The Best Oolong Teas of 2025 for Aroma, Flavor, and Balance

Oolong tea is this amazing in-between tea that perfectly captures the essence of green and black tea - semi-oxidized, with this gorgeous fragrance and complex flavor. Also known as Qing tea - that's 'green tea' in Mandarin - it takes the best bits from both sides of the tea world, offering a unique mix of characteristics. In 2025, oolong tea just keeps winning over - it's the perfect choice for those who care about the craftsmanship, the quality of the leaves and the sensory experience.

Our list of the top oolong teas for 2025 showcases brands that stick to the authentic way, consider sourcing ethics and keep their leaves in top condition. Lots of top oolong teas come from the likes of Taiwan and Fujian - both of these regions offer fantastic conditions and traditional methods that really bring out the best in the tea.

We've chosen each of the products in this list because of their taste, their aroma and how well they hold up when brewing - we want to give our readers a complete experience that brings the best of tradition and modern health-conscious living together.

Oolong tea is a semi-oxidized tea that bridges the flavor gap between green and black teas. Depending on how much it's been oxidized, oolong can taste super light and floral or dark and roasted. Its oxidation levels can range between 8% to 80%, which contributes to its diverse flavor profiles. The process — withering, rolling, and partial fermentation — develops its signature smooth texture, golden color, and floral scent.

Tea makers often shape oolong tea leaves into twisted or rolled forms, which influence their brewing, appearance, and identification. Some oolongs have lovely green leaves with a slightly red edge to them, which makes them look really pretty.

Then there are places like Phoenix Mountain where they produce these amazing Dancong teas - single bush origins and complex flavors - and in Taiwan you've got Shan Lin Xi, which makes these high-mountain oolong teas that are all about floral aroma and delicate flavor. Taiwan is known for producing some of the best high mountain oolongs due to its favorable growing conditions. Each one of these is like a little window into the terroir and the know-how of the tea makers.

Every variety - from Tie Guan Yin (also known as the Iron Goddess) to Da Hong Pao (that's the Big Red Robe) is completely unique. Tie Guan Yin, also known as Iron Goddess of Mercy, is one of the finest oolong teas produced in Anxi, Fujian. Tea plants’ origin and cultivation methods play a crucial role in determining the quality and flavor profile of the leaves.

Brand Overview: Gardenika crafts certified-organic loose-leaf teas with a focus on purity, sustainability, and wellness. Their USDA Organic and Kosher Certified products, to ensure quality and safety. Known for natural sourcing and organic ingredients, Gardenika appeals to tea lovers seeking wholesome, minimally processed herbal, wellness, and classic flavored blends.

Flavor and Experience: This tea offers a smooth, subtly sweet profile with delightful hints of floral and fruity notes, complemented by toasted and nutty undertones. Making it ideal for those who enjoy green oolong profiles.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep a teaspoon of Gardenika Oolong Green Tea in 200°F water for 3-5 minutes. When you serve it up, the citrus and mint notes will really pop. Have it straight up to enjoy the crisp green flavor, or serve it over ice for a bright, refreshing pick-me-up any time of day.

Brand Overview: Harney & Sons, founded in 1983, is a family-owned American tea company known for quality and sustainability. They produce loose leaf and sachets made from unbleached, compostable paper to preserve freshness and flavor. Harney & Sons offers a diverse range of premium teas enjoyed worldwide, combining tradition with modern environmental responsibility.

Flavor and Experience: This tea has a warm, milky aroma with notes of vanilla and spice. When you take a sip, it's creamy and lightly sweet, with a toasty rice finish that's just like the drink of the same name from Mexico.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep a Horchata sachet in 200-212°F water for 4 minutes. When you serve it hot, the creamy, cinnamon-spiced flavors will really shine through. Try it iced for a whole different twist on this unique oolong blend - adding a splash of milk really brings out the dessert-like richness in this one.

Brand Overview: August Uncommon Tea, based in California, offers bold, creative blends that elevate tea drinking into a sensory experience. Known for imaginative, flavor-first profiles, they blend artistry with meticulous brewing guidance. Perfect for those seeking unique, flavorful teas, August transforms everyday tea into a modern culinary journey with layers of complex aromas and tastes.

Flavor and Experience: Peach and crème fraîche lead the way in this tea's aromas, followed by deeper, roasted oolong notes that really add some depth. As it cools, pistachio and vanilla come on in and create this totally elegant, dessert-like complexity.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep a teaspoon of this Dark Iris blend in 200°F water for 4-5 minutes. When you brew it up, the peach, pistachio, and roasted oolong notes really shine through. Serve it iced for a bright, fruity twist on this oolong, or add some milk to bring out some subtle vanilla undertones.

Brand Overview: Tea with Tae is a fast-growing, woman-founded Colorado brand known for its delightful floral-infused teas that blend relaxation and well-being. Offering eco-friendly mini tea tubes and pyramid sachets, Tea with Tae combines approachable luxury with gift-ready formats, reflecting the founder’s 2025 Tory Burch Foundation fellowship and strong industry momentum.

Flavor and Experience: This oolong is super bright and juicy, with berry notes and honey sweetness all over the place. The light floral scent of the oolong base balances things out and gives it a totally elegant touch.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep a sachet or teaspoon of this Fruit & Berry Oolong in 200°F water for 3-5 minutes. When you serve it hot, the berry aroma and honeyed sweetness really shine through. Try it over ice for a lively, fruity twist on this oolong - perfect for hot summer days.

Brand Overview: Nepal Tea Collective is a U.S.-based, immigrant-founded Public Benefit Corporation committed to transparency and farmer uplift. They distribute organically grown teas packed at origin in Nepal, where the high elevation and unique terroir of the region impart distinctive flavors to the Camellia sinensis tea leaves, highlighting Nepal’s exceptional tea heritage.

Flavor and Experience: Rich, nutty, and a little peppery, this oolong is all about the darker, roasted style. It's got a full-bodied taste with biscuity notes and a golden-brown liquor that's just stunning.

Brewing & Serving Notes: To get the best out of Shangri-La Oolong, steep one teaspoon of it in 205°F water for 4 minutes. When you brew this tea hot, it really brings forward nutty, biscuity flavors with a subtle peppery kick that's really nice. If you want to give it a chill, serve it over ice for a refreshing cup with lots of layers. Or you can add a bit of honey to give it a slightly sweeter, more rounded taste.

Brand Overview: iLOLA combines traditional tea richness with a modern, wellness-focused twist. Known for their innovative Tea Discs, they make loose-leaf tea convenient, eco-friendly, and infused with delightful flavors. Their design-forward, ritual-centered approach elevates the tea experience while keeping it simple and enjoyable.

Flavor and Experience: When you drink this tea, you get a real burst of bright, citrusy flavor with tangy orange and lemon notes that'll really perk you up. And the soft floral taste of the oolong balances that out, leaving you with a really nice, naturally sweet finish.

Brewing & Serving Notes: To bring out the best of Citrus Punch No. 53 Tea Disc, steep one of them in 200°F water for 3-4 minutes. This one's a great choice for iced tea - its bright, zesty flavor really shines when you serve it that way, and it still has all the smooth oolong character.

Brand Overview: Beach House Teas is a family-owned brand from Long Beach, Washington, inspired by the Pacific Northwest's natural beauty. They craft small-batch, artisan loose leaf teas using only the finest organic and wild-harvested ingredients, delivering authentic, high-quality flavors with a coastal charm.

Flavor and Experience: When you brew Oysterville Oolong, the first thing you notice is the fruity tartness, plus some soft floral notes - it's really lovely. And the hints of vanilla that come through add a bit of warmth to the cup, so it all balances out really nicely.

Brewing & Serving Notes: To get the best from Oysterville Oolong, steep one teaspoon in water at 200°F for 4 minutes. This one's great for hot tea, when you want to really enjoy its rich vanilla aroma. But if it's a warm day and you want something refreshing, serve it over ice for a tart, fruity tea that's perfect for the occasion.

Brand Overview: Teappo is a California-based wife-and-husband tea company with over 100 years of family history trading premium oolong teas. They cultivate deep relationships with Taiwanese farmers to source high-quality artisan teas, carefully curated and packaged in California, offering the best teas at reasonable prices to share their passion with the world.

Flavor and Experience: This tea has a smooth, fresh body with a sweet floral scent that's just gorgeous. And when the osmanthus blossoms get into the mix, it adds a really nice natural honeyed note that lingers beautifully.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep one teaspoon in 190°F water for 3 minutes. This one's really all about the delicate floral sweetness and aroma, so it's best enjoyed plain to really appreciate it. Or if you want something a bit more refreshing, try serving it over ice and see how the flavors come out.

Brand Overview: Danfe Tea is dedicated to showcasing Nepal’s rare Himalayan teas, grown at high altitudes in pristine climates. Named after Nepal’s majestic national bird, Danfe sources premium loose-leaf teas with robust flavors and naturally low astringency. Committed to elevating Nepalese teas’ global recognition, Danfe brings unique Himalayan flavors directly to tea lovers worldwide.

Flavor and Experience: When you drink this tea, you get a rich, smooth cup with floral and roasted notes that really complement each other. It's got a really earthy feel to it, and the aroma evokes the kind of mountain air that's just so clean and fresh.

Brewing & Serving Notes: To get the best from Himalayas Best Oolong Tea, use one teaspoon per 8oz of 205°F water and steep for 4-5 minutes. You can enjoy this one hot or iced - either way, the rich, grounding flavors will really come through.

As far back as the Ming Dynasty in China, tea makers started experimenting with how much oxidation to use to get the best out of their tea. That's when oolong tea really started to take off. Da Hong Pao is referred to as the King of Wuyi Tea and is considered one of China's top ten famous teas. Regions like Fujian and the Wuyi Mountains have played a huge part in shaping oolong tea's history.

Over the years, tea makers in places like Anxi County, the Wuyi Mountains and Taiwan have carried on these traditions and techniques, and developed their own unique styles of oolong tea.

Today, tea lovers celebrate oolong as the king of teas for its balance of body, richness, and complexity. They enjoy it both hot and iced, often served in traditional Chinese gongfu ceremonies, which emphasize the art of multiple infusions and mindful drinking.

To get the most out of your oolong tea and enjoy its rich flavors and aroma, here are some essential brewing tips to keep in mind when brewing tea:

1. Use fresh, filtered water — The quality of water greatly impacts the taste. Avoid tap water with strong chlorine or impurities for a purer, smoother cup.
2. Pre-warm your brewing vessel — Whether using a teapot or cup, warming it with hot water helps maintain the ideal brewing temperature and enhances flavor extraction.
3. Adjust water temperature based on oxidation — Lighter oolongs do best with water around 185°F to 195°F to preserve their delicate floral notes. Darker oolongs can handle near-boiling water at 200°F to 212°F to bring out their robust body.
4. Control steeping time carefully — Over-steeping can cause bitterness, so start with shorter infusions and gradually increase steeping times with each brew to experience evolving flavors.
5. Use whole loose leaf tea — Whole leaves open up slowly during brewing, allowing multiple infusions and a more complex flavor journey.
6. Rinse leaves briefly before brewing — A quick rinse with hot water awakens the tea leaves and removes any dust, improving the clarity and smoothness of your brew.
7. Experiment with multiple infusions — Oolong tea leaves can be steeped several times, with each infusion revealing new layers of aroma and taste.
8. Avoid adding milk or sugar initially — To truly appreciate the mellow and floral character of oolong, drink it plain first. You can add honey or lemon afterward if desired.

Oolong tea is naturally rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, compounds that help protect the body from oxidative stress. When enjoyed as part of a balanced lifestyle, it can be a refreshing beverage choice that complements wellness and mindfulness routines.

Its moderate caffeine content provides a gentle energy boost without the intensity of coffee. Many tea drinkers also find the ritual of oolong tea relaxing and grounding.

Regularly drinking oolong offers a flavorful way to enjoy hydration and antioxidant-rich ingredients throughout the day.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Oolong tea is all about balance and complexity. From floral Taiwanese blends to deep roasted Fujian classics, these teas showcase the best of 2025’s offerings. Each cup tells a story of meticulous cultivation, expert processing, and the unique terroir that shapes its flavor and aroma, often highlighted by a delicate floral scent, sweet flavors, and a refreshing taste.

Whether you prefer the delicate, sweet taste of high mountain oolong or the robust, smoky notes of traditional Wuyi tea, oolong offers a diverse palate to explore. Its semi-oxidized nature creates a perfect balance between the freshness of green tea and the depth of black tea, making it a favorite for both casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike.

Ready to try some of the world's best oolong teas for yourself? Visit our tea store today and see what we've got in store for you!