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A Mostly Ti Kuan Yin Tasting
June 2010

Premium WuYi Big Red Robe from Wing Hop Fung
Tie Guan Yin, Winter Harvest 2009, Charcoal Roasted Taiwan Oolong Tea from Norbu
Ti Kuan Yin Tea from Hsin Tung Yang Co.
 Sea Dyke Brand Anxi Ti Kuan Yin

I have been looking for a higher quality Ti Guan Yin than my longtime standby Sea Dyke brand, and mostly have seen new style greener light roast versions of the tea.  The Taiwanese verison from Norbu sounded good, so I ordered some and decided to try it against the TGY that I had on hand:  some of the Sea Dyke, a small box I was given as a gift, and an outlier, a Da Hong Pao, included mostly because I only have 3 TGY available, and four sets of micro-gaiwans & cups. 

Teas

Used 1.0-1.2 grams of tea in small 40 mL gaiwans
Infusions 185°F/85°C-195°F/91°C
30”, 30”, 30” and then several more until I gave out--I think before the leaves were entirely spent

Premium WuYi Big Red Robe from Wing Hop Fung

Dry Leaves:  long dark twists of intact leaves, smells of charcoal, slightly bitter and strong vegetal odor
Liquor, 1st infusion:  darkest liquor; tart, fruity, earthy
Liquor, 2nd infusion:  earthy, toasty, a little sweet
Liquor, 3rd infusion:   toasty, earthy, a little sweet
Liquor, about 6th or 7th infusion:  sweeter, touch of toasty/earthy, lightening overall
Wet Leaves:  still tightly curled, dark toasty charcoal scent still

Tie Guan Yin, Winter Harvest 2009, Charcoal Roasted Taiwan Oolong Tea from Norbu

Dry Leaves:   curled small balls of dark leaves, a little sweet & grassy scent, but very light
Liquor, 1st infusion:  tart, fruity, much lighter on the earthy than the DHP, and smoother than the other two TGY
Liquor, 2nd infusion:  toasty, bit of sweet & fruity
Liquor, 3rd infusion:   sweet, toasty, fruity
Liquor, about 6th or 7th infusion:  still sweet, also spicy, with only a light touch of that characteristic vegetal astringency of all the TGYs, but very little of the latter
Wet Leaves:   leaves more open than DHP, but darker and less open than the other two TGY, with TGY scent--a little camphorous, fermented, fruity

Ti Kuan Yin Tea from Hsin Tung Yang Co.

Dry Leaves:  Dark curled leaves, toasted, sweet & vegetal scent
Liquor, 1st infusion:  a little tart, fruity, touch of astringency
Liquor, 2nd infusion:  toasty, fruity, toasty, little astringent
Liquor, 3rd infusion:  sweet, toasty, fruity, touch astringent/brassy
Liquor, about 6th or 7th infusion:  quite dilute, with bit of astringent vegetal flavor
Wet Leaves:  leaves relatively greener, but still quite dark and curled, fruity odor
 
Sea Dyke Brand Anxi Ti Kuan Yin

Dry Leaves:  Dark curled leaves, dark toasty woody scent
Liquor, 1st infusion:   very similar to HTY version--tart, fruity, hint of astringency or more brassy flavor
Liquor, 2nd infusion:  sweet, fruity, toasty, a little more astringent
Liquor, 3rd infusion:  sweet, toasty, fruity, touch astringent/brassy
Liquor, about 6th or 7th infusion:  quite dilute, with bit of astringent vegetal flavor, very similar to the HST version
Wet Leaves:  leaves relatively greener, but still quite dark and curled, fruity odor

Photos:

 Upper left Premium WuYi Big Red Robe from Wing Hop Fung
Upper right Tie Guan Yin, Winter Harvest 2009, Charcoal Roasted Taiwan Oolong Tea from Norbu
Lower left Ti Kuan Yin Tea from Hsin Tung Yang Co.
Lower right Sea Dyke Brand Anxi Ti Kuan Yin

dry leaves



liquor



wet leaves

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