Name: Ti Kuan Yin Slimming Oolong

Brand: English Tea Store

Type: Oolong

Form: Loose leaf

Review: Mmm. . .Ti Kuan Yin, my favorite tea! Also known as “Iron Goddess of Mercy”, this Chinese oolong is a staple in the collections of many a tea lover. One of the things that I love most about this tea is that its flavors differ widely depending on its quality and how it is prepared. Some Ti Kuan Yins are highly roasted, resulting in a deep, nutty, roasted flavor while others are less processed, with sweet, floral flavors. There can also be a huge price difference between various Ti Kuan Yin oolongs, ranging from quite reasonable to very expensive.

The English Tea Store’s version of Ti Kuan Yin is reasonably priced, and while it doesn’t have the depth or subtlety of high-end Ti Kuan Yin, it remains a tasty option for sipping on a daily basis or even making into iced tea. Ti Kuan Yin Slimming Oolong’s dry leaf has a nutty, roasted nose, which brews into a light/medium bodied, gold liquor. It’s flavor is more nutty and mineral-ly rather than floral, making this a rich and assertive, if not terribly subtle, Ti Kuan Yin. Oolong newbies who want to try some “greener” oolongs may find this to be a good transition tea.

Preparation Suggestions: I like this Ti Kuan Yin brewed at a fairly high temperature: 195F or so. While high temperatures can sometimes kill floral flavors in Ti Kuan Yin, the English Tea Store’s version isn’t highly floral, and the heat actually enhances its mineral, nutty and roasted notes.

Serving Suggestions:  While Ti Kuan Yin is a wonderful tea for sipping on its own, I also enjoy it with many different types of food. Try it with vegetarian dishes, Asian foods and fish. Ti Kuan Yin also makes a superb iced tea, particularly if cold brewed overnight.

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