Ti Kwan Yin (Tie Guan Yin, Iron Goddess of Mercy) is one of China’s most celebrated oolong teas — produced primarily in Anxi County, Fujian Province, with a history spanning at least 300 years. The tea is named after the Buddhist goddess Guanyin, according to legend discovered by a poor farmer who found the plant growing near a crumbling temple and was rewarded by the goddess through his investment in its care. Ti Kwan Yin is a lightly oxidized oolong (15–35% oxidation in the green style) that sits between green tea and heavily oxidized dark oolongs in flavor profile — floral, light-roasted, and complex.
The modern green-style Ti Kwan Yin (qing xiang, or lightly oxidized) is characterized by intense orchid and floral notes, a smooth medium body, and a sweet, lingering finish that tea connoisseurs call hui gan — returning sweetness.
In the cup, Ti Kwan Yin brews a pale gold-green. The aroma is immediately floral — orchid, sometimes lily or gardenia. The body is medium, smooth, and rounded, with a clean, lingering sweetness.
Use 3 grams per 8-ounce cup.