New Zealand Waikato Oolong
New Zealand Waikato Oolong
New Zealand Waikato Oolong
New Zealand Waikato Oolong
Why this tea is so good

New Zealand Waikato Oolong Loose Leaf Oolong Tea

9 reviews
£19.99
(27p per cup)
283 in stock

The Tea Masters in New Zealand work from a simple precept; tea is a science, but it is also an art. It’s this kind of attitude to tea making that we admire. The leaves are hand harvested and crafted to reveal extraordinary complexity of flavour; floral notes, succulent vegetal greens, tropical fruit and a creamy sweetness.

This Oolong Loose Leaf Tea from New Zealand has certain resemblances to our Iron Goddess of Mercy (tieguanyin) yet is unique and nuanced. Try them side by side and find out for yourself.

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Customer Reviews
4.3 Based on 9 Reviews
5 ★
67% 
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4 ★
22% 
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3 ★
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2 ★
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1 ★
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Filter Reviews:
04 August 2022
WB
william B.
United Kingdom

A Mightu Oolong

This is at the full and vigorous end of the oolong spectrum and yet with a delicate smokey taste as well. Very distinctive and classy and now a regular on my shopping list

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18 December 2021
A
Alex
Australia Australia

Exquisite

This tea is so beautiful it almost brings me to tears. An amazing piece of art. I'm honored to serve my friends this tea.

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01 May 2021
AP
Anna P.
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Heavenly drink

A delicate oolong with a hint of flowers and a lingering aftertaste. I love it in the evening. One of my favourite Rare Tea Co teas.

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05 March 2021
MR
Miriam R.
United Kingdom United Kingdom

MR

This is a wonderful tea with a flavour that outperforms all other oolongs I have ever tasted. It is redolent of the earth and sun, reflecting the undoubted care and love poured into its care.

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22 September 2020
R
Ran

Zealong

After leaving this in the tin for 3 months - since my original review - I have now found this tea really nice. So I now find it has a nice smooth mouth feel. Pleasant sweet floral notes. (The pea-shoot notes and astringency have mostly subsided.) It is now a more rounded, balanced and enjoyable tea. Which is good as I have stacks of it to get through!

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01 September 2020
D
Deborah

Delicious!

This was a gift and it was a lovely surprise to like it so much. The mineral quality is combined with a gentle sweetness and subtle creme Anglaise flavour. It's delicious and now a firm favourite.

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15 August 2020
R
Ran

Bong water

Vegetal,roasted nuts,araca nut, pea shoots,woody,slate,very mineral,overbearing astringency at 90ºC. At 80ºC more palatable if discard initial infusions. Maybe Tea Pulling may help ?

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02 November 2019
MS
Mark S.

Core tea in my life

I first tasted this tea in Waikato at the plantation on NorthIsland New Zealand a couple of years ago when visiting my son. It is truly crafted by hand from the loving plant care to the rolling and packing. I was so taken that I e-mailed the Rare Tea Company to start supplying it. Shortly after they did. Coincidence? Was it in the plan I don't know but what I do know is that if you drink tea buy the Oolong and the Black. They are from the same plant just a different process. They are essential daily necessities to my life.

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21 October 2019
MF
Marcella F.

Unroasted Oolong Freshness

I cupped this oolong upon arrival of my tea order from Rare Tea Company. The first steeping was extremely vegetable, even with a prior quick wash. But the second and third steepings were a delicate sweet pea freshness with a definite butter mouth feel and lingering after taste. I am a fan of New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc and wanted to know what their wines offered — I am not disappointed and will definitely order this tea again.

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Tasting Notes

The fresh-tasting leaves are unroasted giving a green, slightly mineral note, with a long-lasting sweetness, reminiscent of crème anglaise. The second infusion reveals a hint of fresh pea sprouts.

Quantity

Use 2g of tea per 150ml of water.

Temperature

For the optimum infusion use 90°C (194°F) water.

Time

Infuse for 1 - 2 minutes, tasting regularly.

Infusions

You can infuse this tea at least three times. With each careful infusion, different subtleties of flavour are revealed.

Cost Per Cup

27p per cup based on 2g of tea per 150ml of water and 3 infusions.

A gaiwan is the ultimate way to enjoy your oolong tea. Used in China since the Ming dynasty (over 900 years ago), gaiwans are unassuming but beautifully functional teapots that can be used to explore tea to its fullest – the following method can be used to make up to six infusions.

Start with 4-6g of oolong tea and pop it in the gaiwan teapot. Boil a kettle to 100°C/212°F, then pour an inch of the water on the leaf for a few seconds, then discard this liquid. This "wash" softens the rolled leaf and allows the water to penetrate.

Next, fill the gaiwan with hot water to just below the rim, infuse for 5-10 seconds and strain completely into your cup or a jug. There's no need to reheat the water as you go, because the softened leaves will require lower temperatures to release their flavours - but you will need to extend the time to 10-20 seconds for later steeps. We recommend at least six infusions to allow the leaf to completely open out and reveal all its beauty.

For a more comprehensive guide to using a gaiwan see our full guide here.

Here is a short video demonstrating how to get the most out of your precious oolong leaves with a gaiwan:

Seedlings

Careful propagation

In 1996 the Zealong Estate imported rigorously-selected tea cuttings from the best tea growing regions across Asia.

Over 1,500 seedlings were imported yet only 130 survived the rigorous New Zealand quarantine regulations. Through careful propagation these now flourish in the fertile soil and clean air.

New Zealand

Waikato, Hamilton

The Zealong Tea Estate’s home is the Waikato region in Hamilton, New Zealand. Hamilton is renowned for its fog and this plays a key role in ensuring the tea bushes maintain the perfect level of moisture to thrive.

CLIMATE

Gentle sunshine, and abundant rainfall

This climate is the gift that keeps on giving; abundant rainfall, ideal temperatures with the right amount of sunshine and free-draining acidic soil.

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