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The Diplomat If Green Tea is a fresh salad and Black Tea is a roasted steak, Oolong is the caramelized onion. It sits in the beautiful middle ground. Our Ti Kuan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy) is a legendary Chinese tea that is "semi-oxidized." It offers the floral, orchid-like aroma of a green tea, but with the creamy, toasted body of a black tea. The Science of the Bruise How do we get flavor this specific? We bruise the leaf. Unlike other teas that are just dried or steamed, Oolong leaves are tossed in woven bamboo baskets. This gentle shaking bruises the edges of the leaf, starting a chemical reaction that releases distinct notes of lilac, cream, and stone fruit. The leaves are then fired to stop the process, locking in that "toasted floral" profile. The Awakening Ritual Watch them dance. Because these leaves are twisted and stout, they need room to expand. When you add hot water, they don't just steep; they awaken. We recommend rinsing the leaves with hot water for 5 seconds before your first steep to "wash" them and prepare the leaf for the perfect infusion.