It's All About Tea — tie guan yin

In our previous blog post on Tie Guan Yin, we already discussed the brief history and processing method of this delicious oolong tea. Tie Guan Yin remains a worldwide favorite amongst tea enthusiasts. It’s in the top ten of best Chinese teas, top three best Taiwanese teas, and indeed in most if not all best oolong categories! Let’s take a more in-depth look into why this is so. (Read more)

Years before tea became a standard beverage in Europe and North America, Chinese tea merchants created the myth of "Monkey Picked Tea."

At the time, tea for westerns was a wonder. They loved the unusual and exquisite taste. However, tea took so long to make its journey from China to Europe and North America. Most people were utterly clueless about how tea was grown and processed.

One myth that did prevail and kept tea drinkers interested and craving more tea was that the tea was picked by brilliant and well-trained monkeys. (Read more)

What is your favorite tea type? For many the answer is — oolong!
What makes oolong so favored? Perhaps its multidimensionality, the variety present within this single tea category. A lightly roasted oolong has a resemblance most similar to green teas, while a dark roasted oolong will resemble black tea. Nevertheless, it is neither. It is in between and can not be imitated. (Read more)

All throughout China, Taiwan, and other parts of East Asia, the bubble tea trend has reached its peak, with crowds of youth lining up for a big cup of the ice-cold tea beverage. Yet we still find small groups of elderly folk sitting somewhere shaded in a park, enjoying hot Gong Fu style tea.

For the westerner it is counterintuitive, to be drinking hot tea for hours on a hot, muggy day. Many of the older people, however, know the secrets of Chinese medicine and know exactly which beverages to drink in the summer to keep the body cool. (Read more)

Today Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea, also known as Iron Goddess of Mercy or Iron Boddhisatva of Mercy, is listed in the top ten teas of China list. It is prevalent both in Taiwan and China, although the processing methods vary slightly.

For sure, when entering a tea shop in these countries, you are bound to see Tie Guan Yin on the menu. Even cafes in the West often list Iron Goddess as their oolong tea option. Production styles vary heavily. While in Taiwan Tie Guan Yin is known for its dark, heavily roasted taste, in China Anxi Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea producers, in particular, tend to stick to a light, floral roast. (Read more)