Okay, so I’ve been on this whole tea journey lately, trying to figure out which ones give me the jitters and which ones chill me out. Today’s experiment? Dong Ding Oolong. I’ve heard it’s somewhere in the middle caffeine-wise, so I was curious to see how it would actually affect me.

The Prep

First, I grabbed my trusty gaiwan – you know, that cute little Chinese brewing cup. I measured out about 5 grams of these tightly rolled Dong Ding leaves. They smelled amazing, kind of toasty and a little bit floral.

I heated up some water, not quite boiling, more like a simmer around 195°F.I don’t know the exact temperature,i just don’t let my water boiled. Then, I did a quick rinse of the leaves – just poured some hot water over them and immediately dumped it out. This supposedly “wakes up” the tea or something.

The Brew and the Buzz (Or Lack Thereof)

• First Steep (30 seconds): The color was a beautiful light amber. The taste was super smooth, a little sweet, and definitely had that roasted quality. I felt pretty relaxed, no sudden energy spike or anything.
• Second Steep (45 seconds): The flavor got a bit stronger, a little more depth. Still no jitters, but I felt a gentle alertness creeping in. Like, I could focus better, but I wasn’t bouncing off the walls.
• Third Steep (1 minute): Okay, this is where I started to feel something. It wasn’t a caffeine rush like coffee, but more of a sustained, clear-headed energy. I felt productive, not wired.
• Fourth and Fifth Steeps (longer each time): The flavor started to fade a bit, but the subtle energy boost stayed with me for a good couple of hours.

My Verdict

Honestly, the Dong Ding Oolong caffeine level was perfect for me. It didn’t make me feel crazy or anxious, but it definitely gave me a nice, sustained lift. I think I’ve found my new afternoon go-to! I was able to get a good amount of work done, and I even felt a little creative boost. Way better than that shaky, crash-and-burn feeling I get from coffee sometimes.

So, yeah, if you’re looking for a tea with a moderate caffeine kick that won’t freak you out, I’d definitely recommend giving Dong Ding Oolong a try. Just my two cents, of course – everyone’s different!