The 10 Best Oolong Teas of 2024

If you want to get the best oolong tea, you must understand the rich and interesting history of this unique and impressive tea.

Oolong tea, also known as Wulong tea, is a semi-oxidized tea, which sets it between fully-oxidized black teas and green teas, which undergo no oxidation.

The beauty of oolong tea lies in their flavor, which varies drastically from fruity to sweet or woodsy. All this depends on oxidation and on how the leaves get rolled or twisted.

To make this discovery journey easier for you, this oolong tea review shows you the factors to look at and consider when making your choice, plus you get a list of the best 10 oolong tea in the market to choose from.

10 Best Oolong Teas – Review

IMAGE	​PRODUCT	​FEATURES
	1. Vahdam Tea (High-mountain Himalayas Oolong Tea)	High-quality Indian loose leaf oolong tea Comes in a sealed plastic bag for freshness 100% natural and organic cultivation
	2. Prince of Peace (Bagged Organic Oolong Tea Bags)	Easy to use bagged oolong tea You can step one bag more than once Package contains 100 bags
	3. Cha4Tea (Set of Tea Pods for Keurig K-Cup Brewing)	Oolong tea pods for Keurig brewers Nice and sweet floral aroma with a roasted tone Available in 18- and 36-pack
	4. Harney & Sons (20 Sachets of Loose Tea)	A unique blend of oolong with pomegranates Comes in sachets with loose teas Each sachet brews two cups
	5. Stash Tea (100 Sachets of Peach Flavor Bags)	Oolong tea with peach flavor Comes from Fujian’s Wuyi Mountains Available in 10, 100, and 1,000 packs
	6. The Republic of Tea (Milk Oolong Tea in 36-bag Can)	Milky oolong tea 36-pack Hand-processed from Fujian province Guaranteed non-GMO, Kosher, and gluten-free
	7. Tao of Tea (Can of Loose Leaf Black Dragon Oolong Tea)	Dark 40% oxidized oolong tea Comes from Anxi in the Fujian Province Loose leaves packaged in a can
	8. Bigelow HAZC015113 (Premium-Packaged)	Premium-packed oolong tea Smooth and fresh taste Gluten-free and Kosher certified
	9. Foojoy China Tea (100 Bags of Anxi Min-nan Oolong)	Unique Min-nan tea blend Features a full and toasty aroma Offered at an attractive price
	10. Summit Tea Company (Tie Guan Yin Oolong)	Premium tea from Fujian Province Fragrant and full-bodied flavor Packaged as traditional loose leaves

1. Vahdam Tea – High-mountain Himalayas Oolong Tea

Photo: Vahdam

• Type: Darjeeling oolong
• Net Weight: 3.5, 12 ounces
• Package: Plastic bag

Oolong tea comes at a price. So, if you want premium oolong tea at an attractive price, then this Darjeeling offer might just do it for you.

Darjeeling oolong is an Indian tea variety that’s also grown using Chinese techniques. The name Darjeeling refers to the region in India and this tea has a bright orange color with a chocolatey aroma.

It comes in sealed plastic bags and is available in either a 3.5-oz or a larger 12-oz package. You also get extra aluminum-lined zipper bags to transfer the tea leaves into once you open the vacuum-sealed plastic.

This helps to keep its freshness, in line with Vahdam’s policy of packing and shipping the freshly processed tea leaves direct from the source in India.

Pros:

• High-quality Darjeeling loose leaf oolong tea
• Comes in a sealed plastic bag for freshness
• Available in 3.5 and 12-oz packages
• 100% natural and organic farm

Cons:

• Its packaging isn’t very impressive
• There are cheaper oolong tea offers

2. Prince of Peace – Bagged Organic Oolong Tea Bags

Photo: Prince of Peace

• Net Weight: 6.4 oz
• Package: Tea bags

This is not the highest quality oolong tea available, but it’s a great offer for anyone who wants to try oolong tea for the first time.

You get a pack of 100 tea bags for this 6.4-oz offer, but you can also go for smaller or large packages, such as 20 tea bags or larger 100 tea bags in packs of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

Prince of Peace guarantees that this tea is organic, but it doesn’t offer much information else. Oolong tea is best steeped with the leaves having enough space to unfold, so bagging also isn’t the best approach.

For someone, however, who wishes to explore the world of oolong tea, this offers remains ideal in presenting the features and benefits of the beverage.

Pros:

• Easy to use bagged oolong tea
• You can step one bag more than once
• Each package comes with 100 bags
• 4, 6, 8, and 10 packs also available

Cons:

• Bagged oolong don’t steep well
• Prince of peace provides very little information on it

3. Cha4Tea – Set of Tea Pods for Keurig K-Cup Brewing

Photo: Cha4Tea

• Net Weight: 11 oz
• Package: Keurig K-cup

For those who love conveniently using electric brewers for coffee or tea, this offer will come in just handy. And that’s especially if you’ve got a Keurig machine.

One might say it’s not the best Chinese oolong tea, but it comes ready to stick into a machine to produce a nice cup of oolong tea with all the convenience in the world.

But careful though, because the pods probably won’t work on other machines, and you might find them cumbersome to brew otherwise.

Cha4Tea guarantees a slightly floral sweet taste with a roasted note to it. Plus, each tea pod comes guaranteed to produce at least 2 cups, with the second cup tasting as good as the first.

Pros:

• Convenient oolong tea pods for Keurig brewers
• Comes with a sweet floral aroma and roasted character
• Available in 18-count and 36-count offers
• Each pod brews twice

Cons:

• It doesn’t work for traditional steeping
• Tea pods are relatively costly

4. Harney & Sons – 20 Sachets of Loose Oolong Tea

Photo: Harney & Sons

• Type: Ti Quan Yin oolong plus pomegranate
• Net Weight: 1.4 ounces
• Package: Can with 20 sachets

Harney and Sons decided to try something different with this offer. They mixed a nice oolong blend with pomegranates to give this oolong tea a nice citrus flavor.

The blend features the large-leafed Ti Quan Yin blend, also known as the Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong. Although it comes in sachets, the leaves are loose, just as with traditional oolong brewing.

You should note, however, that the best-tasting oolong tea don’t need extra flavors and this is the reason that oolong tea is so prized.

Still, it would be great to experience the tingly citrus spark of pomegranates in a classic oolong tea blend. This pack comes with 20 sachets, but you can also select packs with 30 sachets, and larger.

Pros:

• A unique blend of oolong with pomegranates
• Comes in sachets with loose teas
• Each sachet brews two cups
• Also available in larger packs of 30 & 120

Cons:

• It’s relative costly
• Authentic oolong needs no extra flavors

5. Stash Tea – 100 Sachets of Peach Oolong Tea Bags

Photo: Stash

• Type: Oolong & peach
• Package: 10, 100, 1,000 teabags

Here’s another oolong tea offer with a blend of fruit, and this time it’s ripe and juicy peach that’s added to the tea. The mix also has traces of lemongrass and orange peel.

Of course, the best oolong tea is pure without fruits, but you may want to try this one if fruit teas are your thing. It’s made using oolong from the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province in China and comes in teabags.

This means that it’s not an option for oolong purists because teabags don’t offer enough space for oolong leaves to naturally unfold while steeping. It’s still a convenient way to make oolong tea anyway.

Pros:

• Oolong tea with peach flavor
• Made with oolong from Wuyi Mountains
• Available in 10, 100, and 1,000 packs
• Guaranteed safe and non-GMO product

Cons:

• Teabags don’t make the best oolong tea
• High-quality oolong doesn’t need extra flavors

6. Republic of Tea – Milk Oolong Tea in 36-bag Can

Photo: The Republic of Tea

• Type: Milky oolong
• Net Weight: 4.8 oz
• Package: Teabags in can

Milky oolong is another popular tea from the Fujian Province in China. This one comes in lightly oxidized and processed into teabags for easy and convenient brewing.

It features a sweet cream and pineapple aroma, which set it apart from most other teas. The Republic of Tea also offers other flavors, including Dragon Oolon and Peach Blossom Oolong in the same 36-teabag packaging.

Because this oolong comes in teabags, it won’t work well with oolong purists, who prefer to give the leaves enough space to unfold. It’s however, verified a non-GMO project, Kosher, carb, gluten, and sugar-free.

Pros:

• Milky oolong tea 36-pack
• Hand-processed from Fujian province
• Features a milky taste with cream and pineapple aroma
• Guaranteed non-GMO, Kosher, and gluten-free

Cons:

• Teabags don’t produce optimal oolong tea
• You can get cheaper oolong tea offers

7. Tao of Tea – Can of Loose Leaf Black Dragon Oolong Tea

Photo: The Tao of Tea

• Type: Black dragon
• Net Weight: 3.5 oz
• Package: Can of loose leaves

For those looking for the best loose-leaf oolong tea, this offer from the Tao of Tea presents a nice blend in a 3.5-oz can package that lets you scoop the leaves with a spoon.

This is the traditional method of brewing oolong tea because the leaves get enough space to unfold during the process. So, this is one offer that might interest oolong purists.

The Black Dragon oolong comes from Anxi in China’s Fujian Province and its 40% oxidation rate gives it its trademark dark color, with its leaves, rolled into tight little pellets.

Each teaspoon will brew a cup of tea at least twice and up to four times. If you want to dive deep into the world of true oolong tea, then this blend might be worth a try.

Pros:

• Dark 40% oxidized oolong tea
• Comes from Anxi in the Fujian Province
• Loose leaves packaged in a can
• Each teaspoon can brew 3 to 4 cups

Cons:

• It’s slightly costly but worth it
• You have to brew it the old way

8. Bigelow HAZC015113 – Premium Packaged Oolong Tea

Photo: Bigelow

• Net Weight: 3.2 oz
• Package: Teabags

Bigelow takes a more refined tea-making approach here and brings you its oolong tea blend in teabags wrapped individually in foil pouches.

If you are looking for the best oolong tea for weight loss, and you’re not interested in the culture and traditions around brewing and enjoying oolong, then this product might serve you well.

This is because it offers you a convenient way to enjoy the hunger-suppressing and sliming effect of oolong tea.

Simply bring water to a boil, pour it over a bag of this tea that’s sitting in a cup, then wait for about two minutes for it to steep. There are no fruits or other extras, just pure oolong leaves to enjoy.

Pros:

• Premium-packed oolong tea
• Smooth and fresh taste
• Gluten-free and Kosher certified
• Comes from a reliable tea brand

Cons:

• Comes in teabags
• Relatively costly brand

9. Foojoy China Tea – 100 Bags of Anxi Min-nan Oolong Tea

Photo: SmileMore

• Type: Min-nan Oolong
• Net Weight: 7 oz
• Package: Teabags

We are all different and so, will love one type of oolong tea or the other. This offer is for 100 bags of the Min-nan oolong tea from Anxi, in Fujian Province, China.

The tea has a full flavor with a toasty note and a lingering aftertaste. Each teabag has 2 grams of oolong, with the entire 100 bags weighing about 7 ounces.

For downsides, the leaves come shredded and not whole as traditional oolong tea leaves. The package is, however, convenient and cheap.

Pros:

• Unique Min-nan tea blend
• Features a full and toasty aroma
• The package includes 100 teabags
• It comes at an attractive price

Cons:

• Teabags don’t make the best oolong
• The leaves are ground and not whole

10. Summit Tea Company – Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea

Photo: Summit Tea Company

• Type: Tie Guan Yin Oolong
• Net Weight: 5.3 oz
• Package: Large pouch

The Tie Guan Yin oolong, also known as the Iron Goddess of Mercy oolong is one of the most popular and best oolong tea from China.

Also coming from China’s Fujian Province, it has a smooth and balanced flavor with a nutty and sweet note to round it off. This makes it an invigorating and one of the best oolong tea out there.

This offer comes in a resealable pouch, and it has 5.3-oz of rolled up loose-leaf oolong tea. Unlike most of the other teas that come in bags, this one needs steeping in the old way, plus one scoop can brew up to 3 cups.

Pros:

• Premium tea from Fujian Province
• Fragrant and full-bodied flavor
• Each scoop can steep three cups
• Packaged as traditional loose leaves

Cons:

• It’s costly but probably worth it
• You need to brew it the old way

How to Buy the Best Oolong Tea

Photo: leafhousetea.com

The beauty of oolong tea lies in its variety and complexity. This makes it impossible to have a one size fits all variant for everyone.

You need to discover oolong tea for yourself, by finding out which variety and brew is best for you. This process needs some time and you may have to try out a few samples as well before you find your favorite.

Unlike simple green or black teas, you need to take some time to understand what sets oolong tea apart, because it’s only then that you’ll be able to make an informed and correct buying decision.

Following is a look at the most important aspects of oolong tea, so you can better understand it.

1. Types of Oolong Tea

As you already know, there are different types of the best oolong tea, depending on how they get processed. In addition to that, oolong tea also varies depending on the geographical location they are grown.

This makes oolong tea even more varied because there are over 20 such growing regions across China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, with China being the oldest and producing some of the best oolong tea.

Major production areas include the Anxi county and the Wuyi mountains in Fujian province. Wuyi mountains oolong tea is one of the best and often commands higher prices.

Here are some of the most popular types of oolong tea:

Da Hong Pao Oolong. This is one of the most expensive teas in the world, and it’s harvested from thousand-year-old bushes in the Wuyi mountains. This tea has a smoky flavor with hints of butter and caramel.

Shui Xian Oolong. This is another popular tea from Fujian. It’s also called narcissus or water sprite and is a very dark tea with a strong honey fragrance.

Dongfan Meiren Oolong. Its name stands for Asian Beauty, and it’s a Taiwanese oolong tea that’s highly oxidized but non-roasted, giving it a bright reddish-orange color and sweet fruity and honey aromas.

Jin Xuan. This is another Taiwanese oolong tea that’s famed for its light and flowery creamy flavor, with a smooth finish.

2. Harvest Quality

Because there are so many types of oolong tea, there are also different levels of quality between the various brands. So, you must know the difference between high-quality and low-quality offers.

The first is where the oolong tea comes from. And the rule here is simple: The higher its altitude, the better the quality. But watch out though, because these oolong brands can quickly get expensive.

Some leaves once grew so high that only monkeys could pick them and these oolong leaves were then reserved for the Chinese emperors.

Another method of confirming an oolong tea’s quality is to trust your nose. If you can smell that distinct and sweet oolong aroma, then it’s probably a high-quality package.

Oolong tea packages with mixed aromas are usually lower quality because they contain other herbs, which are often less valuable than oolong.

3. Flavor

It’s important to note that oolong tea has varying flavors and that even the same leaves steeped a second or third time can produce different flavors depending on the brewing process.

You may need to try out a few samples to know what you like best because different oolong tea blends have different oxidation levels, ranging from about 8 to 80%.

This oxidation process is what sets oolong tea apart from green tea. But then, the oxidation is abruptly halted during production, and this too sets it apart from black tea.

Depending on the level of oxidation and on how the tea leaves get rolled, twisted, and curled, each oolong tea brand will have its unique look and aroma. It’s left for you here to find what you love.

4. Safety

The sad reality behind many of the world’s popular tea brands is that these teas are laden with artificial flavors, pesticides, toxins, GMOs, and many other non-organic substances.

To be sure that you’re getting a good-quality oolong tea product, check the packaging for declarations such as non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, and so on.

5. Packaging

Oolong tea comes in very different packaging depending on the producer. You’ll find oolong tea in metal cans, tea bags, capsules, and even ready-to-drink oolong tea in plastic bottles.

Again, your decision here is a personal one. It should depend solely on what you enjoy and on which packaging best fits your lifestyle.

Conclusion

We’ve come to the end of this oolong tea review, and you’ve seen the nice offers out there. From the authentic oolong blends to more creative ones with fruit extracts, and those that come in bags for convenience.

The last choice, however, is yours alone to make, because it’s only you that knows what you need or what will best suit you.