In Taiwan, the Spring oolong harvest begins in April and many of the highest elevation high mountain oolongs don't come to market until late May. We estimate our first drop of Spring harvest oolong will come sometime in mid May.
Oolong tea is harvested later because oolong needs to be made from more mature leaves than green or black tea. Unlike green tea, the ideal way is not to pick tender first growth, but rather to wait until about five leaves have sprung up from the fresh shoot and then pick the top three of those leaves.
