oolong

American  

[oo-lawng, -long] / ˈuˌlɔŋ, -ˌlɒŋ /

noun

oolongs plural

1. a brown or amber tea grown in China and Taiwan and partially fermented before being dried.

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oolong British  

/ ˈuːˌlɒŋ /

noun

1. a kind of dark tea, grown in China, that is partly fermented before being dried

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• oolongs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of oolong

First recorded in 1850–55, oolong is from the Chinese word wúlóng literally, black dragon, or < a cognate dial. form

Compare meaning

How does oolong compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• oolong vs. green tea
• oolong vs. black tea

Example Sentences

Oolong kombucha developed stronger floral and fruity notes.

From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026

Lemon pairs exceptionally well with Earl Grey, Assam or Oolong teas.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2024

Friday produces many types of teas, but Earl Grey tea is in one of her favorite tea recipes she’s developed over the years: an Oolong Earl Grey crème brûlée.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2023

Guns are better suited to Yamcha or Oolong.

From The Verge • Aug. 11, 2022

This figure is universally allowed to be the tallest figure in my collection; he originated in the two provinces of Oolong and Shanghi, one province not being long enough to produce him.

From Entertainments for Home, Church and School by Seeger, Frederica