Premium Red Oolong Tea
Price range: £8.50 through £15.00
Origin: Taiwan
Shipping UK Mainland: £5
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Premium Red Oolong Tea - Product Information
- 🍂 Type: Heavily oxidised oolong—approaching black tea strength
- 🌏 Origin: Luye Township, Taitung County, Taiwan
- 🌟 Flavor: Honeyed sweetness, ripe red fruit, smooth mouthfeel
- ♻️ Re-steeps: Yes—flavor evolves with multiple infusions
- ❄️ Best served: Excellent hot or as a cold brew
What Makes Red Oolong Special?
Premium Red Oolong Tea, also known as “Hong Oolong”, is one of Taiwan’s modern specialty oolong loose leaf teas; heavily oxidised and sometimes lightly roasted. Originating from Taitung County, especially Luye Township, it produces a rich amber-orange liquor with a smooth, honeyed flavour and a fruity, mellow character that bridges the gap between black tea and floral oolong.
This makes Red Oolong an excellent introduction to oolong for traditional black tea drinkers. If you enjoy English Breakfast, you’ll find its depth and familiarity comforting, while also experiencing the layered sweetness and floral complexity that make Taiwanese teas unique. For health-conscious drinkers, you can also explore the benefits and side effects of oolong tea.
- Red Oolong: is a new specialty tea developed in Taitung in the late 2000s
- New made: Combines intensive oxidation and oolong processing to yield a bright, amber tea that tastes like oolong but looks like black tea.
- Highly versatile: Excellent for hot brewing, Gong Fu, and as a cold brew.
Taste & Aroma of Red Oolong
- Heavily oxidised: Amber-orange liquor, deeper flavor intensity
- Aromatic profile: Ripe fruits, honeyed notes, smooth richness
- Mouthfeel: Mellow, silky, with a clean, lingering finish
Brewing Instructions
If you are new to loose leaf tea, you do not need any specialist equipment. View our beginner’s guide here:
Loose Leaf Tea Guide
UK Brewing
- 📏 7 g per liter
- 💧 95 °C water (a standard kettle is fine)
- ⏱ Steep 2–3 minutes depending on taste
- 🔄 Multiple infusions (5–6 brews)
Gong Fu Brewing
- 📏 3–5 g per 100 ml
- 💧 92–100 °C water
- ⏱ 30–45 s per steep
- 🔄 Multiple infusions (5–6 brews)
How We Source Our Tea
We travel to Taiwan to visit tea farms, taste seasonal harvests and select small batches of authentic loose leaf tea directly from the regions where they are produced.
Loose Leaf Tea Guide
New to loose leaf tea? Learn how to brew tea at home, explore different types and discover simple ways to enjoy a more satisfying cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Red Oolong” mean?
Red Oolong, also known as Hong Oolong (紅烏龍 in Chinese), refers to its higher level of oxidation compared to most traditional oolongs.
In Chinese tea culture, what we call “black tea” in English is actually known as “hong cha” (red tea) because of its reddish liquor.
Since Red Oolong is heavily oxidised, it bridges the gap between oolong and black tea, hence the name.
You may also see it marketed as “Hong Oolong” — both names mean the same thing.
Can I add milk to Red Oolong?
Though unconventional, you can—but its delicate honeyed sweetness and fruity aroma is best enjoyed plain.
Is Red Oolong higher in caffeine than typical oolong?
Yes, due to its heavier oxidation and full leaf maturity, caffeine levels tend to be slightly higher than lighter oolongs.
Is Red Oolong a black tea?
No — it’s still an oolong, distinguished by its high oxidation. It resembles black tea in color but retains oolong’s complexity.
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