Differences Between Oolong Tea and Black Tea

Tea: A Pillar of Chinese Culture

Tea is far more than just a beverage, it has cultural meanings which reflects the profound significance of Chinese culture. China Tea Co., Ltd., boasting over seventy years of history in the industry is a prime example. There are notable differences between oolong tea and Black Tea. For instance, many people often confuse the color of oolong tea with that of black tea. Below, We will provide some helpful hints.

Origin and Fermentation

All kinds of tea come from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Black tea is fully fermented, with the polyphenols in the tea leaves fully oxidized, resulting in its characteristic red tea soup and red brewed leaves. While oolong tea is semi-fermented, with its fermentation level falling between Green Tea and black tea.

Representative Tea Names

Black Tea: Commonly seen varieties in the market include Lapsang Souchong (widely recognized as the "origination of black tea worldwide"), Keemun Black Tea (Chinese would call it "Queen of Black Tea"), Yunnan Black Tea (Dianhong), Jin Jun Mei and Hunan Black Tea, etc.

Oolong Tea: Popular teas include Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao (a type of Wuyi Rock Tea), Rougui (another famous Wuyi Rock Tea) and Fenghuang Dancong, etc.

Differences in Appearance

In terms of appearance, oolong tea has tightly rolled stripe and diverse colors. For example, Tieguanyin dry tea leaves are emerald green, while Fujian Wuyi Rock Tea has dark brown dry tea leaves. On the other hand, black tea typically exhibits dark black, reddish-brown, or golden-tipped leaves (as seen inYunnan black tea ).

Aroma and Flavor

The differences between various types of teas can also try to look their aroma and flavor. Oolong Tea has unique aroma comes from floral, fruity, and roasted notes. Black Tea possesses primarily the sweet, honey-like, and fruity aroma. For example, Keemun Black Tea, known for its "Keemun fragrance," has a delightful fruity aroma. Black tea is often mellow, sweet, and smooth. Oolong tea, on the other hand, offers a rich and varied flavor profile, combining the freshness of green tea with the mellowness of black tea.

Tea soup and Brewed tea leaves

Black Tea has bright red tea soup presenting an orange-red or amber color. While Oolong Tea soup ranges from golden yellow to orange-yellow or amber. With roasting craft, Wuyi Rock Oolong Tea would be brewed in darker soup.

One significant difference between black tea and oolong tea lies in the brewed tea leaves. During the making process of oolong tea, there is a vital step of shaking. As a result, when the brewed oolong tea leaves fully expand after steeping, they exhibit what is known as "green leaves with red edges."

China Tea Co., Ltd. has decades of experience in tea production, processing, and sales. The company offers a wide range of tea products, covering all six major categories of traditional Chinese tea. Their oolong and black tea products, in particular, are made from the raw materials carefully selected from amiable growing environment, with classic and meticulous processing techniques. The product designs cater to the various taste preferences and consumption needs of different groups, ranging from everyday enjoyment to premium lifestyle fashions. Additionally, they provide customized services to meet specific client requirements.