Anxi Tieguanyin, as one of China's great famous teas, is deeply loved by tea enthusiasts for its unique taste and aroma. However, when many consumers are buying tea leaves, staff in some tea shops might ask which aroma type of Tieguanyin they prefer. Customers unfamiliar with Tieguanyin are often left confused and can't help but ask: How many aroma types does Tieguanyin have? Which one tastes better?

[Main Text] This edition of Tea Drinking & Health Preservation introduces the five flavors of Tieguanyin. Each flavor has its own characteristic aroma type, and each aroma type has its distinct features.

Qing (Light Aroma Type) — Market trend, clear green soup, must be refrigerated

This type of Tieguanyin belongs to the popular lightly fermented tea. "Clear soup, green water" is the most representative characteristic of the Light Aroma Tieguanyin and is also a tea suited to market tastes. Its main features are as follows:

First: The leaf's color is good; the leaves are emerald green, making them highly appreciative. Its aroma is rich; whether smelling the lid cup, tasting the soup, or even when uncovering the lid during brewing, its fragrance is so strong it almost fills the room, making one eager to try it. Second: The soup's color is relatively light, brewing into a clear, green broth without bits or foam, highly fragrant and pure in taste, especially the first and second brews. After the third brew, its soup color turns yellowish-green, clear and pure to the bottom. Finally: When the soup enters the mouth, careful stirring reveals a slight acidity, a special taste, with acidity containing fragrance and fragrance containing acidity.

The Light Aroma tea has a slightly shorter fermentation time during processing compared to traditional processing time. It uses a lighter firing level required for light fermentation, thus the color is slightly green with a fresh feel, and more moisture is retained in the leaves. The taste is on the lighter side, suitable for daily brewing and appreciation. Its acidity is due to: firstly, insufficient fermentation, and secondly, this acidity is precisely the embodiment of its charm (Yunwei). However, Light Aroma Tieguanyin is not suitable for friends with gastrointestinal issues.

Nong (Strong Aroma Type) — Traditional craft, authentic taste nourishes stomach, better refrigerated

This category belongs to the traditional semi-fermented Anxi Tieguanyin tea, using purely traditional methods. It requires a longer and heavier semi-fermentation time, resulting in a relatively substantial and authentic tea quality.

Its tea quality characteristics mainly have three aspects: thick soup, pronounced rhyme (Yun), and subtle fragrance. "Thick soup" means the brewed tea soup appears golden yellow, with bright color and a deep hue; "Pronounced rhyme" refers to the distinct "Guanyin rhyme" unique to Anxi Tieguanyin, leaving a refreshing feeling in the mouth and throat after drinking; "Subtle fragrance" means, comparatively, although its soup taste is fragrant, it is gentle and not intense. The leaves of Strong Aroma tea appear somewhat dark and slightly yellow behind the green leaves, meaning the color isn't the best, but the taste is the purest, suitable for seasoned tea drinkers.

Friendly tip: Traditional Strong Aroma Tieguanyin is mellow and has the effects of warming the stomach, lowering blood pressure, reducing blood lipids, and aiding weight loss. It is very suitable for friends who currently have many social engagements, an unreasonable diet structure, poor stomach and intestines, high blood lipids and pressure, or those wanting to assist weight loss.

Yun (Rhyme Aroma Type) — Rich and pure fragrance, suitable for all ages, must be refrigerated

Rhyme Aroma Tieguanyin is a tea product that meets modern demands, situated between the light and strong aroma types. It is a newly promoted tea between light and strong aroma, with the Rhyme Aroma series Tieguanyin tea leaves being carefully selected and refined through a blend of traditional and modern processes.

Its quality characteristics are: strip shape tight like, heavy as iron, color dark green or sandy green. The aroma is rich, the soup color is golden yellow, the taste is mellow, lasting and resistant to brewing, with a lingering fragrance after 7 brews. The tea leaves are fully fermented, traditionally authentic (Zhengwei), possessing a taste of "strong, rhythmic, moist, and special". It has high fragrance, good sweetness return (Huigan), and sufficient rhyme (Yunwei). This type of tea uses a heavier fermentation traditional craft, also called Zhengwei (authentic taste), highlighting the essence of Tieguanyin - "Rhyme" (Yunwei).

Suan (Fresh Sour Type) — Strong rhyme in sourness, suitable for all ages, must be refrigerated

The leaf quality is emerald green, the soup is clear and tender green, the taste is smooth and sweet, with strong rhyme within the sourness and sourness within the strength. Suitable for friends who prefer a green sour taste and enjoy appreciating the tea's color. The tea soup is clear and light green, the smell is pure and soft, fresh and pleasant to the nose, the leaves are thick and emerald green, the taste is mellow and clear sweet, the tea soup is fresh, rich, and full, mellow and palatable, with a rapid returning sweetness (Huigan).

Friendly tip: Green Sour Type Tieguanyin has the good effects mentioned in medicine for beauty, reducing blood lipids, lowering cholesterol, and reducing cardiovascular diseases. It is a rare natural healthy drink. However, friends with minor gastrointestinal problems should try to drink less Green Sour Type Tieguanyin and can switch to Strong Aroma Tieguanyin.

Tanbei Type (Charcoal-Baked Type) — Baked with charcoal, roasted fragrance original taste, natural storage

This type is based on the traditional semi-fermented Anxi Tieguanyin tea and is further baked with charcoal for about 7-12 hours. It belongs to a good tea of traditional authentic taste (Zhengwei). The taste is easier to guarantee, smooth, and possesses a natural roasted fragrance. Traditional charcoal-baked strong aroma Anxi Tieguanyin is becoming increasingly popular in Anxi. Charcoal-baked tea has a special returning sweetness (Huigan) and a unique taste. After tasting, the throat feels particularly comfortable, with a strong roasted fragrance.

One point特别 worth mentioning is that after brewing, the tea soup color is deep yellow, completely different from the clear, green water of the Light Aroma Tieguanyin usually seen. It must be chosen by experienced tea friends, as generally people new to tea are not accustomed to it. It is most suitable for veteran tea drinkers who often drink tea and is the best choice for tea friends who can't find a strong, rich taste after drinking many teas. No need for refrigeration, natural storage enhances the taste!