The Black Dragon’s Tale: Exploring the Origins and Mystique of Oolong Tea

Oolong, which comes from the Chinese word Wulong, literally means black dragon and symbolizes authority and nobility. Oolong tea represents only 2% of the world’s tea, but it is truly worth discovering. It is a unique traditional Chinese tea with a flavor and color that is somewhere between green tea and black tea. A Chinese legend about the origin of the name of oolong tea implies that the particular manufacturing method is important for the aroma quality. As the legend goes, a tea farmer and hunter hunted a roe deer on the way home after plucking tea leaves. During the chase, the tea leaves in the basket were continuously bruised. The farmer and his family noticed that the wounded leaves continuously emitted bursts of fragrance after storage overnight, and the tea made from the leaves was more fragrant than other teas. The legend implies a close relationship between oolong tea aroma formation and stress, which has long been incorporated into the special manufacturing process of oolong tea.

In theory, fresh tea leaves can be processed into any type of tea. In practice, however, the tea cultivar strongly affects the quality of oolong tea. That is, it is difficult to make high-quality oolong tea from leaves of an unsuitable cultivar; specific attributes of tea cultivars play decisive roles in the quality of oolong tea aroma. On most occasions, tea cultivars are specially bred for the purpose of oolong tea manufacture. Such famous and excellent varieties in Fujian include Dahongpao, Tieluohan, Baijiguan, Shuijingui, Bantianyao, Wuyi Bai Mudan, Rougui, Shuixian, Beidou, Bairuixiang, Jinsuoshi, Qizhong, Tieguanyin, Huangjingui, Maoxie, etc. The fine varieties of Guangdong Province include Dongfang Hong (Oriental Red), Mi Lan Xiang (Honey orchid scented Dancong), Yu Lan Xiang (Mangnolia scented Dancong), Gui Hua Xiang (Osmanthus scented Dancong), and so on. The oolong tea variety resources and manufacturing techniques in Taiwan are the same as in Fujian, with famous varieties including Qingxin Oolong, Shuixian, Foshou, Daye Oolong, Meizhan, and Hongxin Oolong.