noun
oolong
OO-long/ˈulɔŋ/
A Chinese tea partially oxidized to a level between green and black tea.
The cup holds amber oolong beside dried and unfurled tea leaves.
Etymology
The name literally means “black dragon” in Chinese; the source does not explain why that image was applied to the tea.
In context
If the tea maker cuts the oxidation time in half, he'd have oolong, a lighter tea that is served in most Chinese restaurants.
More examples
- Oolong falls between green and black tea in oxidation level.
- The cafe serves oolong with lunch.
- These two oolongs have noticeably different aromas.
Forms
oolong · oolongs
Similar words
- tea
- A broader term covering green, black, and partially oxidized varieties.