I have always found it interesting that oolong tea is one of the most misunderstood teas.
People often describe it as complicated.
Too many varieties. Too many brewing methods. Too many rules.
The leaves should be prepared this way. The water should be at this temperature. The teapot should be a certain material. The first infusion should be discarded. The next one should be appreciated carefully.
By the time someone finally drinks the tea, they are already worried about doing it incorrectly.
Perhaps this is why many people never fall in love with oolong.
Not because the tea itself is difficult.
Because we made it difficult.
Oolong is a remarkable category of tea. It sits between green and black tea, carrying a range of flavours shaped by cultivation, oxidation, and processing. One oolong can taste floral and delicate, while another can feel roasted, deep, and comforting.
Its diversity is part of its beauty.
But somewhere along the way, the conversation around oolong became louder than the tea itself.
We began focusing so much on the correct way to appreciate it that we forgot the simplest way.
Drink it.
I have introduced oolong to people who were hesitant at first. They often approached it with the expectation that they needed to understand something before they could enjoy it.
But tea does not require permission.
A person does not need to identify every tasting note. They do not need to know the exact mountain where it was grown. They do not need expensive equipment before they are allowed to appreciate a cup.
The first relationship with tea should be curiosity, not pressure.
Of course, learning more about oolong can deepen appreciation. Understanding the craft behind the leaves gives us respect for the people who produce it.
But knowledge should open the door.
It should not stand in front of it.
Perhaps oolong feels intimidating because we have placed too many expectations around it. We have turned a drink into a test of expertise.
And that is unfortunate.
Because some of the most enjoyable oolong moments are the simplest ones.
A warm cup on a quiet morning.
A familiar tea prepared without overthinking.
A second infusion enjoyed because the first one was pleasant.
Maybe oolong was never the problem.
Maybe we simply forgot to let people meet it naturally.
Tea does not become better because we know more words to describe it.
It becomes better when we give ourselves enough time to enjoy it.
With quiet regard,
N. P. Lim
The Problem With “Single-Origin” Tea Obsession
There was a time when knowing where a tea came from was enough. Now, it sometimes feels as though we need to know everything. The mountain. The village. The garden. The harvest date. The particular plot where the leaves were grown. Single-origin tea has become a mark of quality in modern tea culture. The idea…
-
Where Singapore’s Tea Traditions Still Steep: Pek Sin Choon
The first thing I noticed was the smell. Not perfume, not incense. Something warmer and older than both. Roasted tea leaves, drifting out onto Mosque Street before I even reached the door. It’s the kind of smell that makes you slow your steps without knowing why. Pek Sin Choon has been on this corner of…
-
Not All Comfort Is Sweet: The Bitterness I Now Appreciate
I used to think comfort was supposed to be easy. A familiar drink. A familiar taste. Something that immediately made me feel better. For a long time, I gravitated towards teas that were gentle. Soft flavours. Natural sweetness. Anything that felt welcoming from the first sip. Then I started appreciating bitter teas. Not because I…
-
Understanding the Herb Behind the Refreshing Cup: Peppermint Tea
There is a moment, just after the hot water meets the fresh peppermint leaves, when the whole room seems to change. A sharp, green coolness lifts from the cup and settles somewhere behind your eyes. Drinking peppermint tea does this quietly, without fuss. It asks for nothing and offers a great deal. Most of us…
-
Why Most People Hate Oolong: Overcomplicated Advice Ruined It
I have always found it interesting that oolong tea is one of the most misunderstood teas. People often describe it as complicated. Too many varieties. Too many brewing methods. Too many rules. The leaves should be prepared this way. The water should be at this temperature. The teapot should be a certain material. The first…
-
Kempinski Singapore High Tea Review: When Afternoon Tea Feels Like an Occasion
The rain had come and gone by the time I arrived, leaving the street outside slick and quiet. I stepped in without knowing quite what I wanted from the afternoon. Only that I wanted it to be slow. The Lobby Lounge at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore does not rush you. It waits. And there…
-
Scent, Memory, and a Kettle: How Tea Anchors My Days
There are certain smells that bring us somewhere else before we even realise it. The scent of rain on warm pavement. A familiar perfume. The food someone used to make when we were younger. For me, tea belongs in that category. Sometimes, before I even take a sip, the aroma is enough to bring back…
-
The Chinese Yixing Teapot: More Than a Teapot, a Living Tea Tradition
The first time I held a Chinese Yixing teapot, I wasn’t ready for how warm it would feel. Small, reddish-brown, sitting in my palm like a river stone that had been kept somewhere warm. I’d just rinsed it with hot water, the way you’re supposed to before the first brew, and the clay drank up…
-
Your “Tea Sommelier” Might Be Selling You a Vibe, Not a Better Cup
There is a particular moment that has become increasingly familiar in modern tea culture. A tea is presented. Before the first sip, we are introduced to its story. The region. The altitude. The history. The carefully chosen words that describe its character. Perhaps there are notes of wildflowers, distant forests, roasted grains, or forgotten memories….
-
Does Tea Contain Caffeine? Understanding What’s Really in Your Tea
There’s a quiet moment many of us know well. The kettle clicks off. Steam curls up. You wrap your hands around a warm cup and feel your shoulders drop, just a little. Tea has always carried this sense of calm, of slowing down. So it can feel almost contradictory to ask: does tea contain caffeine?…
