' into small beads, each with a tail. The former style is the more traditional of the two.

OolongTea History

OolongTea Types

According to the "Anxi" History, oolong tea had its origin in the Anxi oolong tea plant, which was discovered by a man named Sulong, Wulong or Wuliang. Another tale tells of a man named Wu Liang (later corrupted to Wu Long, or Oolong) who discovered oolong tea by accident when he was distracted by a deer after a hard day's tea-picking, and by the time he remembered to return to the tea it had already started to oxidize. According to the "Wuyi" theory, oolong tea first existed in the Wuyi Mountain area. This is evidenced by Qing dynasty poems such as Wuyi Tea Song (Wuyi Chage) and Tea Tale (Chashuo). It was said that oolong tea was named after the part of Wuyi mountain where it was originally produced.

Varieties of Oolong Tea
China :
Fujian province (Wu Yi) :
1. Wuyi Huang Guan Yin tea leaves
2. Wuyi Qi Lan Oolong tea leaves
3. Red Robe Dà Hóng Páo
4. Sì Dà Míng (The Four Great Bushes)
5. Gold Turtle Shu
6. Iron Monk Arhat
7. White Comb Bái
8. Cassia Ròu Guì
9. Narcissus Shu

Fújiàn province :
1. Tie Guan Yin
2. Golden Cassia

Guangdong province :
1. Single Bush

Taiwan (Formosa island) :
1. Dong Ding oolong
2. Oriental Beauty
3. Alishan oolong
4. Alishan oolong
5. Pouchong,
6. Gao Shan oolong
7. Shi Chuen oolong

Other oolong teas :
1. Darjeeling oolong
2. Vietnamese oolong
3. Thai oolong
4. Jawa Oolong Tea: made in Lebak-Banten, Indonesia
5. African oolong: made in Malawi and in Kenya
6. Nepali oolong

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