Do you know about Oolong tea and Green tea? Are you aware of their differences?
In reality, these two types of tea share some similarities, yet they also have distinctions in terms of aroma, taste, appearance, color, and production processes. Exploring these aspects can help you gain a better and deeper understanding of Oolong tea and Green tea, enabling you to choose the best loose leaf tea that suits your preferences.
About Oolong Tea and Green Tea
1.What is Oolong Tea?
Oolong tea is a distinctive category among the six major types of Chinese teas. This tea is unique as it is a semi-fermented tea. Oolong tea stands apart, not falling into the category of either green tea or black tea. It has characteristics of both green and black teas. Oolong tea is widely loved around the world and is acclaimed in Japan as "beauty tea" and "health tea."
Representative varieties of Oolong tea include TieGuanyin from Anxi, Huangjingui, Yongchun Foshou, Wuyi Da Hong Pao, Wuyi Shuixian, Fenghuang Dancong, Dongding Oolong, and Ali Shan Oolong, etc.
2.What is Green Tea?
Green tea is a non-fermented tea, and it is named "green tea" because its finished dry leaves, brewed tea color, and leaf bottom color are primarily green. Green tea is the oldest type of tea in history, with a history spanning over three thousand years.
Green tea has the highest sales volume among the six major types of teas, with an annual production of around 100,000 tons, ranking first among all types of teas produced in China. However, its global market share is much lower than that of black tea.
Seventy percent of the world's green tea comes from China. The typical processing methods for green tea include fixation, rolling, and drying, which categorize it into steamed green tea, pan-fried green tea, roasted green tea, and sun-dried green tea.
Differences Between Oolong Tea and Green Tea
1.Aroma and Taste
Due to its fermentation process, loose-leaf Oolong tea significantly reduces the bitter taste of tea leaves. This results in a unique flavor profile for Oolong tea, combining the richness of black tea with the freshness of green tea. Oolong tea is perceived as having a clear and refreshing aroma, with a rich and mellow taste, lingering sweetness, and a lasting fragrance. Notably, the second and third infusions of Oolong tea are often the most aromatic, and renowned varieties like Anxi TieGuanyin are known for having "more than seven infusions of lingering fragrance."
In comparison, green tea, without undergoing fermentation, may not match Oolong tea in terms of endurance for multiple infusions and may lack the same intense and enduring aroma. However, green tea has its distinct characteristics, mainly characterized by its "freshness." The quality of the taste of green tea is mainly determined by the fixation process. According to the fixation process, green tea can be categorized into steamed green tea, pan-fried green tea, roasted green tea, and sun-dried green tea. Steamed green tea has a high and clear aroma with a sweet taste; roasted green tea has a pure aroma and a mellow taste; sun-dried green tea has a stronger fragrance and a strong astringency; pan-fried green tea has a slightly stronger aroma and taste.
The unique and beautiful taste and aroma of loose-leaf Oolong tea and loose-leaf green tea make them excellent choices for holiday gifts. Feel free to explore the Tea Gift Sets available at iTeaworld, providing healthy and delicious gifts for friends and family.
2.Appearance
Loose leaf oolong tea can be roughly categorized based on its appearance characteristics: twisted tea strips with plump and round knots, tightly coiled with delicate and even knots, and coiled with round and robust knots. In general, Oolong tea gives an overall impression of being coiled, plump, and rounded, without distinct edges.
In terms of appearance, green tea can be broadly categorized into different shapes such as long strips, cylindrical, flat, needle-shaped, and spiral.
3.Color
Color is primarily divided into three aspects: dry leaves, brewed tea color, and leaf bottom. The dry leaves of Oolong tea are more complex in color compared to green tea due to fermentation, resulting in darker-colored tea leaves. The most distinctive feature is the "green leaves with red edges," such as yellow-green and glossy, sandy green and lustrous, and green-brown and fresh. As for the brewed tea color, Oolong tea generally appears golden-yellow and bright orange.
The fundamental characteristic of loose leaf green tea is that the dry leaves are green, the brewed tea color is green, and the leaf bottom is green, essentially all green without other mixed colors.
4.Production Process
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea with key processing steps including withering, "making green," fixation, rolling, and drying. The most crucial step is the "making green" process, unique to Oolong tea, determining its distinct aroma and taste.
Green tea's main processing steps include fixation, rolling, and drying, with fixation and drying being the critical factors determining the quality differences in green tea.
From the processing methods, it can be seen that both share common steps such as fixation, rolling, and drying. The key difference lies in Oolong tea having withering and the "making green" processes, which involve a certain degree of fermentation for the tea leaves. Green tea, on the other hand, undergoes minimal fermentation throughout its production.
5.Brewing Water Temperature
Distinguishing between green tea and Oolong tea can also be done through their brewing water temperatures. Oolong tea has a strong resistance to brewing and is suitable for steeping with water close to boiling at around 100 degrees Celsius.
Most green teas are tender in taste and require water at around 90 degrees Celsius for brewing. Using water at too high a temperature can scald the tea leaves, affecting the taste and flavor of the tea infusion.
After learning so many interesting details about oolong tea and green tea, it is recommended to taste some classic varieties of both to better appreciate the differences and their unique qualities. Feel free to purchase iTeaworld loose leaf tea to try out. iTeaworld offers a series of tea sampler, making it easy for you to discover the Oolong tea and green tea that suit your preferences.
Oolong tea and green tea each have their own characteristics. In summary, green tea preserves the original flavor of tea leaves, resulting in a fragrant and refreshing tea infusion after brewing. On the other hand, Oolong tea offers a long-lasting and lofty aroma with a rich and soft taste. The choice between the two depends on your preference for tea characteristics.
