Premium Tie Guan Yin of Anxi

It was the Autumn 2017 harvest. The tea is intensely green and vegetal and works very well in a gaiwan. A VERY good and complex first steeping followed by several decent ones. The western-style brewing produces a solid drink as well, although less complex. Asparagus, broccoli, butter, pepper, grass, mushrooms. Tulips and chrysanthemums on the nose.

This tea is showing a certain familial likeness with other green Anxi oolongs from Yunnan Sourcing like Hairy Crab and Ben Shan. If you liked this TGY (and I did) you will certainly like them as well. Overall, it is a very solid Tie Guan Yin but does not knock you off your feet. A good – and affordable- daily drinker.

Although I like green Tie Guan Yin, I haven’t had too many of them. This one is from spring 2016. I steeped 5 g of leaf in a 120 ml teapot at 195F for 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, and 240 seconds.

The first steep has typical Tie Guan Yin flavours of citrus, butter, orchids, violets, other unnamable flowers, and grass. The mandarin and orchid notes really stand out in the next steep, leading into a long aftertaste. The middle steeps have vegetal, metallic undertones. This tea isn’t too demanding and would probably be good iced. The balance of fruit and florals continues into the eighth steep, after which the tea becomes increasingly vegetal and astringent.

This oolong has been open for a few months and has lost some of its freshness, but it’s still a good tea and a great value. I look forward to getting more when the spring 2018 harvest comes out.

[Review of Spring 2016 picking]

Dry leaf: HERBAL, VEGETAL, SWEET (dried herbs – parsley, dill, thyme – cooked green beans and spinach, sweet butter, notes of milk chocolate, hint of cherry cordial. In preheated vessel – nuttiness and roastiness present, sort of “green peanut” notes)

Smell – FLORAL, VEGETAL, SWEET (fragrant floral – lily of the valley – buttered green vegetables, green nuttiness, some hints of chocolate and cinnamon-raisin bread)

Taste – VEGETAL, FLORAL, HERBAL, FRUITY (Arrival is green vegetable, sweet and sour, green stem, and lemongrass. In the mouth, notes of marine savoriness and hints of cinnamon-raisin bread develop. Finish is floral fragrant (lily of the valley), and dried herb (parsley and mint). Aftertaste is pronounced sweet stonefruit – ripe peach and apricot, some cherry sweetness.)

After a summer of exploring some various green oolongs, I have to say that this one is currently the clear winner. The flavors are varied and complex, strong but not overpowering. Every session had me picking up on new flavors and nuances. In addition, the tea is sensitive to changes in brewing parameters, but in a good way, allowing you to develop flavors you prefer in the tea.

Fresh, thick, and fruity. Great one to sip on as you procrastinate mowing the grass on a late summer afternoon. I speak from experience.

This is obviously a greener version of the Light Roast Premium Tie Guan Yin also offered by Yunnan Sourcing. Light, floral, buttery, more similar to a Jin Xuan oolong but with a metallic undertone. I am drinking the Autumn 2015 harvest and I have to say the Autumn 2015 Light Roast Premium Tieguanyin was more interesting and flavourful.

Brewed at 203˚F in my little 90ml gaiwan. I might have under-leafed, will brew again with more tea next time.

A delicately floral oolong that tastes very refreshing and continues to carry taste even after 7-8 steepings.