Tieguanyin (铁观音), Iron Goddess of Compassion, often called Iron Goddess of Mercy, is one of China’s most famous oolongs, grown in Anxi county, Fujian. (Tea Guardian) The name honors Guanyin, the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, and the iron-rich soil of Anxi said to give the tea its mineral backbone.
Flavor Profile
The signature is its orchid fragrance (兰花香 / lánhuā xiāng), a floral aroma that occurs naturally in this cultivar. Fresh, lightly oxidized Tieguanyin is green, crisp, and intensely floral, with a creamy sweetness and a clean finish that lingers. Roasted versions trade some of that floral lift for deeper, toasted notes.
Two Main Styles
Qingxiang (清香), the light-fragrance style, is lightly oxidized, green in the cup, and intensely floral. It is the modern style, refrigerated after production to hold its freshness, and best within a year of harvest. Nongxiang (浓香), the rich-fragrance style, is more oxidized or roasted, warmer and deeper and more complex, and it ages better. That is the traditional way.
How to Brew
| Method | Water Temp | Ratio | Steep Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gongfu (recommended) | 90–95°C | 5–8g per 100ml | 15–25 sec, 6–8 steeps |
| Western | 90°C | 3g per 200ml | 2 min |
Give the rolled pellets a steep or two to open. Don’t judge Tieguanyin by the first pour. It gets better as the leaf unfurls.
Teabelly’s Tieguanyin
We source our Tieguanyin from Anxi, choosing Qingxiang grades that balance floral intensity with depth. It comes as whole leaf and as a premium teabag for wholesale, and our Iron Goddess of Compassion teabag is one of our flagship offerings to hotels and restaurants.