Half-fermented tea

Compare to black tea, the process of oxidation for oolong tea is suppressed, and color of the tea after brewing become orange-red. Thus they are called half-oxidized tea. To make half oxidized tea, first dry the buds under the sun for a short period of time to raise the temperature of the buds for oxidation. After the oxidation, roast buds in the pan, then rub them carefully. At last, tea is shaped and dried. Examples of half oxidized tea is oolong tea and Taiwan Houshucha. Their oxidation levels are also different. Taiwan houchucha is rather a light-oxidized tea. To process oolong tea, leaves are dried under the sun, then brought to inside and rubbed carefully. When the color of the leave tips are about to change to red, and the strong smell starts, leaves should be moved on the pan and roasted. The process of making Taiwan houshucha is a little different. Their rubbing process is much shorter and lighter. Hoshucha has strong flowery aroma. Compare to hoshucha, aroma of oolong tea is less flowery, but oolong tea has the bright tea color and rich taste.

(Tadakazu Takeo)