Oolong Tea

The processing of Oolong Teas, or Qing Cha, can vary widely. This category bridges the gap between white and black teas and oxidation can range from 15% to 70%. Fresh leaves may be roasted over open fire, tumble dried to bring out floral qualities, or baked in bamboo baskets. This, combined with the varied oxidation levels, gives each tea a unique character often comprised of some of the following elements: floral, fruity, vegetal, roasty, caramel. We carry two main types of Oolong teas, rolled and strip-style. Rolled oolongs unfurl slowly over several steepings, causing the flavor to evolve as the water reaches different parts of the leaf. Strip-style leaves begin more boldly and mellow consistently over each steeping.

Quick view
A side-by-side comparison of Tung Ting leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are dark green and have been scrunched and rolled together into pebble-like shapes. On the right, the steeped liquid is a pale yellow.
Tung Ting
$20.00
Quick view
Ali Shan tea leaves on the left, tightly rolled into finger nail sized balls. On the right is cup with pale yellow tea from steeping the leaves.
Ali Shan Jin Xuan
$25.00
Quick view
Crisp and curly tea leaves, rolled into long twisting shapes range from brown to pale green on the left. On the right, a cup of steeped Bai Hao tea is a pale peach color.
Bai Hao
$35.00
Quick view
A side-by-side comparison of Gui Fei leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are small and have been rolled into crumpled, dark pellets. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
Gui Fei (Annual Forth)
$25.00
Quick view
A side-by-side comparison of Gui Fei leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are small and have been rolled into crumpled, dark pellets. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
Red Oolong (Annual Forth)
$25.00
A side-by-side comparison of Tung Ting leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are dark green and have been scrunched and rolled together into pebble-like shapes. On the right, the steeped liquid is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Tung Ting leaves. The leaves are vibrantly green, and have been curled in on themselves to form small, wrinkled pebble-sized pellets. They have a Meets EU Standards certification.
A close-up of steeped Tung Ting. The liquid is a warm, caramel color.
The Tung Ting package is predominantly gold, with an ornate blue teapot on the bottom portion. The top two thirds of the packet is smooth, and the bottom third bulges out indicative of vacuum-sealing around the pebble-shaped leaves. There is a Dobra identification sticker on it, obscuring some Chinese lettering.
A side-by-side comparison of Tung Ting leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are dark green and have been scrunched and rolled together into pebble-like shapes. On the right, the steeped liquid is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Tung Ting leaves. The leaves are vibrantly green, and have been curled in on themselves to form small, wrinkled pebble-sized pellets. They have a Meets EU Standards certification.
A close-up of steeped Tung Ting. The liquid is a warm, caramel color.
The Tung Ting package is predominantly gold, with an ornate blue teapot on the bottom portion. The top two thirds of the packet is smooth, and the bottom third bulges out indicative of vacuum-sealing around the pebble-shaped leaves. There is a Dobra identification sticker on it, obscuring some Chinese lettering.

Tung Ting

$20.00

[tung ting]        Frozen Summit

A celebrated, mildly roasted, slightly oxidized tea, Tung Ting is squeezed when moist into little irregular oval shapes by a special pressing technique. In ancient times, feet were used. This vibrant and captivating variety dances with notes of caramel, chestnut, and warming chocolate, and it is imported directly from the bright slopes of the Tung Ting Mountains in Taiwan. Appropriate for drinking during contemplation as the shadows grow longer.

Tung Ting is sold in a 50g packet for $20.00.

Ali Shan tea leaves on the left, tightly rolled into finger nail sized balls. On the right is cup with pale yellow tea from steeping the leaves.
A close-up of Ali Shan Jin Xuan leaves. They are small, and have been rolled into crumpled pellets. They range in color from dark green to light green, and have small brown patches.
The plastic Ali Shan packaging is predominantly silver with a blue teapot in the bottom right. The package is rough and bumpy, characteristic of vacuum sealing around rolled tea leaves. A sticker at the top reads: "Dobra US LLC. 80 Church St. 05401 Burlington Vermont. Oolong Tea - Milky Oolong. Product of Taiwan. Net weight 1.7 oz."
Ali Shan tea leaves on the left, tightly rolled into finger nail sized balls. On the right is cup with pale yellow tea from steeping the leaves.
A close-up of Ali Shan Jin Xuan leaves. They are small, and have been rolled into crumpled pellets. They range in color from dark green to light green, and have small brown patches.
The plastic Ali Shan packaging is predominantly silver with a blue teapot in the bottom right. The package is rough and bumpy, characteristic of vacuum sealing around rolled tea leaves. A sticker at the top reads: "Dobra US LLC. 80 Church St. 05401 Burlington Vermont. Oolong Tea - Milky Oolong. Product of Taiwan. Net weight 1.7 oz."

Ali Shan Jin Xuan

$25.00

[ali shawn djin shwin]          Milk Oolong

A special and highly treasured variety of the tea bush, harvested in the Ali Shan region of Taiwan above 1500m. Its rolled leaves produce a golden infusion with a delicious floral aroma and a uniquely creamy texture. The thick, buttery mouthfeel gives this tea its nickname, “Milk Oolong.” It carries the brightness of pine nuts and the sweetness of licorice and reminds the drinker of melting icicles and snow sliding off of a roof on a warm winter day.

Ali Shan Jin Xuan is sold in a 50g packet for $25.00.

Crisp and curly tea leaves, rolled into long twisting shapes range from brown to pale green on the left. On the right, a cup of steeped Bai Hao tea is a pale peach color.
A close-up of Bai Hao leaves. They are crunched and curled. They range in color from dark grown to yellow-green with significant color variety. They have a Meets EU Standards certification.
The Bai Hao box is dark red, with golden designs of dragons twisting over it. In the middle is a golden band, with text that reads "Taiwan, 1936. Oriental Beauty Tea." There are Chinese letters above each of the English translations.
Crisp and curly tea leaves, rolled into long twisting shapes range from brown to pale green on the left. On the right, a cup of steeped Bai Hao tea is a pale peach color.
A close-up of Bai Hao leaves. They are crunched and curled. They range in color from dark grown to yellow-green with significant color variety. They have a Meets EU Standards certification.
The Bai Hao box is dark red, with golden designs of dragons twisting over it. In the middle is a golden band, with text that reads "Taiwan, 1936. Oriental Beauty Tea." There are Chinese letters above each of the English translations.

Bai Hao

$35.00

[bye how]          Oriental Beauty

Bai Hao is a darker, bug-bitten oolong, and typical of this type, it is sweet and nicely rounded with ambiguous floral, fruity, and malty flavors. A Taiwanese original, it is the superior class of semi-oxidized tea—the highest quality given the name Dongfang Meiren—with a higher degree of oxidation and a great abundance of white tips. Most suitable for enjoying this honey-like sweetness while reminiscing about picking mulberries on a damp fall day.

Bai Hao is sold in a 50g box for $35.00

A side-by-side comparison of Gui Fei leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are small and have been rolled into crumpled, dark pellets. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Gui Fei leaves. They have been rolled into compact, crumpled pellets that range in color from dark brown to clay-brown.
The plastic Gui Fei package is golden in color. The top two thirds are flat, and the bottom third is boxy and rough, from vacuum sealing the tea leaves. There is a Dobra Tea identification sticker on the flat portion, with text that reads: "Dobra US LLC. 80 Church St 05401 Burlington, Vermont. Oolong Tea - Empress (Gui Fei). Product of Taiwan. Net. 1.7 oz."
A side-by-side comparison of Gui Fei leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are small and have been rolled into crumpled, dark pellets. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Gui Fei leaves. They have been rolled into compact, crumpled pellets that range in color from dark brown to clay-brown.
The plastic Gui Fei package is golden in color. The top two thirds are flat, and the bottom third is boxy and rough, from vacuum sealing the tea leaves. There is a Dobra Tea identification sticker on the flat portion, with text that reads: "Dobra US LLC. 80 Church St 05401 Burlington, Vermont. Oolong Tea - Empress (Gui Fei). Product of Taiwan. Net. 1.7 oz."

Gui Fei (Annual Forth)

$25.00

Our "annual fourth." Part of our rotating supply of Taiwanese Oolong teas, the type changes every year.  This year we are featuring...

Gui Fei
[gwey fey]          Empress

Gui Fei is a "bug bitten" oolong made from leaves similar to our celebrated, mildly roasted, slightly oxidized tea, Tung Ting. In "bug bitten" teas, small insects are allowed to nibble the tea leaves as the bush grows, leaving behind small deposits that add a dark chocolate sweetness twist to the aroma. This tea mingles the scent of dark chocolate with the feeling of sitting in a small garden with a jar of flowers as company.

Our Annual Fourth is sold in a 50g packet for $25.00.

A side-by-side comparison of Gui Fei leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are small and have been rolled into crumpled, dark pellets. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Gui Fei leaves. They have been rolled into compact, crumpled pellets that range in color from dark brown to clay-brown.
A side-by-side comparison of Gui Fei leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are small and have been rolled into crumpled, dark pellets. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Gui Fei leaves. They have been rolled into compact, crumpled pellets that range in color from dark brown to clay-brown.

Red Oolong (Annual Forth)

$25.00

Our "annual fourth." Part of our rotating supply of Taiwanese Oolong teas, the type changes every year.  This year we are featuring...

La-La Shan Red Oolong
Red Oolong

Extended oxidation is responsible for the color of this Taiwanese red oolong grew from the Taitung region. Taitung has favorable weather for growing tea, but it has been overshadowed by the high-mountain regions of Taiwan (and their teas). The experimental art of tea processing is thriving there, and from this we are blessed with red oolong. This rolled tea is the most oxidized of all the Taiwanese oolongs, resulting in a deep honey aroma and rich flavor akin to Oriental Beauty and Dan Cong.

Our Annual Fourth is sold in a 50g packet for $25.00.