If you have already tasted black tea and green tea, what would you say to Oolong?

This sought after and delicious tea should form an essential part of your wellbeing regime. This is because, apart from being absolutely exquisite, Oolong is packed full of beneficial properties.

But before telling you about this incredible tea’s properties, let us get to know it a little better.

The origins of Oolong tea

Well, here’s a clue, it comes from a very far off island in the Far East whose name, directly translated, means “the beautiful island”. Any ideas?

La Ilha Formosa, as the Portuguese named it on their voyages of discovery during the XVI century, is of course modern day Taiwan.

The Portuguese were enthralled by this land’s rich biodiversity, virgin forests and beautiful landscapes, and this small heaven is where our fine and unmistakably scented Oolong tea comes from.

Nowadays China is also a great producer of this excellent tea, in particular it is grown in the Fujian province in southern China, where it is used in the traditional Chinese tea ceremony, Gong Fu Cha.

And here’s another little scrap of trivia for you, Oolong is also known as the blue tea or Black Dragon, because once the large leaves are rolled up and dried, they take on the shape of little black dragons!

How is Oolong produced?

Oolong tea, like all other teas, is made with the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis, in particular the Assamica variety.

The difference between oolong teas and green or black teas is the oxidation process (the length of time during which the leaves are left to “air”). In fact oolong teas are semi-oxidised teas, somewhere between a green tea, which is slightly oxidised with fresher, greener leaves and a black tea which is completely oxidized.

The point of oxidation in oolong teas can vary from an 18% oxidation, close to a green tea, to a 90% oxidation close to a black tea.

Properties and benefits

Semi oxidised tea fuses many of the beneficial properties of black and green teas, giving us items of nothing but good news about our friend Oolong!

The first is for our skin, thanks to its natural anti-oxidising components. But it doesn’t end here.

Oolong also helps us keep in shape by counteracting a slow metabolism and strengthening our immune system thanks to the abundant quantities of vitamin C it contains.

Because of its strong and structured flavour, Oolong allows you to enjoy a much stronger cup of tea without the quantities of caffeine you would find in most other teas, thus making it a perfect cuppa both morning and evening.

And finally, blue tea if drunk in its pure form, it contains no calories! But if you really can’t resist it, a little sugar and a dash of milk are perfectly acceptable! Just remember; never with lemon!

Chiara’s tips

Oolong tea is fascinating because it holds so many thousands of transmutations of scents and aromas. But if you are having difficulty choosing allow Chiara to help, after all she is one of the owners of the most ancient Tearooms in Italy!

Michelangelo’s Universe

We’ll begin with this particular tea, a blend of Oolong which comes from both Taiwan and and China.

This scented blend is part of one of our more significant line of tea labels, our 7 Teas of Rome line. A fabulous selection of teas created to pay homage to tea and to Rome.

How have we achieved this. Each one of these seven teas was created by taking inspiration from a fable, a perspective, or a place which makes our Eternal City unique.

But above all and most importantly by the exclusive use of teas of the highest quality and impeccable provenance, essential oils that are 100% pure, and indisputably prime ingredients.

To prepare a delicious cup of Michelangelo’s Universe tea we suggest you immerse 2 – 3 grams of tea leaves in 200 ml of water. Allow to brew for 3 - 4 minutes at 90°C and finally savour the flavour without milk or sugar because it is perfect just as it is!

In the Mood for Love

Chiara’s second tip is our In the Mood for Love tea, a romantic blend of Oolong tea to get you right in the mood! Though a unique and particular tea this is also a beautifully balanced blend. So wonderfully deliciously to sip and savour that it is one of our best loved and most sought after teas.

The best way to prepare this blend is to immerse 2 – 3 grams of tea leaves in 200 ml of water allowing it to brew for 4 – 5 minutes in water at 90°C.

Our line of classic teas

Last but by no means least amongst our line of classic teas we have two blends of black and Oolong tea which have taken years and years of hard work and research amongst the very best quality teas with faultless and provenance.

Royal Blend Tea and 5 O’clock Tea best represent the longevity of our experience with black teas which began back in 1893, when our founders Isabel Cargill and Anna Maria Babington first served our Darjeeling, Ceylon and China Keemun blend to their first guests in the first English Tearooms in Italy!

Royal Blend is our sovereign tea created especially for Queen Elizabeth II in honour of her visit to Rome.

With this blend we use Oolong to bring an irresistible scent of flowers to our China, Keemun and Darjeeling black teas.

We suggest you prepare this tea in the same way as Michelangelo’s Universe, by immersing 2 – 3 grams of tea leaves in 200ml of water at 90° for a maximum of 3 – 4 minutes.

Our 5 O’clock Tea is of an entirely different spirit, with a greater concentration of Oolong compared with our Royal Blend. This means that you can enjoy a strongly flavoured cup of tea without the quantities of caffeine you would find in our 5 O’clock tea, which is why it is perfect cuppa for your Afternoon Tea at Babingtons experience.

5 O’clock Tea is prepared by immersing 2 – 3 grams of tea leaves in 200 ml of water at 95° for 3 – 4 minutes.

So wait no more! Dive into the Oolong experience!