Tie Guan Yin, Iron Goddess of Mercy

This is one of four grades of Tieguanyin currently being sold by Tealyra. It is Stock Code 405, and is currently the cheapest of this type that they sell. I don’t doubt that it is from the Province of Fujian, but Tealyra does not claim that it is from Anxi County, the “home” of Tieguanyin oolongs. That claim is reserved for two other somewhat more expensive products. Nevertheless, it is the product I naïvely bought and am reporting on here. To be fair, I did just finish sipping a competitor’s Ti Kuan Yin, but this (code 405) is clearly inferior in color, aroma, and flavor. It does hit some of the expected notes of floral fragrance and mineral flavor, but it really tastes more like a fourth steeping of exhausted leaf. And for goodness sakes, please ignore Tealyra’s health claims— get your diabetes remedy from a physician and don’t look to a knock-off tea for it. Ditto for cancer. Ditto for weight loss. Etc.

I brewed as directed, and got the pale yellow swill that was described, with echoes of the sensory experience promised. I did try a second, hotter and longer steeping with minimal improvement. I was justified in taking a grain of salt with the description of it being a “tea masterpiece”. The only masterpiece was in the florid writing by Tealyra. Not recommended, and rated as a 35 score. This is going to the compost heap. Some day I may try the more premium offering(s), but a lot of water will have to pass under my bridgework first.

Also known as: Tieguanyin; Tie Kwan Yin; Iron Buddha
This is my favorite tea for gongfu cha. I brew it in my Yixing clay teapot. It is one of my favorite teas ever! It is organically grown and from the spring harvest. While I usually brew this tea gongfu cha style, it can also be brewed in a western style. It is great for steeping multiple times!
The dried leaves are dark green, and are curled/rolled. They expand to whole leaves in water. The tea liquor is light yellow/gold.
Aroma: floral (orchids and maybe rose). definitely flowery with possibly nutty or flinty.
Taste: floral, sweet, and weedy (notes of wet hay/straw). Possibly mineral/flinty and salty, and slightly vegetal. The taste is complex yet balanced.
Body: round (smooth); full, buttery