Oolong tea, green tea and black tea are all traditional famous teas in China. Each kind of tea has its own unique characteristics and production techniques. These three kinds of tea have their own merits, different tastes and different health benefits. So, what are the differences between oolong tea, green tea and black tea? And how to brew these three kinds of tea?
1. Oolong Tea: Semi-fermented Tea with Rich Taste
Oolong tea, is a semi-fermented tea between green tea and black tea. Its production process is exquisite, including many steps such as picking, withering, rocking, pan-frying, rolling and baking. In these steps, tea farmers, with their rich experience and superb skills, turn pieces of tea leaves into fragrant and mellow-tasting oolong tea.
The fermentation degree of oolong tea is approximately 20% – 70%, which enables it to retain both the fragrance and freshness of green tea and the mellowness and sweetness of black tea. When you taste a mouthful of oolong tea, the unique floral and fruity aromas will instantly fill your mouth, making you feel as if you were in a beautiful garden. And its golden or orange-yellow tea soup is even more pleasing to the eye. Oolong tea has a unique aroma and taste. The tea soup is fragrant and elegant. After entering the mouth, it has a strong aftertaste and has certain health benefits, such as lowering blood lipids and antioxidation.
There are many varieties of oolong tea, such as Tieguanyin, Dahongpao, Narcissus, etc. Each kind of oolong tea has its unique flavor and taste.
2. Green Tea: Fresh and Refreshing Unfermented Tea
Green tea, as the representative of unfermented tea, is the one closest to the original state among teas. Its production process is relatively simple, mainly including three steps: fixation, rolling and drying. Among them, fixation is the key link in the production of green tea. Through high-temperature treatment, the tea leaves remain green and the fermentation stops.
The fermentation degree of green tea is almost zero, so it retains the original green color of the tea leaves and most of the nutrients. When you make a cup of green tea, the emerald green tea leaves flutter gently in the cup, emitting a light bean and grass aroma. Take a sip, and the refreshing taste seems to be able to cleanse your soul instantly, allowing you to feel the freshness and tranquility of nature. Green tea is rich in nutrients such as tea polyphenols and vitamins, and has the functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, refreshing the mind, etc. It is a healthy drink.
3. Black Tea: The Mellow Flavor of Fully Fermented
Black tea is a fully fermented tea. Its production process includes several steps such as picking, withering, rolling, fermentation and drying. During these steps, the tea leaves gradually change from green to red and give off a rich aroma.
The fermentation degree of black tea is the highest, reaching 80% – 90%. This makes its taste mellow, sweet, and with a rich sweet and fruity aroma. When you make a cup of black tea, the dark red tea soup and the aroma it emits will instantly make you feel warm and comfortable. Whether it’s a cup of hot black tea in winter or a cup of iced black tea in summer, it can bring you unlimited enjoyment. Black tea has a rich and mellow taste, with obvious sweetness and wheat aroma, a strong taste and a long aftertaste. The tea soup of black tea is bright red and rich, with a mellow and sweet taste, and has certain health benefits such as warming the stomach and refreshing the mind.
How to Choose the Right Tea for Yourself?
After understanding the characteristics of oolong tea, green tea and black tea, then how to choose the tea that suits you? Actually, it mainly depends on your personal taste and needs.
If you like tea with a mellow taste and floral and fruity aromas, then oolong tea is undoubtedly your first choice; if you like tea with a fresh taste and bean and grass aromas, then green tea is more suitable for you; and if you like tea with a mellow, sweet taste and rich sweet and fruity aromas, then black tea is the best choice.
Brewing Methods of Oolong Tea, Green Tea and Black Tea
1. Oolong tea is suitable for multiple infusions, and the infusion time gradually increases each time to fully release the aroma and taste of the tea. Generally speaking, the water temperature should be controlled at around 80 degrees Celsius, and the infusion time is about 1-2 minutes, which can be adjusted according to personal taste.
2. Green tea is suitable for brewing with water at a lower temperature to maintain the freshness and natural aroma of the tea leaves. Generally speaking, the water temperature should be controlled between 75-85 degrees Celsius, and the brewing time is 1-3 minutes.
3. Black tea is suitable for brewing with boiling water to fully bring out the mellow aroma and taste of the tea. Generally speaking, the water temperature should be controlled between 90-95 degrees Celsius, and the brewing time is about 3-5 minutes.