Tie Guan Yin Oolong

Estate Name: Taozhou Tea Garden
Farming Methods:  Hand-picked. Ecologically sound, natural Tea Garden. EU compliant – Zero pesticides
Production Methods: Plucking – Withering – Tossing – Rolling – Drying – Sorting

Other Notes: Tie Guan Yin is a famous Chinese Oolong Tea produced in Anxi county of Fujian by the tea cultivar Tie Guan Yin. The Autumn harvest produces the highest grade of Tie Guan Yin. It has a flowery aroma and mellow refreshing taste.

Due to the higher temperatures in Anxi in recent years and the big harvests of Tie Guan Yin from this county, many tea gardens in Anxi are no longer practicing natural farming methods (higher temperatures result in more pests and pesticides). Fortunately, we are recently partnered with an ecological tea garden in Taozhou, Anxi. This is the result of years of researching and travelling throughout Anxi by our Chinese colleagues. The tea garden is located in the mountain area of Taozhou, near the origin of the Jinzhang River. The region has excellent forestry covering and the tea garden owner has abstained from the use of pesticides and herbicides in this 15ha (37 acres) farm for many years. The ecological system in the tea garden has developed and achieved a sound balance. The yield from the tea garden is also controlled with one Spring harvest and one Autumn harvest only per year. (In Anxi, most of the tea gardens have a Summer harvest, and some even harvest in Winter as well). By carefully managing and controlling the farming and harvesting, this tea garden is ensuring the tea leaf quality will not deteriorate and the ecological system with reman sound.

In Oct.15th, the farmers are harvesting the Autumun crop of Tie Guan Yin. It is ideal weather for good Oolong Tea. It has been sunny for quite a few days. And the temperature is around 20℃. The tea shoots have grown to the perfect tenderness for making Tie Guan Yin Oolong tea.

Tie Guan Yin Oolong is made from the Tie Guan Yin tea cultivar. There is a high plucking standard for Tie Guan Yin. Most of the the leaves are one bud two leaves and three leaves. (The common Tie Guan Yin is made by one bud three leaves).

The tea leaves are initially withered outside in the evening and then moved indoors for further withering. The Zuo Qing, Tossing Green (semi-oxidation) will be conducted at night.

In the next morning, the semi-oxidised tea leaves will be fried and rolled. And then it comes the special processing of Tie Guan Yin, Baorou (Bag Rolling). The tea is packed in big cloth bags, and the bags are tightened. it is this process that creates the unique ball rolled shape of the Oolong tea leaf

This is the tea after the Baorou (Bag Rolling) process. The tea stalk is still connected to the leaf and will be removed later by hand sorting. 

The tea is then sent for the final drying.  This is Qing Xiang Tie Guan Yin. The temperature must be carefully controlled and cannot be very high during the drying (baking).

The final product!

And the brewed tea: It has a charming, orchid like, flowery flavor and the taste is delicate and smooth, with deep aftertaste. And as with all great quality Oolong teas, this tea that may be re-infused several times (Nai Pao).

Dry Leaf
Color: Yellowish green
Shape/size: Curly round granule

Brewed Tea
Color: Yellowish green
Aroma: Flowery
Body Taste: Mellow sweet aftertaste

Suggested Brewing (adjust according to personal preferences)
Water Temperature: 90-95°C/194-203°F
Amount: 2-3g per 150ml teacup
Steeping Time: 2 minutes
# of Infusions: 2-3 infusions