Skip to content
  • Blog
    • Learn
    • Sip
    • Connect
    • Travel
  • Beginner’s Guide to Tea
  • Matcha
  • Puerh
  • Tea in NYC
  • Book
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Press
    • Review Policy
    • Services
  • Blog
    • Learn
    • Sip
    • Connect
    • Travel
  • Beginner’s Guide to Tea
  • Matcha
  • custom-logo
  • Puerh
  • Tea in NYC
  • Book
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Press
    • Review Policy
    • Services
Learn

Meet the Tea: Tie Guan Yin

October 24, 2013July 9, 2023 1 comment
Meet the Tea: Tie Guan Yin

Tie Guan Yin goes by various spellings but it is probably the best known Chinese oolong tea. It is commonly referred to as Iron Goddess of Mercy and there are many legends about how this tea got its name. Traditionally it was made as a strip style tea with heavier roasting but that changed after the 1990s due to the influence of Taiwanese manufacturing techniques.

The dark green, semi-oxidized leaves are now rolled into tight balls. They will expand quite a bit after steeping and once unfurled, the leaves will have a broken appearance. Making this tea is a complex, multistep process that takes a high degree of skill. Hailing from Fujian Province, it is known for its strong floral aroma and taste that is reminiscent of orchids. Notes of peach and other stone fruits are also common.

Although it can be one of the most expensive teas, quality varies widely in the marketplace. There are many varieties and they are determined by both the roasting level and harvest time. Lightly roasted Tie Guan Yin is “green” tasting whereas a darker roasted version will develop a more nutty quality. New spring harvests are usually the highest in quality. Aged Tie Guan Yin has become popular in recent years. The oldest that I’ve tasted so far was 20 years old.

This tea lends itself well to traditional gongfu style brewing but it can also be brewed easily in a western-style teapot. It can stand up well to heat pretty well so your water temperature will usually be between 195 and 212 degrees. I prefer to do 30-second steepings using a gaiwan. If using a teapot you’ll want to let the tea brew for 3 to 5 minutes.

What is your favorite Tie Guan Yin oolong?

GuideMeet the TeaTeaTie Guan Yin
About Nicole Wilson

About Nicole Wilson

Nicole Wilson is an award-winning tea writer and educator who has been sharing her love of the leaf online for more than a decade. Her website, TeaforMePlease.com, is the longest continuously running tea blog written by a female author. The mission behind everything she does is to help everyone discover the wide world of tea in a fun and approachable way.

Related Posts

Tools for Blogging I Can’t Live Without
Tools for Blogging I Can’t Live Without
Teas to Celebrate Fall
Teas to Celebrate Fall
Chen Sheng Hao 2020 Na Ka Raw Pu-erh Tea
Chen Sheng Hao 2020 Na Ka Raw Pu-erh Tea
Legends of the Leaf: The Origin of Tea
Legends of the Leaf: The Origin of Tea

Post navigation

Guest Post – The Taiwan Tea Research and Extension Stations (TRES): Basic Information and Developments by Kevin Craig
Guest Post: Taiwan Mountain Tea – The Indigenous Plant

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey, there!

Hey, there!

Nicole Wilson, Tea Writer and Educator

Do you love to drink tea, but wish you knew more about it? I'm here to help! The world of specialty tea is massive so it can be a lot to take in. On this blog, you'll find over 1,000 articles and tea reviews to start your journey. I'm always happy to answer any questions you might have!

Subscribe

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for the latest blog posts, tea news, and more!

The Tea Recipe Book

Discover how easy it is to prepare specialty tea drinks at home with The Tea Recipe Book.

About the Book
The Tea Recipe Book

Categories

  • Connect
  • Learn
  • Sip
  • Sponsored
  • Travel

Follow @teaformeplease

Amazon Recommendations
  • Blog
    • Learn
    • Sip
    • Connect
    • Travel
  • Beginner’s Guide to Tea
  • Matcha
  • Puerh
  • Tea in NYC
  • Book
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Press
    • Review Policy
    • Services
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | Designed by Little Theme Shop