The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
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| Oolong Tea-Taking the Middle Ground |
| Where green tea receives just a slight amount of oxidation, and black tea is at the other end of the spectrum being fully oxidized, oolong tea falls between the two and is semi-oxidized. |
| Oolong teas are time consuming and complicated to manufacture, with a greater number of steps involved in the processing. There are two classic types of manufacture for oolong teas: Min Nan or "balled oolong," requiring ten steps, and Min Bei or "tieguanyin" which requires a full 18 step process. We're going to look at Min Nan or "balled oolong," and the ten processing steps it takes to make a finished tea. Oolong is produced after the spring green tea season has finished, and unlike green tea leaf which is picked in the early morning and rushed to the |
| factory, the leaves used to make oolong tea are picked mid-day. Once the leaf for oolong tea has been plucked, the process must continue around the clock with no breaks, until the entire batch of tea is completely finished. |
| The 10 Step Process for Min Nan Oolong |
| The first step in processing Min Nan or "balled oolong," starts after the pluck, as the leaf is spread out and withered in the sun or on ventilating screens for several hours. Withering generates internal heat within the leaves and is the beginning of the oxidation process. When the leaf has done its work and wilted the desired amount, it is brought inside the tea factory and allowed to cool down. The leaf must now be manipulated and rolled for the next seven to nine hours. The manipulation and rolling is not continuous, but rather only a few minutes once every two hours. Called shajing, meaning "to kill the flowering" which is literally what it does, this rolling action is the most critical in the long process. Shajing gently ruptures the cell walls, triggering the chemical substances in the leaves (chlorophyll, polyphenols, carbohydrates, and enzymes) to disperse - an important step in the final development of the finished tea leaf. Because so much of the flavor and character of oolong tea is determined during this rolling step, it's critical that the tea masters continually evaluate their work during this long partial- oxidation process. If the overnight work looks good and has gone well, near daybreak, heat is applied to the oolong leaf to stop any further oxidation. This step is labor intense, with the leaf placed by hand in tea-firing woks, about two pounds at a time. Shaping the leaves is done either by hand or machine by gently twisting and squeezing the leaves, drawing the juices and oils to the surface. The leaf is then ready to be re-dried or baked in bamboo baskets over coal fires. And, finally the last step is baking. Over the next eight hours the leaf is baked four separate times, for five to ten minutes each, over decreasingly hot charcoal embers, to achieve a medium firing. After baking, the leaf is allowed to cool. Even though oolong teas are more labor intense and complicated to produce, they also allow a wider range of opportunity for interpretation by tea makers-that's why oolong tea comes in so many different styles, shapes, and colors. Enjoy. For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages: What are the main types of tea? Learn about the six main types of tea, how they are produced, and the different processing methods that distinguish them from one another. How is white tea made? White tea receives the least amount of processing, leaving it in its near natural state. Learn how this healthy tea is made, and why it's only available in limited quantities. How is black tea made? Many people enjoy the full, robust flavor of black tea. We'll walk you through the manufacturing process step-by-step to show you what it takes to bring this quality tea to your table. |
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| What secret ingredient is added when making puerh tea? Puerh tea is considered to be a medicinal tea in China, and the secret to producing this healthy tea may surprise you. How is green tea made? Learn about the unique manufacturing process for green tea, keeping it in its near natural state, and preserving the flavor, vitamins, minerals, and important antioxidants, making it one of the healthiest teas. What makes yellow tea so unique? Find out what extra step is taken during processing to set yellow tea apart and make it unique, while still sharing many attributes of both white and green teas. A quick lesson on how teas are named and graded. Are you confused by all the different names, letters, and symbols surrounding tea? We'll take the mystery out by giving you a quick lesson on what it all means, giving you one more tool to use in learning about this mystical plant. A cup of hot tea-just what you need. Nothing is more soothing, relaxing, or revitalizing than a cup of hot tea. If you've had one of "those" days and need to wind down, or just need a quick energy boost, check out these great recipes for hot tea. Lapsang Souchong tea - a closely guarded secret. For over 300 years the Chinese government kept the production method and location, in China's northern Fujian Province, deep in the Wuyi Mountain forests, a closely guarded secret. So, who is Earl Grey, anyway? Earl Grey is probably the most recognizable of blended teas, but there are many other tasty blends that make the perfect beginning or end to your day. Learn how tea helps you lose weight the healthy, natural way. Drinking just three cups of tea a day not only helps you take off those unwanted pounds, but also provides a powerhouse of other health benefits as well. Do you feel a cold or the flu coming on? Quick...read this! It may be hard to believe, but by just drinking a few cups of tea each day, you're boosting your immune system and warding off illness. Learn how tea helps stop the virus responsible for colds and flue, dead in its tracks. Specialty and gourmet teas - a treat for the taste buds. If you want to give your taste buds a unique treat, try one of the many specialty and gourmet teas available. With a range of flavors from smoky to sweet and everything in-between, you'll never be bored by your beverage. |
| For a great selection of quality teas, gifts, and accessories, visit: The Tea Detective's Gift of Tea Store |
An easy-to-use ingenuiTEA teapot, whose ingenious design has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine and HGTV.
Receive A Guide To Tea, an 88-page book on the history and enjoyment of tea free with your first Adagio Teas order of $19 or more.
Gifts for lovers of tea with free wrapping of all items.