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“Semi-impulse buy when I was at DavidsTea today… definitely didn’t need another tea, but I wanted to try a basic tie kwan yin to compare other green oolongs against (e.g. those from Teavivre). I...” Read full tasting note
“I do like this one. It is a good quality iron goddess. It is buttery and slightly sweet with a hint of vegetal notes. Reminds me a little of thier Milk Oolong. I am really enjoying iron goddess...” Read full tasting note
“Thank you Courtney for this sample. This was just enough for one big cup of Oolong made with my Gongfu. The balls were much better quality than I was expecting, very green and fragrant with no...” Read full tasting note
“An explanation, first. I have tried a small number of flavoured oolongs but am not overly keen on them. Nothing wrong with them, but never my go-to tea. I have never really given unflavoured...” Read full tasting note
A lucky tea
Many years ago, a poor farmer had a dream: the goddess of mercy, Kwan Yin, came to him and spoke of a great treasure in a nearby cave. When he went there, he found a single tea shoot. He planted it and it grew. So he gave cuttings to his neighbours, and they all prospered by creating a beautiful, flowery oolong. Our version is hand-produced on a small family garden near the Wuyi Mountains.
DavidsTea is a Canadian specialty tea and tea accessory retailer based in Montreal, Quebec. It is the largest Canadian-based specialty tea boutique in the country, with its first store having opened in 2008.
Got this for a 2/$5 deal in those sample bags kits they had on for clearance.
I’m not an Oolong tea drinker but for the first time trying, this one is nice. Not sure what Oolong should taste like and it’s nothing distinct yet I’ve had myself reaching for this tea and had about 3 cups of this in the past week. I guess it’s good in my books!
As much as I love stronger teas this one is a keeper. It’s a treat to your senses in all forms – dry, steeped and sipped. Spring is all over this tea – dry it smells like very light honey, steeped you start to distinguish grassiness and fresh spring flowers and on tasting it all of these nuances come together in a delicious beverage. This tea has a fresh aftertaste for a long time making you crave more. You’ll be smelling your cup long after you’re done drinking it. It really makes me think of sunny flower fields and light summer breeze.
Tie Kwan Yin is my favorite type of oolong tea. It does not require long steep to bring out the flavor. If you like to have a light oolong, this is it for you.
I’ve tried various type of Tie Kwan Yin before, but none of them are organic. Does it make a difference? For me, I really can’t tell. If I have them side by side I may able to but…all of my other Tie Kwan Yin are gone!! They are too good to just sit on the shelf. Still, the color, smell, and flavor are just what I remembered.
I personally recommend to use Gongfu Cha(工夫茶) style to steep this tea. Now, this is different from what DAVIDsTEA suggesting, nor I’m saying they are wrong. I just like this way better, and my way is different from the traditional Gongfu Cha…haha!
Here’s the steps I use:
-use a small tea pot(cup sized or a infuser ball), fill it about 1/2 or 2/3 of tea
-Use boiling water, steep for 10~30s, dump the water this time.
-Use boiling water again, steep for 1~2min, depends on how strong you want.
This way will give you a light but flavorful tea. With this method, you can steep the tea 3~6 times, depends on the amount of tea and water. This method also works on some straight oolong as well.
I’m not really getting the sweet and floral taste that most are claiming. I got more of a nuttier, grassier taste.
Anyhow, with that aside, I was quite surprised with the flavour I got. I was hoping for a smooth flavour like the rest of the oolongs that I have tried. To me, it’s ok. I’m not a huge fan of grassy and nutty notes combined just because I find it a little too strong for my tongue.
I am still relatively new to the world of Oolong teas, but as it stands right now I am very impressed with this tea. I find it an absolute pleasure to drink. And the price is very reasonable too!
The smell of the leaves in the bag is, as some have already noted, quite mild. But it’s once you add some hot water that this tea really impresses. One of my favourite things about brewing this tea is the wonderful scent when the first whisps of steam rise from the cup upon adding the water. The aroma is very much one of springtime: floral, with a bit of grass, and a touch of honey. Instant relaxation – on a good day approaching blissful escape from the troubles of the world. All in a cup!
I always make an experience of drinking this tea. It’s not the sort of thing you pour into a travel container and drink on the go. Definitely one to enjoy with a good book or even on its own. I like to sit on my balcony in the evening and listen to the birds with a cup of this. I find it a very relaxing tea.
My experience is that steeping with water that’s too hot (i.e., boiling) or steeping too long will produce a somewhat bitter taste and spoil the aroma. I can usually get three infusions from the leaves before the flavour starts to go.
As far as the pure experience of drinking tea, this is probably my favourite. Love it, would recommend it, must always have on hand.
My first oolong and it was very different than I expected. I figured it would be closer to a black tea but it was more like a green tea. A nice flowery aroma and a sweet taste that is very relaxing. Near the end of the cup it got a bit of a tangy grassy taste but never bitter. Definitely be back for more.
