Oolong Iced Tea

Oolong teas vary greatly from one tea to another. Many are noted for having sweet fruity flavors while others are roasted and can have nutty or grainy notes. Due to this range, choosing the right oolong for iced tea is a bit of a challenge. However, most oolong teas are refreshing served cold, so feel free to explore your options.

This iced oolong tea recipe is a refreshing, semi-sweet drink that is very easy to make. While black tea is often preferred for iced tea, you might find that oolong tea is a better choice. This is particularly true if you want a wholesome alternative to traditional sweet teas.

There are two oolong teas that come highly recommended for this recipe. Oriental Beauty (also known as white tip oolong) is a type of oolong tea that originated in Taiwan. The tea is highly oxidized (usually around 70 percent) and is harvested from young tea leaves so as to start oxidation from the moment they're plucked. The result is a naturally sweet, slightly sour tea that is sold by a number of tea companies.

Many tea drinkers consider Taiwan to be the capital of oolong tea, so it's no surprise that this second recommendation, Wen Shan Bao Zhong, also hails from that country. This tea comes from the Wen Shan mountain range. It is a low-oxidized oolong described as smooth, sweet, and floral. Some drinkers even refer to it as having a creamy mouthfeel.

When beverages are chilled, they tend to lose some of their sweetness. This recipe calls for a naturally sweet oolong, so you'll only need to add a dab of honey for a perfectly sweet tea.