The Name Tie Guan Yin
Tie Guan Yin is a very famous tea, so many people have probably heard of it at least once. Tie Guan Yin is not the name of a tea-making method, but rather it refers to a tea made from the Tie Guan Yin cultivar. Just as apples have different cultivars like Fuji, Jonathan, and Golden Delicious, tea also has many cultivars, and Tie Guan Yin is one of them. The characteristic of Tie Guan Yin is that it grows slower than other cultivars, resulting in a strong aftertaste and long finish. Additionally, when semi-fermented, Tie Guan Yin has a floral flavor reminiscent of orchid blossoms.
The Spread of Oolong Tea from Wuyi Mountain to Anxi and Taiwan
Anxi is a county located north of Xiamen, and it is one of the three major oolong tea producing regions in China along with Fenghuang and Wuyi Mountain.
According to the "Tea Doctrine" written by Wang Zi, the magistrate of Chong'an County in 1706, "As the popularity of Wuyi Mountain's oolong tea rises, the method of making Wuyi Mountain's oolong tea is being imitated in Anxi." However, another historical fact suggests that people from Anxi were involved in tea making in Wuyi Mountain and later returned to their hometown of Anxi to start making oolong tea. As evidence, some tea producers in Wuyi Mountain speak Min Nan, a dialect of Anxi.
After the oolong tea-making method was transmitted to Anxi, the tea in Anxi evolved uniquely with the development of original processing methods like Baozhong (a method of rolling tea leaves into a ball shape). Today, Anxi is a very popular oolong tea producing region both in China and abroad.
Additionally, Anxi is one of the hometowns of Chinese people who have emigrated to Southeast Asia. Many Taiwanese, Malaysian and Singaporean people's ancestors also come from Quanzhou and Xiamen, including Anxi. Historically, the tradition of tea making in Anxi was brought to Taiwan by immigrants from the Min Nan ethnic group, which laid the foundation for today's Taiwanese oolong tea.
High-Altitude Tea Gardens Produce Superior Tie Guan Yin
As with other teas, the higher the altitude, the better the quality of Tie Guan Yin. When we talk about altitude, we tend to focus on Darjeeling and Taiwanese high mountain teas, but in fact, altitude is a very important factor that influences the quality of all types of tea. Higher altitude results in a longer aftertaste, reduced bitterness, and a better quality flavor, making the flavor feel stronger. The Medium Fired Tie Guan Yin we are introducing today is made in Daping Village, Anxi County, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. The tea garden is located at an altitude of 1000m to 1300m.
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Medium-Roast Balancing Orchid Flavor and Toastiness
Medium-roast refers to a tea finishing method where the tea is roasted to a medium degree. While light-roast Tie Guan Yin is also famous, I believe that medium-roast is the most popular style in China. Medium-roast Tie Guan Yin has both a floral flavor reminiscent of orchids and a toasty flavor, making it a tea that appeals to everyone. It is recommended for various occasions such as before meals, during meals, and after meals.
