The Legend of Ti Kwan Yin and the Famous Oolong Tea
Ti Kwan Yin Oolong is one of the most famous teas of China. Known for its tropical, floral sweetness, this tea is an excellent choice for those new to oolong and those who’ve loved it all along.
This famed Chinese oolong, Ti Kwan Yin, comes with a legend as fascinating as its flavors. This famed oolong is named after the Iron Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin.
The fable begins in Fujian, China, with Wei Yin, a poor, kind-hearted farmer. He labored every day to make a living, and even so, he would spend any free moments he found tending a sadly dilapidated Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) stone temple near his place. The small temple was built around an elegant iron statue of Guanyin, her face etched with kindness and mercy. This sacred place was important and should be cared for, he believed.
Wei Yin often ended his work at the temple with a prayer. One visit to the temple, he was so exhausted he fell asleep. In a dream, the Goddess told him to look for a cave behind the temple. When he did he found a solitary tea shoot. He took it home and planted it in an iron pot. “You are a gift from Guanyin, I shall treasure you,” he said.
Slowly, the sprout grew into a tea bush with hearty, glossy green tea leaves.
The area where Wei Yin lived was plagued with drought and poverty. But when the farmer saw the tea was thriving he passed cuttings of the healthy plant to his neighbors and friends. Each of them planted and cared for their tea plant.
The farmer brewed a few of the tea leaves in boiled water and shared it with his family. The tea nourished his family, his neighbors, and even visitors. Soon, tea plants were growing all over and the area prospered because of this magnificent tea.
Our Organic Ti Kwan Yin Oolong
Our Organic Ti Kwan Yin is sweet and complex. Notes of orchids and lilies interplay with the delicate crispness of green grapes and dried apples, much like a fruity-floral, off-dry Viognier white wine.
Try our other nuanced, flavorful Oolong teas too…
Would you like to read another favorite tea legend? Check out our Teatime Story about Legendary Teas.
Learn more about how to steep oolong tea and why it is good for multiple infusions
