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“I’m giving this a bump because apparently this is the tea I crave when I want a toasty, darker oolong. It’s sweet and roasty but doesn’t make me think of cigar smoke. There’s a lot going on in...” Read full tasting note
“After yesterday’s day-long-pot-of-oolong extravaganza, I thought I’d try the same for this tea (I had a sample of it to finish up as well). And I have to say, it just makes me miss the Hawaiian...” Read full tasting note
“I ordered this based on an existing impression of another “Monkey Picked Iron Goddess of Mercy” brand. That brand, the name of which escapes me to this day, was much lighter and sweeter in nature,...” Read full tasting note
“This is the first time I’m seeing these kinds of leaves rolled into a ball. It’s quite amazing, actually, to see them unravel during the steeping process. I’m using my travel mug so I couldn’t see...” Read full tasting note
Origin: South Fujian, China
Elevation: 750-900 meters above sea level.
Tea Bush Varietal: Anxi Hong Shin Tae Guan Yin.
Flavor Profile: Smooth bodied infusion with flavors of apricot and honey. The aroma is complex with accents of roasted nuts and caramel and hardy, woodsy notes.
Tea Story: One of our most popular oolongs at Samovar-and for good reason! This tea is an everyday staple and can be sipped casually at your desk (just toss a few leaves in your mug) or its perfect for creating an intimate ceremony. Legendarily picked by monkeys on the craggy Wuyi Mountain cliffs of Taiwan and named after Kuan Yin, the Goddess of compassion, this tea is stout, classic, and unforgettable.
While no monkeys were employed in the harvesting (or processing) of this tea, the title suggests the rarity of this oolong and the endorsement of its high grade by the tea master who made it.
The pronounced hardy and woodsy notes come through the plant’s struggle to survive through high-altitude heat and cold, and wind and fog. Watch this leaf as it slowly opens, releasing its nectar in each in each infusion. Have a tea tasting, and compare this tea to its big brother, Monkey King, and appreciate their similarities of these two.
To read about the history of Iron Goddess of Mercy Tea (a.k.a Tie Quan Yin or Ti Kuan Yin or Ti Kwan Yin) see our Extended Information.
Samovarian Poetry: Sip, penetrate your issues, and dissolve them. Kuan Yin’s classic elixir offering transcendence via the tea leaf.
Food Pairing: The deep, sweet, roasted flavor elements of this oolong pair marvelously with baked goods: like warm chocolate chip cookies, sweet bread, or apricot muffins. At the tea lounge we pair the Monkey Picked Iron Goddess with our Ginger Quinoa Waffle and our Mushroom Quiche.
Samovar's is dedicated to preserving the simplicity and integrity of the tea traditions and inspiring people to practice peace through drinking tea.
