Premium China Fujian Tikuanyin (Ti Guan Yin Iron Goddess of Mercy) Oolong (Wu Long) Loose Tea - 1.1 LB

While the leaves of this tea are rolled to look like Ti Guan Yin (also spelled Ti Kuan Yin), any positive comparison stops there. Ti Guan Yin is famous for its bright and floral flavor, and clean finish. This tea has none of that. As the pictures show, the leaves are brown, not green, and the tea is brown as well. The flavor -- what little there is of it -- is muddy, neither bright nor floral nor clean. If this were sold as returnable, I would send it back. Beyond disappointing. Before leaving this review, I reached out to the seller to confirm that what they sent really is what they sell as Ti Guan Yin, including sending them a picture of the package and a picture of the tea. Today, they proudly confirmed that, yes, this is what they consider to be Ti Guan Yin. After showing it to some friends, who are tea aficionados like me, we all came away with the same negative opinion. It may be oolong, but in our opinion it is not Ti Guan Yin.

I purchased Iron Goddess of Mercy tea at a local tea shop to try a different Oolong. I instantly took to it, but was really put off by the expense of it. So, I've been searching for a more reasonably priced Tie Kuan Yin tea. I was hesitant to buy this tea because some of the reviews were not great, and didn't want to be stuck with a pound of tea that I didn't like. But, I took a chance, and I am glad I did.I ordered this on Monday (it was not available for Prime when I purchased it) and it arrived on Wednesday first class USPS. I received over a pound of the tea, in two resealable packages. Anxious to try it out, I brewed up a some, and it was wonderful-exactly the same as I had at my local tea shop...except they charged $4/ounce!A couple notes about brewing this tea I have learned:1-do a rinse with boiling water. A little water covering the twisted leaves for about 30-45 seconds-enough to "rinse" them. Then dump the water. The water will have a very slight yellow color to it, and the leaves will just barely start to open. Now you are ready for the first steep. This helps to take away the initial bitterness.2-Only seep for about 4 minutes. Longer, and it becomes bitter. So watch the time!3-I usually get 4 steeps out of a pot. This Oolong is amazing because the flavor WILL change with each steep. It will mellow out at 2-3 steeps-that is Oolong heaven. I always leave a little water in the pot between steeps. Just enough to jumpstart the next steep.4-Savor each cup. This is a unique and blissful tea meant to be enjoyed. Smell it, taste it...it is wonderfully calming.Enjoy!

Not the very best tasting oolong I've ever had, nevertheless a good value.

I have loved Tie Guan Yin tea for a number of years now but this was my first time ordering on Amazon. The tea ended up not being what I am used to. I'm not saying it is bad but it does not steep that pale golden color and does not have the light flavor I am used to from other companies. This steeps a dark brown, even if I only use a tiny portion of the packet and it has a bitter edge. The leaves are not packaged in vacuum sealed foil package, either. They are in little paper packets and even though it is delivered in a tin, maybe exposure and age has taken it's toll. I see others have reviewed that their product was good so this may be the case that I got a bad batch. Either way I am going back to buying only Tie Guan Yin that is vacuum sealed.

First off, I have a concern about this tea. I am not accusing the maker or anyone else of any wrong doing, but I just found a scary link regarding tea from this region. The Chinese government ran tests on this type of tea and fond that a full 1/3 of those tested were found to be unfit for human consumption due to HIGH levels of heavy metals in the tea. When the Chineese govermnent, not known for product safety, says that 1/3 of the teas tested from this region are not fit for human consumption I get very SCARED!. Google Fugian Tea with heavy metals and you will get the article. I do not know that this tea is involved in the findings but it matches most of the descriptions in the article. Name, type, location etc.Perhaps the seller can shed some light on this issue?

I did not receive the tea in the Tin as the other reviewer noted but in a resealable bag labeled in Sharpie. It's recommended that loose leave tea is stored in a tin and I did't have one to accommodate 1 Lb. of tea. If I'd known this was sans tin, I would have ordered:  Sea Dyke - TieKuanYin Oolong (Wu Long) Loose Tea Value Tin - (1.1 Lb) . For $7.00 more, I'd have a tin and then could reorder this product to refill. Still excellent Tea, tin or not.

This is an excellent deal for an entire LB of tea! The tea is very characteristic of a classic WuLong tea and has a very light and nutty aroma and flavor. Oolong and WuLong teas are great for boosting metabolism, aiding in digestion, and can also be good for skin and teeth. Proper steeping of this tea yields the best cup; steep at 195 degrees for no more than three minutes. Tea leaves are also ideal for multiple infusions.

I appreciate that this tea is not very expensive however although of good quality is not as flavorful or aromatic as other Iron Goddess of Mercy tea I have had before from other companies.