Is Chinese Wild Tea Black, Green, or Oolong Tea?

It is the processing method that determines whether a tea is black tea, green tea, or oolong tea.  

Theoretically, fresh leaves from a tea plant can be made into any of the six major types of Chinese tea (green tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, black tea, and dark tea).

For example, if you stir-fry freshly picked tea leaves in a pan until they wilt and soften, then manually roll the leaves into a certain shape, and finally dry them, you will get loose leaf green tea.

If, during the above process, after rolling the tea leaves, you do not directly dry them but instead pile them in a warm, humid room to ferment for a period of time (several hours or even longer), and finally dry the fermented tea leaves, you will get loose leaf dark tea.

When we discuss wild tea, we are no longer focusing on the processing method of loose leaf tea but rather on the raw material—the fresh leaves.

From the perspective of cultivation methods, tea trees can be divided into several types: tea trees in tea gardens, wild tea trees, and ancient tea trees (usually over a hundred years old), among others. Some teas are considered among the best loose leaf tea precisely because their raw materials are of excellent quality, such as ancient tree Pu-erh tea from Yunnan.

Wild tea refers to tea made from fresh leaves of wild tea trees. Wild tea trees are those that grow in the wild without human management. These trees are generally sexually reproduced varieties that grow in remote and environmentally superior areas.

Because they are not managed by humans, wild tea is much less likely to contain pesticides and fertilizers compared to other types of tea. If you are looking for organic loose leaf tea among Chinese teas, you might consider wild tea. Before purchasing, be sure to check for testing and certification from professional organizations to ensure you are buying qualified organic loose leaf tea.

Depending on your needs, you can process fresh wild tea leaves into any of the six major types of tea. If you prefer oolong tea, you can choose to make the fresh wild tea leaves into wild loose leaf oolong tea. This is why tea enthusiasts encounter varieties like wild black tea, wild green tea, and wild oolong tea when selecting Chinese tea.

We have had the opportunity to explore and learn about various types of wild tea. From what we have learned, different types of wild tea have their unique characteristics. Here are some examples:

•  Wild black tea: The aroma of dry wild black tea is evident even before brewing. After brewing, the tea liquor is bright orange-red with a pronounced aroma that is not superficial. The taste is rich, sweet, and refreshing, with a notable mouth-watering effect.

•  Wild green tea: Even after multiple brews, wild green tea maintains its fresh and pleasant aroma, which is one of the advantages of Chinese green tea. The taste of wild green tea is rich and sweet. It may be slightly bitter at first, but it quickly turns sweet.

Some tea enthusiasts wonder if wild tea can be made using the specific processing method, such as Da Hong Pao processing method. The answer is yes, but in practice, such examples are rare.

The world of Chinese tea is very diverse, with many possibilities. If you want to try different types of Chinese tea, it is recommended to start with a loose leaf tea sampler, which is more economical and convenient.

The health benefits of Chinese tea are directly related to the processing methods, with less association with the type of fresh leaves. For example, both wild black tea and tea garden black tea have good effects on promoting digestion.

Here are the health benefits of different types of wild tea. Different types of wild teas can be suitable tea gift sets for family and friends.

Wild green tea contains a large amount of tea polyphenols, especially catechins (EGCG), which have strong antioxidant properties. These help prevent cell damage and slow down the aging process. Additionally, they help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and assist in weight loss.

Wild white tea is rich in tea polyphenols and amino acids, which have significant antioxidant effects and help enhance immunity.

Wild yellow tea has a high content of tea polyphenols, and the production process generates a large number of digestive enzymes. Therefore, yellow tea has good antioxidant properties, enhances immunity, and improves digestion.

As a semi-oxidized tea, wild oolong tea contains unique tea polyphenols and theaflavins, which have excellent antioxidant properties. These help combat free radicals, slow down cellular aging, and positively impact cardiovascular health. Wild oolong tea also aids in improving digestion, enhancing beauty, and helping control weight. Some of the best oolong tea is renowned for their aroma and have a soothing effect on mood.

Find more loose leaf oolong tea with our Oolong Tea Sampler.>>>

Wild black tea is rich in tea polyphenols and theaflavins, which have antioxidant properties that help delay aging and maintain cardiovascular health. Wild black tea also helps improve indigestion and spleen and stomach weakness.

Wild dark tea has antioxidant and metabolism-regulating effects. Because of the post-fermentation process of wild dark tea, it is especially suitable for those looking to improve gut health and control weight.