1.
oolong (tea)
A type of semi-oxidized Chinese tea, positioned between green tea and black tea in terms of oxidation. In Japan, usually refers to oolong tea as a beverage, especially the bottled or canned variety widely available in vending machines and convenience stores.
烏龍茶を一つください。
One oolong tea, please.
食事のときはいつも烏龍茶を飲んでいる。
I always drink oolong tea with meals.
居酒屋で車の運転があるので烏龍茶を頼んだら、「ウーロンハイにしますか」と聞かれた。
At the izakaya I ordered oolong tea because I was driving, and they asked if I wanted an oolong highball instead.
USAGE:
Almost always appears in the compound 烏龍茶 (oolong tea). The word 烏龍 alone is rarely used. Often written in katakana as ウーロン茶.
烏龍茶 is one of the most popular non-alcoholic beverages in Japan. It is a standard drink option at restaurants and izakaya, and is widely available in PET bottles and cans from vending machines.
DRINK COMPOUNDS:
- 烏龍茶: oolong tea
- ウーロンハイ: oolong highball (焼酎 mixed with oolong tea)
ETYMOLOGY:
From Chinese 烏龍 (wulong), literally "black dragon," referring to the dark, twisted appearance of the tea leaves.