Tie guan yin Tea Processing
Tie guan yin is an oolong tea cultivated in Anxi county in the Fujian province of China. The aroma of the dry leaf is clean and fresh, with flora notes reminiscent of gardenias.
The tea leaves themselves go through a complicated processing before they can be brewed. The following photos were taken at the Hangzhou Tea Museum on West Lake.
After the tea leaves are plucked, they are spread out on bamboo racks and set outside in the sun to wither as they lose moisture
Next the racks are spread out indoors to air dry and cool down from being out in the sun
Once cooled, the leaves are rotated either in a large tumbler or by hand as they bruise upon each other and the outer edges of the leaves are reddened.
The heating process stops the oxidation of the leaves
The final crafting of the leaves comes when the leaves are rolled either by hand in a cloth, or by a machine like the one pictured below. This is what gives tie guan yin its tightly rolled-ball shape.
As you sip your tie guan yin, try to think of all the care and attention to detail that went into the tea you're sipping. Try to feel the flavor evolve as you sip each infusion and I promise that you wont be disappointed.
Our Lightly Oxidized Tie Guan Yin is minimally processed, with light and floral notes while our Mild Oxidation Tie Guan Yin is slightly more processed with nutty, heavier notes.
This 40 Minute video from CCTV shows EVERYTHING you wanted to know about Tie guan yin. It's a great look into the magic of oolong tea.
