Oolong Hai
The Oolong Hai is a quintessential Japanese izakaya drink, beloved for its simplicity and refreshing qualities. It consists of just two main ingredients: shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit, and unsweetened oolong tea, served over ice in a tall glass. This drink is light, crisp, and has a clean, toasty flavor profile that makes it exceptionally food-friendly. It offers a less sweet, more sessionable alternative to many Western highballs.
Preparation
Preparation time: 2 minutes
Preparation time
Difficulty
Drink Classification
The Oolong Hai is classified as a highball cocktail, a simple style of mixed drink composed of an alcoholic base and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer. It is a staple in the Japanese chūhai category, which are highballs typically made with shochu. This drink is a simple, refreshing cocktail perfect for any time.
Serving
Serve this light, cold drink in a standard highball or Collins glass filled with ice. The final alcohol content is low, making it a very sessionable cocktail.
Serving size
Approximately 250-350 ml / 8-12 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 4-8% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Highball
Glass treatment
None
Backstory
The Oolong Hai rose to prominence in Japan during the 1980s with the boom of "chūhai" (a portmanteau of shochu and highball). As bars and izakayas looked for simple, quick, and satisfying drinks, the combination of clean-tasting shochu and readily available canned oolong tea became a massive hit. It was marketed as a healthier, lower-calorie option, which contributed to its enduring popularity.
Origin
Japan, circa 1980s. The drink evolved naturally from the izakaya and bar culture as a simple and popular highball variation.
Oolong Hai
The original Japanese name is Oolong Hai (ウーロンハイ), where "Hai" is a shortened form of "Highball". It is also commonly known as Shochu Oolong or Oolong Highball in English-speaking regions. The name directly describes its two main ingredients.
Original name
ウーロンハイ
Alternative names
- Shochu Oolong
- Oolong Highball
Characteristics overview
The Oolong Hai has a clean, refreshing flavor dominated by the toasty and earthy notes of oolong tea. It has a smooth, thin texture and a crisp finish, making it an incredibly easy-drinking beverage.
Flavor
Earthy, toasty, clean, nutty, subtly sweet, refreshing
Aroma
Toasted tea leaves, subtle grain notes from shochu
Taste balance
Subtly bitter, neutral, slightly sweet
Aftertaste
Clean, short, crisp, refreshing
Fizziness
Still, none
Color appearance
Amber, light brown, clear, transparent
Texture
Thin, smooth, watery
Seasonality
Highly refreshing, perfect for all seasons, especially summer
Flavor intensity & Experience
The flavor profile is light and subtle, with a gentle bitterness from the tea balancing the neutral shochu base. It is a still, not sweet, and low-alcohol drink, prized for its refreshing simplicity.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation
Ingredients
You only need two primary ingredients for this drink: shochu and cold, unsweetened oolong tea. A lemon wedge for garnish is a popular but optional addition.
- Shochu60 ml / 2 ozA neutral shochu like mugi (barley) shochu works best, but feel free to experiment.
- Oolong Tea120-180 ml / 4-6 oz, or to topMust be chilled and unsweetened. Good quality bottled oolong tea is traditional and convenient.
- Lemon Wedge1 wedge(optional)For garnish and a touch of brightness.
Ice type
- Cubed
Mixing equipments
No special equipment is needed; the drink is built directly in the highball glass where it will be served. A long spoon is useful for a quick, gentle stir.
- Highball glass for building and serving
- Bar spoon for gentle stirring
Instructions
This cocktail is incredibly easy to make by simply building the ingredients in an ice-filled highball glass. Just pour the shochu, top with tea, give it a quick stir, and serve.
1. Fill a highball glass to the top with ice cubes.
2. Pour the shochu over the ice.
3. Top the glass with cold, unsweetened oolong tea.
4. Stir very gently once or twice with a bar spoon to combine.
5. Garnish with a lemon wedge, if desired, and serve immediately.
Garnishing
A simple lemon wedge is the most common garnish, adding a pleasant citrus aroma and the option for a squeeze of juice. Often, it is served without any garnish at all.
- Lemon wedge, placed on the rim or dropped into the drink.
Dietary Information
This drink is vegan, dairy-free, and typically gluten-free, provided a pure shochu is used. It does contain alcohol and caffeine from the oolong tea.
✓ Contains alcohol
✕ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly
Nutrition information
This is a very low-calorie, low-carb, and low-sugar cocktail, as both shochu and unsweetened tea contain minimal carbohydrates and sugar. The majority of the calories come from the alcohol itself.
Calories
Averagely 80-120 kcal / 335-502 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 0-1 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 0-1 g
Sugar level
Occasions
This drink is perfect for casual settings, especially when paired with food. It's a go-to choice for a light after-work drink or a refreshing choice during a summer gathering.
- Casual Dining
- Happy Hour
- Summer Afternoon
- After Work Drink
Pairing suggestions
The Oolong Hai is a fantastic food-pairing drink due to its clean and unassuming flavor profile. It cuts through the richness of fried foods like karaage and gyoza and complements the savory flavors of grilled meats like yakitori. It is the perfect companion for a wide range of Japanese izakaya-style dishes.
- Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers)
- Karaage (Japanese fried chicken)
- Gyoza (pan-fried dumplings)
- Edamame and other salty snacks
Oolong Hai: The Refreshing Spirit of Japan
The Oolong Hai is a simple, refreshing, and popular Japanese highball that embodies the philosophy of elegant simplicity. Made with just shochu and oolong tea, its clean and toasty flavor makes it both incredibly easy to drink and versatile for food pairing. It's a low-calorie, sessionable cocktail perfect for those who prefer a less sweet, more subtle mixed drink. A staple of Japanese casual drinking culture, the Oolong Hai is a must-try for any fan of highballs or Japanese cuisine.
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