Charcoal Roasted True Bush Tie Guanyin
A super unique tea, this was harvested from a high elevation garden in Shan Lin Xi from 'true bush' Tie Guanyin plants. Tie Guanyin is a scraggly, low yield cultivar but because of it's singular properties there are still crazy farmers who want to grow it. And we salute them!
This was very nicely oxidized which provided a solid base for our teacher's charcoal pits, where it was finished by his protégé this Summer. It's not a fully traditional Tie Guanyin like the heavy fired ones from Muzha, rather it has elements of both high mountain oolong which surprisingly gives it an almost Dan Cong like quality with it's showy aroma with peach, floral and woody tones.
The first thing I notice is lush juicy broth that touches down with a nice brightness, then in the third infusion the iron motif of true bush Tie Guanyin comes in, slamming into the middle-rear of the tongue with a zippy energy. For all the complexity up front, it eases into the far corners of the mouth with an assertive staying power.
In a way it feels masculine and stoic, but there is a peacock's flourish not only in the complex fruity aroma but also the springiness of the broth. Aromatic broth concentrates in the throat and evaporates outward leaving behind a dynamic aftertaste including peachy and woody tones, and the slight metallic tartness brings persistent salivation in the root of the tongue and insides of the cheeks.
A good warming bodyfeel rounds out this already super complex tea. It really tells a story from beginning to end. Plus, it just feels good.
Facts
- Harvest Location : Shan Lin Xi, Nantou, Taiwan
- Roast Date : August 2024
- Cultivar : Tie Guanyin