The History of Oolong Tea

Oolong tea was first produced more than 400 years ago in China. It is now exported throughout the world. The Chinese name means "Black Dragon Tea." Oolong is also known as wu-long; "wu" means black and "long" means dragon. There are several legends about how the tea was discovered and named. While the true origins remain a mystery, all agree it came first from Fujian Province.

Tribute Tea

One legend says oolong was a "tribute tea"--a tea that was sent to the Emperor as a sort of unofficial taxation. In earlier times, tea was pressed into hard "cakes" for easier storage and shipment. Dragon and phoenix tea cakes were the tribute teas sent by the Imperial Tea Garden Beiyuan in Fujian Province. When tea cakes fell out of favor in the Ming Dynasty, Beiyuan began to produce a glossy, long, curly tea, "wu-long" as the new black dragon tribute tea.



Qing Dynasty

A second story relates that oolong tea was first produced at Wuji Shan Mountain in Fujian Province and was named for the part of the mountain where it was produced. This legend appears in at least two Qing Dynasty poems.



The Hunter

A third tale is told of the accidental discovery of the tea by a man named Wu Liang, who was distracted by a deer while picking tea. The tea leaves in the cloth bag he was carrying became bruised and started to oxidize as he chased the animal. Instead of wasting the tea, he dried and brewed it, and it was pleasantly mild. He shared his discovery, and it was named in his honor.

First Exports

Europeans had a chance to taste the beverage after the Dutch brought tea to Holland in 1610. At first, it was sold as an exotic medicine and didn't really catch on. But in 1635, tea was served by Dutch Royalty, and soon the wives of wealthy merchants were drinking it too. 

When Charles II of England married a tea-drinking Portuguese princess in 1662, tea became fashionable in England as well. At the same time, tea was being brought to the New World by Dutch and English traders.

Jasmine Oolong

The earliest tea was an accidental discovery. An Emperor's servant was boiling water to purify it when a leaf of the camellia sinensis plant drifted into the water. Emperor Shen Nung was a renowned herbalist, and he decided to taste the leafy water. He found its taste gentle, and it had a stimulating effect. Similarly, jasmine was originally an accidental addition to tea. Blossoms drifted into the tea leaves as oolong tea was being dried, giving it a delightful aroma.



Popularity

The partly oxidized roasted oolong is less astringent than many teas, and is therefore gentler on the tongue and stomach. From the courts of the Ming Dynasty through the Dutch and British royalty to contemporary tea lovers, oolong has been admired for its mild taste and full aromas.