Picking the Right Tea: What makes Oolong Tea Different from Green Tea?

With over 800 exclusive tea blends to choose from at the TWG Tea store, it might sometimes feel impossible to select some teas over others. But the path is more straightforward than we might think: follow the scents and flavours that attract you, and your instincts will lead you to a delightful drink.

For those of us who appreciate the different technicalities that come to shape our favourite teas, it can be helpful to understand the role of oxidisation in producing the six varieties of teas that originate from leaves.

One subject that we are receiving more and more enquiries about is about the difference between Green Tea and Oolong (Blue) Tea. Does Oolong Tea have more caffeine than Green Tea? How do the health benefits of Green Tea compare with those of Oolong Tea? How many cups of Green Tea or Oolong Tea should we drink in a day?

We at TWG Tea are here to support you in selecting a tea that matches your taste palate and fulfils the characteristics you’re searching for. Read along to understand the different characteristics that will help you identify the tea that feels right for you.

How does Oxidisation Shape Green Tea and Oolong Tea?

Teas originating from leaves can be fit into at least one of six different types including Green Tea, Oolong (Blue) Tea, Yellow Tea, White Tea, Red (Rooibos) Tea and Black Tea. The taste, scent and colour of your favourite tea is influenced by oxidisation – the tea leaf’s exposure to oxygen upon picking.

Oxidisation and Green Tea

Green teas are not oxidised, and their delicate flavour is characterised by the type of method used to stop oxidation. The oxidisation is typically stopped by either Pan-Firing (Chinese Method) or Steaming (Japanese Method).

If you’re someone who prefers subtlety in your tea, you might like to go for leaves that have been Pan-Fired. Pan-Firing leads to taste that is roasted and nutty. TWG Tea’s Champasak Rain Tea is a lightly toasted tea evoking memories of a late summer afternoon with a soft finish on the palate.

Meanwhile if you would like a stronger finish in each sip, you might consider trying teas that have been Steamed (Japanese Method). Steaming leads to a taste that is savoury, seaweed-like and slightly stronger.

TWG Tea’s Genmaicha Tea is a steamed Green Tea blended with roasted and popped rice. Mild and smooth, our Genmaicha Tea produces a bright infusion with a unique, toasted flavour. A favourite with tea lovers of all ages!

If you don’t have a strong preference between Pan-Fired and Steamed, it’s safe to pick a tea based on the scent that speaks to you.

Oxidisation and Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is originally a speciality in Southern China. To produce Oolong tea, leaves are left to wither till they lose about two-thirds of their water content after being picked from the tea plant Camellia sinensis. After this, the leaves are typically bruised to facilitate oxidisation for about an hour or two.

Oolong tea is semi-fermented and combines the fresh fragrance of green tea along with the rich and aromatic complexity of black tea. The percentage of oxidisation impacts the prevalence of floral and caramel notes with lighter oxidisation creating more fruity notes and higher oxidisation resulting in more roasted notes.

For example, TWG Tea’s Blue Cloud Tea is a very lightly oxidised Oolong tea that exudes an aroma of ripe apricots and infuse into a mild cup. Whereas our Maori Spring Tea yields an compelling fragrance of unburnt tobacco with rich flavours that are dry on the tongue and lingering on the palate.

The decision on when to stop oxidisation can vary as it can often depend on tea masters who check the scent of the tea before proceeding to the next step of pan-firing, followed by shaping the leaves into twisted, curled, or balled shapes.

If you’re someone who prefers the smooth and earthy tastes of higher oxidisation, you might like to try TWG Tea’s Grand Oolong Fancy, which is a composition of Formosa Oolongs considered amongst the finest and most distinguished in the world.

To pair your Oolong with a sweet afternoon snack, our Milk Oolong makes the perfect companion to scones and pastries with its subtle milky and toasted notes. Meanwhile, our Da Hong Pao is a powerful blue tea that boasts dark and twisted leaves, which produce a full-bodied infusion with flowery notes.

Does Oolong Tea have more caffeine than Green Tea?

The caffeine content in tea is influenced by a wide range of variables and can’t necessarily be determined by the type of tea alone. But if you’re seeking an estimate, the amount of caffeine in an 8-fluid ounce serving in Green Tea ranges from 24 - 39 mg, whereas the same serving of Oolong can range from 29 - 53 mg.

Adding higher quantities of tea leaves to the brew increases the caffeine content in a serving, even if the variety of tea used has a relatively low amount of caffeine. Moreover, temperature of the water and the length of the steeping duration can impact the amount of caffeine extracted from tea, with hotter water and longer durations resulting in higher caffeine extraction.

How do the health benefits of Green Tea compare with those of Oolong Tea?

As an unoxidized tea, Green Tea tends to retain some plant-based antioxidants that can be lost in oxidisation. Antioxidants are nutrients that prevent damage caused to our cells from aging, the environment and our lifestyle.

Some studies have suggested that drinking Green Tea daily in moderate amounts can reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, prevent tooth decay and reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. Green Tea has also been associated with playing a role in preventing dementia.

The caffeine in Green Tea might also help you in maintaining a sustainable level of focus, along with increasing mood-enhancing brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin to create a relaxing effect. TWG Tea’s Emperor Sencha is a steamed Japanese Green Tea with a subtle taste that is ideal during or after a meal as it is rich in vitamin C and contains little theine.

While all teas contain high levels of antioxidants, some studies suggest that Oolong Tea might offer higher levels of antioxidants in comparison to Green and Black teas.

The combination of antioxidants and nutrients in Oolong Tea have been associated with lower cholesterol that aids heart health, lower risk of diabetes, and possible resistance to chronic illness, allergies, inflammation and cancer.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are relatively fewer studies examining the impacts of Oolong Tea in comparison to Green and Black teas, and more research is needed to better understand the direct benefits of drinking Oolong Tea.

What Amount of Green Tea or Oolong Tea is Safe to Consume in a Day?

For most people, it is generally considered safe to drink a total of three to four cups (710–950 ml) of tea a day.

Researchers suggest drinking about three cups of Green Tea daily to increase the impact of associated benefits. Similarly for Oolong, two-three cups a day is generally considered safe.

Regardless of the type of tea you pick, it is generally recommended that we don’t exceed three to four cups in total each day.

And it’s always best to first check with a healthcare provider to prevent any side effects that could occur from caffeine consumption, individual tolerances, iron absorption and potential interactions.