Semi-fermented Oolong with a half open leaf and a clear orange cup.
Oolong, which means “black dragon” in Chinese, refers to a partly fermented tea made from the Camellia sinensis plant, where the oxidation process is interrupted before completion. The freshly picked tea leaves are left out in the sun to dry; at a certain point after they begin to wither and oxidise, this process is interrupted by quickly roasting them at high temperatures. The result is a quality tea of heavenly flavour and character; in looks and taste, it lies somewhere between a green tea and a black tea. The colour of the cup varies between bright yellow and orange; depending on the origin and refinement, the flavour ranges between spicy, smoky or soft and flowery. Connoisseurs moisten the leaves with a little warm water before adding hot water so that they only need to steep for a relatively short time to fully release the bouquet.