One of the most popular Chinese oolong teas is the Ti Kuan Yin. Tea connoisseurs may have heard of this same tea by the names of Ti Kwan Yin, Tit Kwun Yum, Tie Guan Yin, Iron Buddha, or Iron Goddess of Mercy. Regardless of what you call it, they all have the same distinctive flavor and light floral fragrance that make this oolong tea special.
One of the reasons, besides the flavor of course, that the Ti Kuan Yin is so popular is its preventive and healing properties that are stored in the tightly rolled leaves. Some of the benefits of this tea include anti-aging, anti-cancer, treatment and prevention of diabetes, and an aid in weight loss. When you combine a great tasting tea, a pleasant fragrance and the health benefits, you can see why this tea is so sought after!
Iron Goddess, aka Ti Kuan Yin, is a high-mountain oolong tea from Fujian Province, China. It has a subtle but distinctive flavor, a pale golden color, and a light floral fragrance. The tightly rolled leaves unfurl into large broad green leaves that can be steeped several times. Oolong teas can be an acquired taste if one is used to black teas with milk, however this one is well worth the time, and is very highly recommended.
Legend of Iron Goddess:
Centuries ago there lived a poor farmer in the Fujian Province of China. He lived by a temple that was dedicated to the Iron Goddess of Mercy. The temple was in poor condition since it wasn’t kept by anyone for a long time. The farmer cleaned the temple and burned incense to honor the Goddess. Touched by the poor farmer’s devotion to her temple, the Iron Goddess appeared to him in a dream and told him to find a treasure left for him behind her temple. The farmer woke up and searched all over the temple for the treasure only to find a small tea bush. When the farmer made tea from this bush, he noticed a unique fragrance and wonderful sweet taste. Delighted, he grew this tea bush and gave some of it to his neighbors so that they can also enjoy this treasure from the Goddess. Word spread of this wonderful tea and thus the Fujian Province became famous for the origin of this tea.