Iron Goddess of Mercy (Tie Guanyin)

This has been one of my favorite tea experiences! The first cup I made was a sensory delight – notes of smoky sweetness, dried fruit, autumn maple forest, and even an umami sort of meatiness making for a rich mouthfeel – it was strong and complex, but perfectly balanced and also refreshing. Somehow I have never been able to recreate the strength and depth of that first cup, but I’ve enjoyed each brew nonetheless (ok, maybe just a bit the less, but still a favorite!)

Lot 1036361

A nice addition to the Rishi Offering. Astringent, scents of ripened apricots cradled in a musky wooden box. Subtle and fleeting sweetness beckons additional sips.

Another Sipdown, this one from Lee. I wish I had more to say about it, but I drank it hours ago, so really, all I can say is I enjoyed it. Lightly roasty…

For Christmas, my brother got me my first Yixing teapot—and I decided to dedicate it to Tieguanyin oolong (partly because the Whole Foods in town sells it, and I like to avoid shipping). So, I seasoned my pot with it and used it to makes very first gongfu style tea. I was really impressed—I loved this one Western style (see my other review for more detail), but I think gongfu brings out the subtleties more (no doubt partly due to the number of steeping a possible). I’m really looking forward to experiencing this tea even more as my pot continues to soak it in—it’s now an every-weekend tradition!

I thought I knew what good tea was until I had 4 cups of this tea! Wow!

Roasty, toasty baked nuttiness. Just finishing the last of this while not my favorite will repurchase this whenever I’m in the mood for roasty baked goodness

Light but warm, floral yet toasty. I am a fan. I enjoyed watching the small rounded balls of tea unfurl in my clear teapot. It’s a pretty tea. There is a great smooth body, and a light, pleasant finish to this tea. To the nose, it imparts a toasted, almost barley flavor, and upon tasting a floral buttered taste takes over. Could be enjoyed on a daily basis!

This is my first Iron Goddess and I don’t regret trying it. Compare to all of the Oolong tea I’ve had in my life, this is way more soothing. It is one of the tea that I can keep drinking forever! I have to make sure that I always have this in tea my cabinet.

Excellent, but don’t buy it from Zingerman’s. Kind of overpriced.

Just tried this one. It took me a few sips to get into it but once I did, I knew this oolong would be a staple in our cupboard. It sneaks up on you and steals your heart away. It is light, earthy and reminds me of sunlight hitting the Autumn leaves. The more you drink it, the deeper in love you fall. Great tea.