The mist-shrouded cliffs of the Wuyi Mountains, on the border of the Jiangxi and Fujian provinces of southeastern China, have nurtured exquisite teas for thousands of years and are the birthplace of organic oolongs. The open, dark brown leaves of this organic tea from China yield a light amber infusion with a smooth, light body and little astringency. The tea exhibits aromas of mushrooms, dry fall leaves and sweet earthiness, with a very pronounced roasted quality that reminds us of burnt caramel. The roasted dimension of this organic loose tea translates strongly into the cup, as do many of its aromatic qualities. Organic Wuyi Oolong is a great drink with any meal and makes superb iced tea.
Ingredients: organic and Fair Trade Certified Chinese oolong tea
Origin: Wuyuan Xitou Tea Farmers Association, Jiangxi Province, China
Jiangxi, located on the Eastern side of China, is surrounded by mountains on three sides and sits comfortably in a subtropical climate, making it an excellent place for tea plants. Teas grown in the Wuyi mountain range are sometimes referred to as "rock tea," because of the rocky terrain. As a whole, tea isn’t a large export from this part of China, but in the north of Jiangxi tea production has become an important part of the agriculture. The Jiangxi WuYuan Xitou Tea Farmers Association reflects the transition of a society from governmental control to democratic processes and market economy. Once state-owned, WuYuan Xitou’s ten tea gardens are now owned by individual farmers who have collectively assembled to make up the farmers association that became Fair Trade certified in 2004.
Steeping Instructions
At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend oolong teas to be steeped for 4 to 7 minutes in water heated to a just about boiling (approximately 195 degrees F). For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible. Try not to steep your tea longer than necessary, as you’ll extract undesirable bitterness from the leaves. If you want a stronger brew, don’t steep longer, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!
"This is definitely the most roasted of the oolongs we offer."
Aubrey
"We have customers who come back again and again for this tea only."
Chelsea
"Drinking this tea brings my mind to the mountainous terrain of the Wuyi range, one of the first and most enticing tea growing origins I have learned about."
Health Benefits
Like all true tea, oolong tea offers many potential health benefits. Research has found that tea (Camellia sinensis) can have many positive effects on human health, including improved cardiovascular function, cancer risk reduction, improved immune function, improved oral health, and help with weight management. Tea is also full of polyphenols, which are a class of antioxidant that help your body maintain homeostasis and balance your stress levels.
For more information about the health benefits of oolong and other types of tea, and for direct sources of the above information, check out our Tea Health BenefitsHealth Benefits of True Tea page!
Please note: the information above is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The roasted nutty flavors are slightly sweet and remind me of good dark chocolate. Two of my favorite things: dark chocolate and buckwheat. I'm no chemist, but I would not be surprised if someone told there are multiple common flavonoids amongst these three items. I drink a mug of this Wu Yi every morning before heading out for my marathon training run of the day. This will be a part of my morning ritual as long as it remains available. Thank you to the farmers for all your hard work! Your effort is on my mind as I run each day.
2
not my cuppa
Posted by Martha/Tommy Lohman on 22nd Nov 2023
I was eager to taste this tea after enjoying the flavor of the dry leaf! Sadly, the roasted earthy aroma of the infusion was followed by a burnt popcorn taste to me and I did not finish one cup. I preferred the delicate honey flavor of the Makaibarai Estate oolong from India.
5
This is my end game tea!
Posted by Keith on 9th Dec 2022
My favorite quirky box of generic Chinese restaurant oolong that I've drank for 15 years is slowly becoming scarce and harder to find in the United States, I guess it just doesn't sell well enough to keep shipping it over. I always thought it was something special, because it had a really pronounced smoky flavor, with a finish a bit like roasted pistachios. I haven't been able to find another oolong exactly like it... until this! Finally, this was EXACTLY the replacement I've been looking for, and it's also pretty obvious the leaf is a step up in quality from my prior oolong as well. Not only does it have that ultra nutty smokiness I was after, it has a really nice earthy floral/vegetal note on top of the smokiness. Lastly, Arbor Teas is selling 5 oz for less than half of what I was paying to source my prior favorite oolong. I sincerely hope Arbor Teas continues to stock and sell this tea, because I will be a loyal and returning customer for as long as they sell it. This is my end game tea, and I don't need anything else!
5
Delicious smokiness!
Posted by Stella on 18th Nov 2022
We brew this extra strong at our tea shop and make a oolong tea latte! It is DELICIOUS with some plant-based milk, maple syrup, and fall spices. The smokiness is amazing with the spices... someone needs to try brewing chai with this.
4
Good but weak
Posted by AZ on 14th Nov 2021
This Wu Yi Oolong is alright but requires more leaf than I'd like to bring out the flavor. Having to use more leaf coupled with the longer steep time ramps up the caffeine content which I don't desire personally. The taste is similar to a weak version of a Japanese Hojicha made from Bancha. Wish the cultivar was listed because there are multiple Oolongs from the Wu Yi region ranging from low quality to the single most expensive tea in existence Big Red Robe. Obviously this isn't that or the price would thousands of dollars.
5
Fascinating!
Posted by Jong Park on 25th Apr 2021
This tea has the signature aroma and taste of Wu Yi rock tea. At first I steeped for 3 min and found something was missing. Later tried 5 min and I could get the great balance, smooth and deep taste of Wu Yi tea. I'll try different steeping time to find what's best for me. While this is a high quality, legendary Chinese oolong tea, I would say the taste is not for everyone.
5
I'm obsessed
Posted by Chris on 14th Apr 2021
I can't stop drinking this tea. I love oolong above all other tea, and this is the best oolong I have ever tried. I do have a question though: which cultivar is this? When I tell my Chinese friends that my favorite tea is a 'Wuyi oolong', they tell me that Wuyi is a mountain, and many different cultivars of oolong are grown there. From descriptions of different wuyi oolongs, this seems to match what is known as Da Hong Pao, or 'Big Red Robe,' but I am skeptical, because that is supposed to be the rarest and most expensive of the wuyi oolongs.
5
Toasty and smooth
Posted by Sasha on 5th Apr 2021
The provided description from Arbor Teas of this being 'toasty' with a bit of earthiness is pretty accurate. It's not too overpowering, fairly mellow unless you concentrate it. I suggest getting the Oolong Sample Pack so you can figure out whether it's to your tastes or not.
5
Absolutely Amazing!
Posted by Kevin M on 2nd Jan 2021
I have gotten quite a few teas from Arbor, and I love you guys! This oolong tea is by far my favorite. I usually can’t taste the different notes that the experts talk about, but with this one I can. It has a slight nuttiness that is amazing, and it’s very smooth. Being newer to teas, I also really love the allowance of time to steep. There is a few minutes difference that I can play with, while not making the tea bitter tasting. It’s a really awesome tea! Namaste
5
My favorite tea
Posted by Tina Giufre on 29th Oct 2019
This is by far my very favorite tea. I like my tea strong, so it's bold, roasty flavor is perfect for me. I even steep more than the recommended amount. I drink it daily and buy it in bulk, five or six bags at a time. I steep it again, using a bit less water, for a second cup when I'm at work. And it makes a great glass of iced tea, too. I recommend it to coffee drinkers, too. Thank you, Arbor Teas!
3
I Want to Write a Negative Review....
Posted by Kevin Boies on 13th Feb 2019
This WU YI tea is likely very good, for I know the quality of tea Arbor sells is very good: they have the absolute best Earl Grey Tea I've ever drank. The thing is; to my taste this tea was not liked: now I've heard some people say Brussel Sprouts are great, well not to my taste. I'm concerned that if I use the actual term I've used to describe … to myself, I will be termed a curmudgeon. I really think a lot of people should try this tea to see how their tastes runs -- do you like Brussel Sprouts or not / do you like the taste of WU YI or not it's your choice, but then it's not really a choice, but a taste.
3
Chocolatey
Posted by Stevie Preis on 23rd Jul 2018
Tastes similar to dark chocolate, highly earthy. Only reason it gets 3stars from me is because I enjoy a more floral taste.
3
Interesting Oolong
Posted by Debbie Shipley on 21st Oct 2017
I agree with previous reviews. This Oolong has many layers ... chocolate notes sweet and roasted smokeyness. Suggest purchasing a sample of this because of its very distinct taste.
3
A good, roasty oolong
Posted by McKinley L. on 4th Jan 2017
This is a good, well-roasted oolong that in line with other Wuyi tea that I've had. Roasted and malty, with a little chocolate and smoke going on as well. Probably a little too roasted for me to drink frequently -- not like a Hojicha or anything, though still fairly roasted -- but nice to have nonetheless. And as others have noted, it's good for multiple steeps as well, so it's a good value if you dig roasted oolongs.
5
Great Value
Posted by Greg E. on 14th Aug 2016
This oolong is a great value. It has a unique flavor. Dark and smokey. The darkest oolong I have ever had. Due to the distinct flavor you might consider a sampler to see if you like it before buy it in a bulk package. Also give it a few brews over a few days. I was not crazy about it after the first pot, but over a few days it grew on me and now I really like this tea.
4
Quality tea
Posted by Derek on 2nd Feb 2016
Good quality roasted oolong tea. What else is there to say...?
5
Warms me up
Posted by Steven on 31st Jan 2016
I've ordered this several times now. It's one of the teas I drink regularly. It maintains a nice flavor through several steeps. I abuse it and just take a tea ball with me to work with a mug that I refill, but it is a particularly tasty treat when brewed in Gong Fu style.
5
A Treasure of Toastiness
Posted by Dave W. on 28th Oct 2015
You will have the best experience with this oolong if you use a fairly generous amount of leaf. When I first brewed this tea I didn't use enough leaf, and I thought that it had too mild of a flavor. When I later experimented with using more leaf, this oolong perfomed like a champ! As Arbor Teas wisely recommends in their steeping guide, "For a stronger brew, don't steep longer, just use more tea". In regards to this Wu Yi oolong's great flavor, it hits the spot when you're in the mood for something truly toasty with a notable hint of caramel-like sweetness. Brewing gungfu style in a Yixing teapot, I found that a one-minute steeping time is perfect for the first few steepings. Go longer, of course, for subsequent steepings. I'm surprised at how much flavor comes out of this oolong even after nine or ten steepings. You definitely get your money's worth with this tea.
4
Great Oolong tea
Posted by Melissa on 11th Mar 2015
I love oolong teas to begin with. After reading the reviews about the roasted/smoky flavor it made me want to try it out. Definitely true to the reviews it does have that roasted taste but it's not over powering. Very earthy soothing tea.
4
Pleasantly surprised
Posted by Ben on 9th Jun 2014
So I work for a tea company and they discontinued my favorite oolong. I had been toying around with the idea of picking up a wuyi rock oolong tea. After searching and searching I found somewhere that had a tea I was looking for. When I finally had collected enough of the money to purchase, the store ran out. And so I discovered arbor teas. I found the wuyi oolong (for an incredibly reasonable price) and was a bit skeptical of the product I would be recieving. When it arrived I was ecstatic to try this tea. First thing first, I saw the note on the inside and became even more excited. I heated up some water and brewed it in my cast iron pot. I was floored. It's a delicate yet complex tea with the almost smokiness and smooth brew I had been looking for. I reinfused the leaves five times and found the best infusions to be the third and fourth. They were crisp, savory, sweet and smokey. I was so focused on the tea an hour and a half went by, and that was a good sign. I have a huuuuuge amount of it (the 7 oz was enough to fill my pound tin) and this tea was about $90 cheaper for the same volume of the previous favorite oolong. I could not have been more pleased. Within two weeks I bought another two teas from them and am anxiously awaiting delivery. All in all, if you love straight oolongs, I highly suggest you check this one out.
5
My sons favorite
Posted by Monica on 27th Dec 2013
Purchased four oolongs as a gift. This one is my sons favorite because of the smokiness. So much fun trying them all!
5
My favorite
Posted by Kyle on 16th Dec 2012
When I brewed this it was my first oolong. There is a flavor profile that reminds me of a roasted or smokey quality. It is subtle to a point you may not notice it and it is delicious. I love this tea more than any I have ever had. This is a must buy in my book!
3
Satisfyingly simple
Posted by Joseph Paulson on 7th Nov 2012
The dry leaf possesses a very sweet, fruity aroma. When brewed the sweet smell lingers. At this point I was worried that this Oolong would taste as sweet as it smelled, an off putting quality in my book. The liquor was brown and unappealing. But the tea drinks smoothly. A little thin, a little simple. But not overly sweet at all. Despite some early reservations, I quite enjoy this tea. If you don't expect too much from Wu Yi, you might too.
5
Awesome
Posted by Tommy on 10th Oct 2012
Smokey in the best way. So good!
5
Intensely delicious
Posted by Joe P. on 3rd Sep 2012
Smooth, deep, slightly smokey. Love it.
5
Delicious!
Posted by Jen D. on 8th Aug 2012
I actually found Arbor Teas while searching for an Oolong. I am so happy I sampled Wu Yi! It is exactly what I was looking for. If my Shui Xian sample is half as good I will be pleased.
4
A Savory Delight!
Posted by John of Troy on 24th Feb 2012
When I first brewed this tea, I was surprised at its flavor. It has earthy hints with an overall complex taste. I struggled to find the exact word to describe this tea and finally settled on the perfect word: Savory. This is a rich, savory tea that I will order again!
5
Excellent
Posted by Tom Brook on 19th Apr 2011
Quite simply this is one of the best teas I've ever sampled. The smooth roasted taste is perfect with a meal--especially Asian dishes or can be enjoyed by itself. It is one of two teas (the other being Organic Sencha) that I keep in my pantry at all times.
5
Wu Yi Oolong
Posted by Alan Babbitt on 11th Jan 2009
A very nice tea on the dark end of the oolong spectrum. I brewed this tea Gongfu style in a small teapot: 7 grams tea leaves to 200ml boiling water. The first infusion is about 15 seconds and is used only to warm the pot and the teacup and then discarded. The second infusion is about 45 seconds and an additional 5-10 seconds for each successive infusion. The resulting brew is reminiscent of the tea most Chinese restaurants serve although this tea is a definite step up in quality. The aroma is mellow and earthy and just a little spicy. The liquor is clear and amber colored with a clean flavor and fairly low astringency. I was able to get at least six infusions out of this tea before the leaves started to give out. I will definitely buy this again.
5
Yum!
Posted by Christin on 9th Dec 2008
Yum!
5
Very good
Posted by Tracy Bland on 1st Sep 2008
Excellent tea. It is my favorite and I drink it daily.