How to Brew Oolong: Western and Gongfu Times by Source
Oolong has the widest spread in the table: 175°F for a twisted oolong in a mug up to boiling water for gongfu, and 1 minute up to 7. The sources tie the differences to leaf shape (rolled, twisted, long leaf) and to the vessel.
By Cha2go Editorial Team. Sources checked October 20, 2026.
Open the timer for OolongWestern: the mug and the pot
Art of Tea gives 185 to 205°F for 3 to 5 minutes for rolled oolong and 4 to 7 minutes for long-leaf oolong, about a tablespoon per 8 oz, and says quality leaf gives 3 to 5 steeps, adding 30 to 60 seconds to each later one. MEM Tea splits by shape: 190°F for 1 to 4 minutes for rolled or twig oolong, 175°F for 1 to 3 minutes for twisted oolong. The Tea Spot says around 190°F for 3 to 4 minutes.
Gongfu: more leaf, shorter steeps
Yunnan Sourcing gives water near 95°C or hotter, 4 to 5 g per 100 ml, a brief rinse of about 10 seconds, then 10, 15, 20, 30 and 45 seconds, then about a minute. Hanyi Tea suggests boiling water; in a lidded bowl at 1 g per 30 ml (5 g in 120 ml) it lists 30, 20, 30, 60 and 90 seconds, and in a purple clay pot 20, 10, 15, 20 and 25 seconds. MEM Tea suggests 195°F with 5 g in a 2 to 4 oz vessel, starting near 20 seconds and adding 10 to 15 seconds each round.
Hanyi also suggests a warm rinse of about 10 seconds for ripe (roasted) oolong.
Every source
| Preparation | Temperature | Time | Leaf | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oolong, westernrolled | 185 to 205°F (85 to 96°C) | 3 min to 5 min | about 1 tablespoon per 8 oz | Art of Tea |
| Oolong, westernlong leaf | 185 to 205°F (85 to 96°C) | 4 min to 7 min | about 1 tablespoon per 8 oz | Art of Tea |
| Oolong, westernrolled or twig | 190°F (88°C) | 60 s to 4 min | 1 heaping teaspoon (2.5 to 3 g) | MEM Tea Imports |
| Oolong, westerntwisted | 175°F (79°C) | 60 s to 3 min | 2 heaping teaspoons (2.5 to 3 g) | MEM Tea Imports |
| Oolong, western | 190°F (88°C) | 3 min to 4 min | The Tea Spot | |
| Oolong, westernstandard, 5 infusions | boiling (100°C) | #1: 60 s, #2: 50 s, #3: 60 s, #4: 80 s, #5: 2 min | 1 g per 50 ml (the page calls this the most widely used ratio) | Hanyi Tea (hanyitea.tw) |
| Oolong, gongfu | 95 to 100°C (203 to 212°F) | Rinse (discard): 10 s, #1: 10 s, #2: 15 s, #3: 20 s, #4: 30 s, #5: 45 s, #6: 60 s | 4 to 5 g per 100 ml | Yunnan Sourcing |
| Oolong, gongfulidded bowl | boiling (100°C) | #1: 30 s, #2: 20 s, #3: 30 s, #4: 60 s, #5: 1 min 30 s | 1 g per 30 ml (example: 5 g in 120 ml) | Hanyi Tea (hanyitea.tw) |
| Oolong, gongfupurple clay pot | boiling (100°C) | #1: 20 s, #2: 10 s, #3: 15 s, #4: 20 s, #5: 25 s | less than 1 g per 30 ml | Hanyi Tea (hanyitea.tw) |
| Oolong, gongfurolled or twig | 195°F (91°C) | #1: 20 s, #2: 30 s to 35 s, #3: 40 s to 50 s, #4: 50 s to 65 s, #5: 60 s to 80 s, #6: 70 s to 1 min 35 s | 3 level teaspoons (5 g) in a 2 to 4 oz vessel | MEM Tea Imports |
Questions
What water temperature for oolong?
Western sources range from 175°F (twisted oolong, MEM Tea) to 205°F (Art of Tea). Gongfu sources go to 95°C and boiling.
How long to steep oolong?
For a mug, 1 to 7 minutes depending on source and leaf shape; for gongfu, 10 to 90 seconds per infusion in the Yunnan Sourcing and Hanyi examples.
How many infusions does oolong give?
Art of Tea says 3 to 5 steeps for quality leaf. Hanyi lists five infusions in its examples.