Wu Long tea comes from the Camellia family and is native to China.  When the British went to India, they imported tea from China and eventually developed their own strain of tea.  Thus, all tea comes from the same family of plants and all teas are very closely related.  The only difference between teas made from the Camellia plant is the degree of oxidation of the tea leaves.  Oxidation is also known as fermentation.  However, no microorganisms are involved in this process.  Instead, fermentation refers to the browning of the leaves as they are bruised and exposed to air.  The process is very similar to the browning of an apple when exposed to air.

Wu Long tea has long been made in China through a special process involving exposure to the air.  What this does is spur chemical reactions between substances within tea.  This process also gives the different types of tea their distinct flavor and color.  Wu Long tea can be classified as in between green and black tea.  Because it is neither fully oxidized, nor left in its natural state, much skill is required to properly prepare this special tea.  This process can be considered on par with winemaking.

To oxidize tea, the tea leaves are hand-rolled and exposed to the air for a period of time; a process that requires artisan precision and experience.  The leaves are then roasted in a pan coated with tea oil in order to lock in the flavor.  Then, the leaves are dried and stored in a cool place for distribution.

Please visit our store (eBay ID: taomanifesto) and the Infusium Tea, Inc. website for the finest and freshest Wu Long Tea available on the internet.

Wu Long Tea on eBay