Anxi Tieguanyin Tea

Anxi Tieguanyin is a preeminent variety of Oolong tea. Anxi, a small and mountainous county in southeast China's Fujian Province, is hailed as the birthplace of this special tea.

Named after the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (known in Chinese as Guan Yin), Tieguanyin  has also been translated as "Iron Goddess of Mercy" (more correctly, "Compassion") after the old translation for Guan Yin's name. Other spellings and names include Ti Kuan Yin, Tit Kwun Yum, Ti Kwan Yin, Tie Guan Yin("TGY"), Iron Buddha, Iron Goddess of Mercy, Iron Goddes Oolong, Iron Avalokite?vara, and Tea of the Iron Bodhisattva, which is probably the closest English translation.

Tieguanyin is not only a name for the tea but also for the tree. The tree is not plump, and the branches hang down loosely. The leaves are thick and dark green, with their edges a little folded like the folded palms of Kwan-yin (the Buddhist priestess). It is because its color is dark green, its heaviness can be compared to iron, and its posture like that of Kwan-yin that it is named Tieguanyin (Iron Kwan-yin).

The leaves of the manufactured tea are tight and dark green. First-grade Tieguanyin is coated with a thin layer of frost because caffeine evaporates with the water during its processing. When brewed by water, a natural fragrance of orchid comes out and the tea has a pure and heavy aroma. If it is served in a small and exquisite tea set, by smelling it first and then tasting it, you will have endless aftertaste in your mouth. After several infusions, the fragrance of it is still remaining.
Anxi Tie Guan Yin wins the reputation of "lingering fragrance remains after seven times infusions".

Varieties

-By roasting level:

* Jade Tie Guan Yin (lightly roasted Tie Guan Yin): A newer type of Tie Guan Yin. It has a light green Jade color. When brewed, it produces a very flowery aroma and taste.
* Heavily Roasted Tie Guan Yin: Traditional Tie Guan Yin. It has more complex taste and aroma but is less floral.
* Moderately Roasted Tie Guan Yin: A new breed that has a good balance of floral aroma and complex taste.
     
-By harvest time:

* Spring Tie Guan Yin: Has the best overall quality.
* Autumn Tie Guan Yin: Strong aroma but less complex taste.
* Summer Tie Guan Yin: Be considered lower quality. Summer Tie Guan Yin can be further divided into two types: one harvested in June to July, and the other harvested in August.
* Winter Tie Guan Yin: The production of Winter Tie Guan Yin is very low.

-Other category:
* Guan Yin Wang (Guan Yin "King"): The best of Jade Tie Guan Yin and Autumn Tie Guan Yin.

Tieguanyin is one of the best brands of the oolong teas. It contains quite a lot of healthy substances like alkaloid, vitamin, protein and fragrant oil, etc. It can promote healthy and radiant skin glow and strengthen the immune system. Wu Long Oolong tea, a great tea to lose weight naturally. It is the most popular slimming tea in the world. Since it is good for health and beauty in recent years, Tieguanyin has even been introduced to in Japan, South East Asia, Europe and America, enjoying worldwide reputation.

How to brew a perfect cup of Oolong tea

1. Preheat the teapot.
2. fill the teapot 1/4 full of Oolong Tea; if it is High Mountain Oolong Tea, please fill it 1/5 full.
3. The first brew is used only for warming up the teacup.
4. For the second brew, let the boiling water drops between 90 .and 95., and then pour it into the teapot with high and slow way.
5. Wait 25 to 30 seconds then pour it into the tea pitcher.
6. Pour the tea from the tea pitcher into smelling cup and wait for a couple of seconds.
7. Pour it into the drinking cup and enjoy the flavour of tea from empty smelling cup.
8. Enjoy the color, fragrance, taste and essence of the tea.

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