Vietnam Tung Ting Oolong Loose Leaf Tea

🍵 The Origin — A lightly oxidised green oolong from the highlands of Lam Dong province, crafted near Bao Loc using methods brought to Vietnam from Taiwan over decades of close collaboration

🍵 The Colour — A glowing, pale green-gold liquor with a natural luminosity — clear and bright in the cup, with a sweet floral fragrance that rises as soon as the water meets the leaf

🍵 The Flavour — Smooth and softly floral with a clean, lightly sweet finish and a gentle roundness that sets it apart from the more grassy character of green tea

🍵 The Occasion — Ideal for unhurried morning brewing or a calm afternoon pause — a refined, naturally caffeine-moderate loose leaf oolong that rewards quiet attention

Vietnam Tung Ting Oolong is one of the more quietly impressive loose leaf oolong teas available — a green oolong from the highlands of southern Vietnam that combines genuine refinement with an approachable, softly floral character. Produced near the city of Bao Loc in Lam Dong province, this Vietnamese oolong tea is the product of a tea-making tradition shaped by decades of Taiwanese expertise, and that influence shows in every aspect of the cup.

Bao Loc sits at around 800 metres above sea level in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, a region whose altitude, humidity, and rich volcanic soils make it well suited to producing fine oolong. The Vietnamese tea industry expanded significantly under French influence from the late nineteenth century, and the highlands around Bao Loc later became a centre for oolong production as Taiwanese companies brought their cultivars, techniques, and equipment to the area. The result is a style of oolong that reflects Taiwanese refinement while carrying the particular freshness of its Vietnamese highland origin.

The production method here is careful and considered. Freshly harvested leaves are first spread on open-air cloths to wither gently in the sun. They are then rolled in cylindrical bamboo pots, a process that bruises the leaf surface and begins the slow oxidation that gives this oolong its character — somewhere between the liveliness of green tea and the softness of a lightly oxidised semi-fermented tea. Once the desired level of oxidation is reached, the leaves are dried at low temperatures to lock in their delicate floral notes and preserve the pale green colour of the liquor.

In the cup, Vietnam Tung Ting Oolong is smooth and gently sweet, with a softly floral quality and a clean finish that invites a second and third infusion. There is nothing harsh or astringent here — only a calm, well-balanced cup that suits drinking without milk or sugar, allowing the natural character of the leaf to come through clearly. This is pure oolong tea with nothing added, and the quality of the leaf speaks for itself.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists, building a collection of over 350 teas and infusions from the world's finest gardens and growing regions. Finding teas like this — less familiar origins with genuine quality and character — is exactly what that collection is for.

Ingredients: Oolong tea.

Brewing Note: Vietnam Tung Ting Oolong is best brewed with a little care and cooler water than you might use for a black tea. Heat your water to around 85 to 90°C — just off the boil — and steep for 2 to 3 minutes for a first infusion. Before that first pour, a brief rinse of the leaves is worthwhile: add a small amount of hot water, swirl gently, and discard after a few seconds. This wakes the tightly rolled leaves and encourages them to open evenly. The leaves will give at least two further good infusions, each one developing slightly differently as the leaf continues to unfurl — the second steep is often particularly rewarding.