Well, sort of. Oolong tea is not wu yi tea, but wu yi tea IS oolong tea. Do I have you scratching your head? It is not that complicated. Let’s go over tea varieties, and then it will be more clear.

All real tea comes from a plant called Camellia sinensis. Afterwards, the processing dictates the final tea variety.

Black tea is the most popular. At least 75% of all tea produced is black tea. The tea leaves are left out to wither after harvesting.

They are then rolled using one of two methods: orthodox or CTC (cut, tear, curl). Both methods release more moisture, but CTC crushes the leaves more because a machine is used.

After rolling, the leaves are left in a cool, damp spot, all spread out to oxidize. They go from a greenish color to a browner, amber color. Hot air is used to dry them. The tea is eventually sorted based on the leaf size and divided up into various grades of tea.

In processing green tea, the process is similar expect that there is no oxidation. Instead, the green tea leaves are steamed immediately after being dried to stop any oxidation process.

The nutrients are also left more in tact. However, the tea has a sort of grassy taste without the oxidation process.

Now, white tea is a rather special little tea. It is harvested only few days a year when the buds on the Camellia sinensis plant have yet to open.

White tea processing is like green tea, but the young leaves lend to a very delicate, smooth flavor and aroma. We are finally seeing more white tea distribution, though it was once reserved for Chinese nobility. Because of its difficulty in harvesting, it is rather pricey.

Oolong tea is between green tea and black tea. Its flavor is similar to black tea; however, it still retains most of its nutritional value.

This is because it is not oxidized as much as black tea. It is really a great alternative to the grassy taste of green tea and the lack of nutrients in black tea.

Okay, so why do we call some oolong tea, wu yi tea? Think of it more as a brand name, but perhaps a bit more special. Wu yi tea is oolong tea so named for the chain of mountains where it grows. The Wuyi mountain chain in Northeastern China is home to the Camellia sinensis plant where wu yi tea is harvested.

Think Florida and oranges, Idaho and potatoes, New Zealand and kiwis. Though oranges, potatoes and kiwis are grown in other areas, the final product may not match those grown in areas that have the perfect climate and soil for the very best end product.

Just like white tea, wu yi was once only given as a gift to the higher ups in China. Finally, wu yi tea has become quite popular in the Western world.

It is widely available on the internet. The popularity is likely due to its great flavor as well as nutritional value.

Our Favorite Wu Yi Tea Brand