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Tea Knowledge
Does oolong tea have caffeine? How it differs from green tea and Pu'er, plus oolong tea benefits and when to stop drinking it
Oolong tea contains natural tea caffeine, but what matters more is the aroma and how you drink it. How it differs from green tea and Pu'er, when to stop for the day, and which benefits hold up, all in one article.
Pure oolong fragrance20g protein0 sugar0 sweeteners
Short answer: Yes. Oolong is a semi-fermented tea with natural tea caffeine, generally between green tea and black tea and usually lower than coffee or Hong Kong-style milk tea. The actual amount depends on the tea variety, how much leaf you use and how long you steep it.
30-second highlights
- Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea, its caffeine between green tea and black tea, though it varies with tea variety, leaf quantity and steeping time.
- Sensitive to caffeine: stopping 6 hours before bed is the safest.
- Want tea and protein too: Oolong Protein Tea has 20 g protein, 0 sugar and 0 sweeteners per bottle.
How oolong tea compares with other drinks
Roughly, from most to least caffeine: coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea > black tea > oolong tea > green tea > pure buckwheat tea (caffeine-free). The order is only a rough guide; portion and brewing make a big difference.
There are two key points: first, a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea has about as much caffeine as a cup of coffee — many people assume milk tea has little caffeine, but it is not so. Second, tea's caffeine varies widely: with the same oolong, using more leaves or steeping longer can raise it a lot; the effect of roast level on caffeine is not settled and should not be treated as a way to lower caffeine.
After what time should you stop drinking tea?
Caffeine can affect sleep even when consumed hours before bed. Try moving your last cup earlier and adjust to your response. A six-hour gap is a general reference, not a guarantee of unaffected sleep.
Last caffeine-containing drink:
6 pm
If you still want something to drink at night, choose a caffeine-free grain tea, such as pure buckwheat tea or barley tea. To learn the difference, see how to choose between buckwheat tea and barley tea.
How do green tea, oolong and Pu'er differ?
Chinese tea is classified by degree of fermentation: green tea unfermented, oolong semi-fermented, black tea fully fermented, ripe Pu'er post-fermented. Different degrees of fermentation mean different aroma, taste and caffeine:
Tap to see: how do green tea, oolong and Pu'er differ?
Unfermented
Green tea
The leaves are killed green right after picking, retaining the most catechins, with a fresh, grassy taste.
Coming Soon — not available to purchase yet
HEYAMI equivalent: Buckwheat Green Protein Tea, with green tea freshness plus a lingering roasted buckwheat aroma. See the buckwheat tea article →Semi-fermented
Oolong tea (qingcha)
Between green tea and black tea, its aroma ranging from floral freshness to roasted notes. Tieguanyin, Dong Ding and high-mountain oolong all belong here.
Coming Soon — not available to purchase yet
HEYAMI equivalent: Oolong Protein Tea — no other flavour added, pure oolong fragrance, refreshing and smooth.Post-fermented
Ripe Pu'er (dark tea)
Pile-fermented, its liquor deep red and its taste rich — the most common tea in Hong Kong teahouses. Caffeine varies greatly with leaves and brewing method.
HEYAMI equivalent: Green Mandarin Pu'er Protein Tea, the richness of Pu'er with the fresh fragrance of green mandarin peel and Xinhui tangerine peel.
HEYAMI has a protein tea for each of the three tea bases. Shop Green Mandarin Pu'er
The benefits of oolong tea: what can and cannot be claimed
Short answer: Oolong tea contains tea polyphenols, catechins and natural caffeine; its most practical benefits are refreshing alertness, being a sugar-free thirst-quencher, and replacing sugary drinks. As for benefits such as weight loss and lowering blood lipids, the research results are inconsistent and it should not be treated as a remedy.
Who needs to be careful drinking oolong tea?
😴 Prone to insomnia, sensitive to caffeine
Even drinking after the afternoon can keep you awake.
Use the converter above and stop 6 hours before bed.
🤰 Pregnant, breastfeeding
If pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a clinician about your individual caffeine intake.
Count coffee and milk tea too; ask a doctor first.
🩸 Iron-deficient, anaemic
Tea polyphenols reduce iron absorption from food.
Leave an hour before or after a meal before drinking tea.
😣 Sensitive stomach, prone to stomach pain
Drinking strong tea on an empty stomach may feel uncomfortable.
Drink after eating, and brew it a little lighter.
Oolong Protein Tea: tea fragrance in the lead, 20 g protein per bottle — Coming Soon
Each 500ml HEYAMI bottle provides 20g of European whey protein isolate. Contains milk; unsuitable for people with a milk protein allergy. Oolong and Buckwheat Green Tea are Coming Soon.
Oolong tea has a deep history in Chinese tea culture, especially the gongfu tea of Fujian and Guangdong, which prizes the aroma, layers and sweet aftertaste of the leaves themselves. HEYAMI chose oolong precisely to bring this tea-drinking culture into a protein drink: compared with ordinary protein drinks centred on milkiness and sweetness, we want the tea fragrance to take the lead.
🍵 How does it taste?
- No other flavour added, just pure oolong fragrance
- Refreshing, light, smooth, with a sweet aftertaste
- Designed for a clear tea texture
📋 Nutrition label
- 500ml · 20 g whey protein isolate
- 92 kcal · 0 sugar · 0 fat
- 0 lactose · 0 sweeteners
Oolong Protein Tea is designed around tea aroma and a clear texture. It contains natural tea caffeine and milk and is Coming Soon. If sensitive, pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a clinician rather than assume one drinking-time cut-off suits everyone.
Want tea and protein too?
Coming Soon — not available to purchase yet
A bottle of Oolong Protein Tea = 20 g protein, with only 92 kcal.
- Pure oolong fragrance, refreshing and smooth
- 0 sugar · 0 lactose · 0 sweeteners
- Coming Soon — not available to purchase yet
Not sure? Compare the three flavours
Oolong Protein Tea
Coming Soon — not available to purchase yet
No other flavour added, just pure oolong fragrance — refreshing and smooth.
Pure oolong fragrancerefreshing and smoothsweet aftertastegood for a first try
RefreshingTasteRich
- Who it suits
- People who like pure tea taste and do not want too much extra fragrance, or those trying protein tea for the first time.
- Nutrition
- 500ml · 20 g whey protein isolate · 92 kcal · 0 sugar · 0 sweeteners
Inspired by the gongfu tea culture of Fujian and Guangdong, which prizes the aroma and sweet aftertaste of the leaves themselves, we let the tea fragrance take the lead.
Green Mandarin Pu'er Protein Tea
The rich tea notes of Pu'er, with the fresh fragrance of green mandarin peel and Xinhui tangerine peel.
Pu'er tea notesgreen mandarin peelXinhui tangerine peelrich and deep
RefreshingTasteRich
- Who it suits
- People who usually like ripe Pu'er and tangerine peel fragrance, or want a tea with depth. Best after a meal.
- Nutrition
- 500ml · 20 g whey protein isolate · 95 kcal · 0 sugar · 0 sweeteners
Mandarin peel with Pu'er is itself a very distinctive Chinese tea pairing; we have reimagined it as a refreshing, non-thick protein tea.
Buckwheat Green Protein Tea
Coming Soon — not available to purchase yet
The familiar fresh fragrance of green tea, with a lingering roasted buckwheat aroma.
green tea freshnessroasted grain aromalightlowest calories of the three
RefreshingTasteRich
- Who it suits
- People who like clear tea and grain tea aromas, or who do not much like a strong tea taste.
- Nutrition
- 500ml · 20 g whey protein isolate · 85 kcal · 0 sugar · 0 sweeteners
Grain tea is itself part of everyday East Asian drinking culture; we combined the mellow grain aroma of buckwheat with the freshness of green tea.
Available sizes & offers: Green Mandarin Pu'er
These options apply only to the available Green Mandarin Pu'er Protein Tea. Oolong and Buckwheat Green Tea are Coming Soon, with no purchases or mixed-flavour bundles yet.
- ✓ 20 g whey protein isolate per bottle
- ✓ 0 sugar · 0 sweeteners
- ✓ 0 lactose · 0 fat
Green Mandarin Pu'er only. A single case is $235 for 8 bottles or $405 for 15. The current monthly plan gives 10% off. Shipping, offers and final totals are shown on the product page and at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Does oolong tea contain caffeine?
Yes. Oolong tea contains natural tea caffeine, generally between green tea and black tea; the actual amount depends on the variety, how much leaf you use and steeping time. The effect of roast level is not settled.
Which has more caffeine, oolong tea or green tea?
Generally oolong is slightly higher than green tea, and both are lower than black tea and coffee. But steeping longer or using more leaves raises caffeine a lot, so how you brew matters more than which tea you pick.
How does oolong tea compare with coffee?
A cup of brewed oolong usually has noticeably less caffeine than a cup of coffee or Hong Kong-style milk tea. To cut back, swap one coffee or milk tea for a lighter tea, and switch to a caffeine-free grain tea in the evening.
Will drinking oolong tea at night keep me awake?
Caffeine can affect sleep even when consumed hours before bed. Try moving your last cup earlier and adjust to your response. A six-hour gap is a general reference, not a guarantee of unaffected sleep.
Can pregnant women drink oolong tea?
If pregnant, breastfeeding or sensitive to caffeine, do not apply a healthy-adult reference as a personal allowance. Ask your clinician and count caffeine from coffee, tea, milk tea, chocolate and other sources.
Can oolong tea help with weight loss?
Oolong tea is a 0-calorie, sugar-free drink, so using it to replace milk tea and soft drinks naturally reduces calorie intake — that is its most practical help. As for whether tea polyphenols "burn fat", research results are inconsistent and the effect is small, so do not expect to lose weight just by drinking tea.
Is it okay to drink oolong tea on an empty stomach?
People with sensitive stomachs or prone to stomach pain may feel uncomfortable drinking strong tea on an empty stomach. Drink it a little while after breakfast or a main meal, or brew it lighter.
Who should not drink oolong tea?
People sensitive to caffeine, prone to insomnia, or with a fast heartbeat should control the portion; people with iron-deficiency anaemia should not drink tea while eating (tea polyphenols reduce iron absorption) but leave an hour; pregnant and breastfeeding women should count their whole-day caffeine total; and people allergic to milk protein should avoid Oolong Protein Tea, which contains whey protein isolate.
Does HEYAMI Oolong Protein Tea contain caffeine?
HEYAMI Oolong Protein Tea is made with real tea and contains natural caffeine. Ask a clinician if caffeine-sensitive, pregnant or breastfeeding. Coming Soon.
Can you taste the protein in Oolong Protein Tea?
Designed for an oolong aroma and a clear tea texture. Oolong Protein Tea is Coming Soon; taste preferences vary.
Further reading
References
Product figures are taken from HEYAMI nutrition labels. If you have a condition such as kidney disease that requires limiting protein, please ask a doctor first.
One bottle tops up the 20 g you missed
Green Mandarin Pu'er Protein Tea: 20 g protein, 95 kcal, 0 sugar, no added sweeteners.
View Green Mandarin Pu'er Protein TeaContinue reading
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