Review: Anxi Tie Guan Yin

Tie Guan Yin, also known as Iron Goddess or Iron Goddess of Mercy, was one of the first “serious” teas I tried. It still has a special place in my heart (and my tea cabinet). Today I’m drinking a Tie Guan Yin from Inner Anxi. Before I get to the tasting notes, I thought I would talk about the etymology. As you may know, this tea’s namesake is Guan Yin, known as the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. In Japan, she’s known as Kannon. Guan Yin is actually a bodhisattva who is able to manifest in both male and female form, but her female version became more popular in Chinese art over the centuries. I guess “Iron Genderless Bodhisattva of Mercy” doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily.

As a folklore fan, I also love this tea’s origin story. You can read it in many places, but I like this short version and this longer one that talks more in-depth about Taoist and Buddhist story patterns in tea mythology. Drinking tea is already such a soothing, centering practice, and learning about its spiritual histories adds an extra layer of meaning.

Without further ado, let’s get to the tea itself.

Name: Tie Guan Yin 1805S

Origin: Changkeng, Anxi, Fujian, China

Season: Spring 2019

Seller: teafarmerlin

Dry leaf smell: Sweet, prunes

Wet leaf smell: Extremely floral, with gardenia and lilac. Smells like perfume.

Liquor color: Pale yellow

Steeps 1-2

It started with an extremely floral aroma. Gardenia is the strongest note, with orchid or lilac behind it. The finish is also gardenia.

It’s smooth, round-bodied. Very viscous. After swallowing, it lingers on the tongue.

After about 10 seconds, I start to get a cantaloupe aftertaste

Steeps 3-4

Still very floral. Sensing an almost spinach-like note. Starting to notice a little astringency.

Steeps 5-6

The flavor has weakened, and a sweet pea aroma has appeared. The aftertaste is still distinctly gardenia.

Final Thoughts:

Though I like the nutty flavors of Muzha Tie Guan Yins, I keep returning to flowery Anxi Tie Guan Yin. This one was especially nice. In the early steeps, the floral aroma was like a huge bouquet or a stroll through a garden. It feels very nice on the tongue, thick and clinging with just the right astringency. I don’t think I would drink it to wake up in the morning, but it’s perfect for a relaxing afternoon when you can sit and savor it.

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