Zheng Wei Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea From Teavivre

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy: Teavivre

Tea Description:

Our Zheng Wei Tie Guan Yin (TGY) was plucked in the day before “寒露 (cold dew)”- one of the traditional Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms . The dry leaves of this tea appear less tender than spring green tea, while it has a richer and long-lasting flower flavor.

(Tips: The tea harvested during the period three days before and four days after寒露 (cold dew) day is called “正秋茶” (means autumn tea, this term differs from “早秋茶”，the early autumn tea).

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Thank you Angel for a sample of this tea.

I do like Tie Guan Yin and I’m looking forward to trying this one. The website says this was picked in Autumn, October 7th 2015 and offers in depth information into other factors of this particular tea such as garden location, caffeine levels and flavour notes. Well worth a read at the above link if you are truly interested in this tea, it’s always nice to see a website offer so much information on it’s tea.

In appearance the leaves are a mixture of dark green and yellow/green, of which most balls are fairly large in size and appear whole leaf. They bare a grassy and sweet, floral scent.

Steeping Parameters: 7g leaf, 220ml gongfu teapot vessel, boiling water. 

First Steep – 1 minute 

Tea colour is very light yellow and has a very floral scent.

The first few sips reveal a toasted grass and sweet floral medley that lingers on the tongue. Clean and pure tasting with a buttery elegance. After a few bowls there is a slight dryness in the after taste.

Second Steep – 2 minutes 

An increase of sweet flowers but less grass than the first steep. Also I want to point out that the leaves are not fully open. Floral wise it reminds me of gladiola mixed with toasted sweet grass.

A few bowls of this steep show the dryness is still present though still very minimal.

Third Steep – 3 minutes 

Another consistent steep but with an increase of depth, more like toasted flowers than fresh flowers at this point. But still very flavourful and light/pure. The dryness has not increased at this steep.

Conclusion: This was a lot more floral than I expected but in a very pleasant way. It’s not too strong but you would have to like floral tea to like this one, you could just appreciate the Oolong side with it if you’re not a huge floral fan. It remained consistent in flavour and rather refreshing which made it easy to drink. Quality overall was good, even in the leaves after use which were without discolouration or holes. I could have taken this tea another steep or two further but I have limited time tonight, but it should save overnight for a lovely morning steep.

This tea exceeded my expectations and was a very nice example of an Autumn Tie Guan Yin. Considering it was last years crop it’s been stored very well and tastes fresh. I imagine this would be lovely on a hot summers day.

Happy Steeping Everyone!