Refreshing Flavors of Mango Oolong Iced Tea Recipes

The Refreshing Flavors of Mango Oolong Tea

As the summer heat arrives, a cooling and flavorful beverage can be incredibly refreshing. Mango oolong iced tea combines the delightful tropial tastes of mango with the floral notes of oolong tea to create a perfect summertime drink. Sweet, tangy and easy to prepare at home, mango oolong tea is worth making all season long.

Oolong Tea's Unique Taste Profile

Oolong tea occupies a space between green and black teas during processing. The leaves are partially oxidized, resulting in a brew with aromatic floral and fruity flavors. The taste can vary from more vegetal, like a green tea, to deeper and richer charcoal notes similar to black tea depending on the degree of oxidation.

When blended with mango, oolong's complexity stands up well to the fruit's tropical essence without overpowering it. The flavors intermingle beautifully in the finished iced tea.

Selecting High Quality Mangoes

Using perfectly ripe mangoes is key for the best flavor. Choose mangoes that yield slightly when gently pressed but aren't mushy or bruised. The skin should be mostly red and orange with areas of yellow and green still visible.

Ataulfo, Kent and Tommy Atkins mangoes make excellent choices for mango oolong iced tea as they become very soft and sweet when ripe. But any favorite mango variety will work well.

Brewing Oolong Tea

Start by bringing water just to a boil, then allowing it to cool for one minute. This lower temperature helps prevent oversteeping the oolong. Add about 2 teaspoons of loose leaf oolong tea per cup of water into a teapot or heatproof pitcher.

Allow the oolong tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes if using whole oolong leaves or flowering oolong teas. Finely broken oolong leaves used in tea bags should steep for just 1 to 3 minutes before removal to prevent bitterness.

Sweetening With Mango Puree

For convenience, use frozen mango puree thawed to room temperature or canned mango pulp. Making your own fresh mango puree is simple too. Just peel, seed and cut mangoes into chunks then briefly blend or process until smooth.

Figure about 1 ripe mango per 2 to 3 cups of brewed oolong tea. Add more or less mango puree to taste preference. Those wanting to reduce added sugars can boil mango chunks in a bit of water first to concentrate flavor before pureeing.

Assembling the Iced Tea

In a half gallon pitcher or similar large container, combine oolong concentrate and mango puree. Mix until fully incorporated. Add water and adjust dilution for preferred tea strength along with any additional sweeteners if desired.

Chill mango oolong tea in the refrigerator for at least 2 to 3 hours so flavors can develop further. Serve over ice and garnish glasses with extra mango chunks or a fresh mint sprig.

Making Mango Bubble Oolong Tea

Mango flavored bubble or boba tea has soared in popularity recently. Blending the sweet, creamy bubbles with refreshing oolong tea makes an irresistible bubbly beverage perfect for sipping all summer.

Selecting Bubble Tea Supplies

Look for black tapioca pearls designed specifically for bubble tea rather than white pearls used for puddings. The black boba has a chewier, lightly sweetened texture that works well. Purchase uncooked tapioca pearls and follow package directions for proper cooking technique.

Brew oolong and mango puree as directed above for the standard mango oolong recipe. Plan for a slightly stronger oolong when making the bubble tea version to account for dilution from added ice later.

Cooking and Sweetening Tapioca Pearls

Bring several cups of water to a boil and gently stir in tapioca pearls. Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, uncovered, until translucent with a biteable texture. Drain pearls then toss gently with a bit of brown or white sugar while still hot.

Chill the cooked boba fully in the refrigerator for at least an hour or overnight. Longer chilling helps the pearls soak up residual sugar and firm up nicely to maintain that pleasant, lightly sweet chew when bitten.

Assembling Bubble Tea

Fill tall glasses most of the way with ice cubes. Pour in chilled mango oolong tea leaving a couple inches of headspace. Add several tablespoons of the chilled, sweetened tapioca pearls to each glass.

Using a bubble tea straw, also called a fat straw, sip while gently agitating the cup to mix everything together. The wide straw diameter lets the plump tapioca bubbles pass through for an authentic bubble tea drinking experience.

Recipe Variations

The basic mango oolong recipe lends itself incredibly well to customization. Play with different complementary flavors or preparation methods for unique flavor profiles and textures.

Adding Herbal Flavor

For some extra complexity, add a teaspoon of dried hibiscus flowers or rosehips to the initial oolong brew. Or try muddling a few fresh mint or basil leaves into the mango puree right before mixing everything together for a subtle herbal note.

Coconut and Mango

Blend diced fresh or reconstituted dried mango with coconut milk beverage instead of water to create an ultra-tropical mango-coconut oolong. Sweetened cream of coconut also adds nice flavor and richness.

Mango Oolong Slushies

After fully mixing together the mango puree and oolong, pour into ice pop molds, paper cups or popsicle molds. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for 4 to 6 hours or overnight. The result is a deliciously slushy mango oolong frozen pop.

Mango oolong tea shines through the summer with its refreshing combination of tropical fruit and soothing tea. Savor the delicious flavors chilled or with chewy bubbles any way you like it!

FAQs

What is the best way to sweeten mango oolong tea?

Using fresh or thawed frozen mango puree to sweeten the oolong brew is recommended. Canned mango pulp also works well. The fruit's natural sweetness perfectly balances the tea's flavor. Honey, sugar or simple syrup can be added too if desired.

Can I use black tea instead of oolong?

Yes, black tea can replace oolong, but the flavor profile will be different. Black tea's bold, slightly more astringent taste stands up well to mango though. Use orange pekoe or other smooth black tea varieties.

Do I have to make my own tapioca pearls from scratch?

Not at all! Dry tapioca balls specifically for boba and bubble tea can be found at many grocery stores or ordered online. Just cook per package instructions then sweeten and chill before adding to the mango oolong tea.

Is there a way to make low sugar mango bubble tea?

Yes, reduce the mango puree or simply sweeten less initially. And skip the extra sweetening step after cooking the boba. This results in a lighter, more subtly sweet profile that let's the fruity mango and oolong flavors shine.