Anxi Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy)
Also known as Iron Goddess of Mercy, this is probably the most famous among all Chinese Oolong teas. Boasts with an amazing floral taste and aroma, this tea comes with great health benefits, being high in amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants.
Origin:
Anxi County, Fujian, China
Harvest Period:
Spring 2013
Appearance:
Hand made into small, rolled up, jade coloured leaves
Tasting notes:
Refreshing floral taste and aroma
Health benefits:
Being high in amino acids, vitamins, polyphenols and antioxidants. this tea helps to reduce cholesterol, reduce hardening of the arteries, and so can help reduce risks of heart attacks. It can also help prevent some forms of cancer, and also help fight the affects of aging and bacterial infections.
Recommended Brewing guide:
We recommend using Chinese Yixing (purple clay) or ceramic tea ware. Rinse tea cup and teapot with hot water. Fill the teapot 1/4 to 1/3 full with tea leaves, or 2 grams of tea leaves for every 150ml of water if you are not using Yixing teapot. Steep tea leaves in hot water at about 100°c (212°F) for 1 minute for the first and second brewing. Gradually increase steeping time for subsequent brewing.
There are many legends surrounding the origin of Tie Guan Yin's name. One of it tells the story of a poor but kind-hearted farmer named Mr Wei. Deep in the heart of Fujian's Anxi County, there was a rundown temple which held an iron statue of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Everyday, Mt Wei would spend some time cleaning up the temple, making offerings to Guanyin. One day, he fell asleep in the temple and dreamt of the Goddess telling him to look for a cave behind the temple where treasure awaited. He was to take the treasure and share it with others. In the cave, Mr Wei found a single tea shoot. He planted it and soon, it grew into a tea bush with exceptional quality tea leaves. He also gave cuttings of this rare plant to his friends and then began selling the tea under the name Tie Guan Yin, Iron Bodhisattva of Compassion.
