Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Essence of Tea
Tea Description:
This Tie Guan Yin comes from an old plantation on Lao Cha Shan, YaoYang village, Xiping, Anxi. We’ve struggled for a while to find a traditional, authentic Xiping, Tie Guan Yin that is grown without chemicals. So many Tie Guan Yin’s are grown intensively and need large quantities of chemical fertilisers. This is grown naturally, without any chemical fertilisers and pesticides and has been processed in a more traditional style than the modern super green oolongs, being very lightly oxidised then rolled and very lightly roasted.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Even though I’ve had a lot of Tie Guan Yin Oolong teas over the years, I’m still amazed at how different they can taste from one Tie Guan Yin to the next. Taste is affected by so many factors, from where it is grown, to how it is grown and harvested, and how is is processed after harvesting. Even with each new harvest, Tie Guan Yin grown on the same estate can taste different.
This particular Tie Guan Yin was harvested in 2011, and even though it’s been almost a year since it was harvested, I am impressed with how delicious it tastes. It is sweet and smooth, with a pleasantly silky – almost broth-like – mouthfeel. The floral notes are crisp and clear, reminiscent of honeysuckle and orchid.
There isn’t a strong vegetal quality to this cup, instead, I taste more of a slight toasty note to the background of this Tie Guan Yin, which highlights a hint of nutty flavor to the cup. This accents the honey-like sweetness of the cup. There is relatively little astringency to this, and no bitterness.
A lovely, spring-like tea to enjoy on this gorgeous spring afternoon.
