Oolong

青茶, Qingcha

Oolong (Chinese乌龙茶/乌龙茶, Pinyin Wulong chá ) is a traditional Chinese tea. Regarding the length of the oxidation time it is between green and black tea, hence the other synonyms semi-fermented tea.

Name origin and meaning

The term " oolong " means " Black Dragon " or " Black Snake ". Various legends describe the origin of this name. One of these legends has it that the owner of a Teepflanzung from his drying tea leaves wegschreckte by the sight of a black snake; as he cautiously ventured back a few days later, the leaves were oxidized in the sun and gave a delightful drink.

Production

For oolong tea, the tea leaves must begin to wilt at first after picking in the sun. They are then stored in a room to rest; Subsequently, the oxidation takes place. The sheets are always slightly rubbed and shaken so that the escaping juice reacts with the oxygen in the air; but not as long as black tea. The oxidation was classically crafted stopped by heating in iron pans. Depending on the oxidation duration of the individual oolong taste tends more to the green or black tea.

Properties, infusion

Tea connoisseurs classify the tea by its aroma ( fragrant, flowery ), taste and aftertaste one. One of the best oolong teas are the Oriental Beauty (东方 美人, Dong Fang měi řén ) from Taiwan ( with the traditional growing areas in Luku, Xinzhu, Miaoli and Pinglin ), the Dong Ding Oolong (冻 顶dong dǐng, after the mountain Dongding in Nantou County, Taiwan ), and Te Kwan Yin (铁 观音, Tie Guan Yin ) from Fujian Province in China counted. Even the Phoenix Dan Cong (凤凰 单 丛, Fenghuang Dancong ) from Chao'an, Guangdong is one of the best Oolonggärten.

For several years, oolong teas are also produced in India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malawi and Kenya, with some other flavor characteristics.

Oolong tea can be infused several times. The infusions are called after the Chinese tea ceremony, is mostly used in the oolong tea:

Varieties

In the listing of the "10 famous teas from China " are:

• 安溪铁观音- Tie Guanyin ( "Iron Guanyin " ) from among Anxi in Fujian Province
• 武夷 岩茶- Yancha ( " rock tea " ) from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province.

A little-known specialty in Europe is bearing Oolong. Similar to Pu -erh teas win some, high quality oolongs under ideal storage conditions with time to taste and quality.