Description
Tie Guan Yin tea
A traditional oolong from the Fujian province of China. A mildly fermented tea, whit fresh and floral notes and hints of minerals.
This is a Chinese tea carrying the named of goddess of mercy Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva).
Legend
There is a legend about tea origin that we know as Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of mercy).
Temple dedicated to the goddess Guanyin was abandoned, but still had an iron statue of the goddess. A poor farmer who passed by the temple every day on his way to his field saw the condition of the temple. The temple has no maintenance, and it will soon completely collapse. “I must do something”. And with that thought, without much means he began to take care of the temple. With some incense and a broom, he cleaned more and more often. He cleaned the temple and burned incense for the goddess Guanyin.
Iron goddess
One night, Guanyin appeared to him in his dream, and said that there was a treasure waiting for him in the cave behind the temple. But, a treasure that should be shared with others. The day after that, a farmer found a tea plant in the cave and planted it in his field. The shoot grew into a large bush, from which wonderful tea was produced. He gave some of the plant to his neighbors. Later, that tea is sold under the name Tie Guan Yin – Iron Goddess of Mercy. The village soon became rich and famous for its beautiful tea.
Today, oolong tea is produced in both China and Taiwan. The leaves intended for oolong tea go through a semi-oxidation process (the degree of oxidation depends on the type of desired tea). A lower degree of oxidation gives greener oolong teas, and higher oxidation gives darker teas more similar to black tea.
Our Tie Guan Yin is a greener type of oolong tea. Its taste is fresh and slightly floral.
- Country of origin: China
PREPARATION
3 g (cca. flat tablespoon or a full teaspoon)
95ºC
2-3min
