Qing Ti Quan Yin

Qing Ti Quan Yin comes from Anxi, in central Fujian Province, the historic heartland of Ti Quan Yin production. Ti Quan Yin, sometimes called Iron Goddess of Mercy, is one of China's most celebrated oolong cultivars, and the "Qing" style sits at the lighter, greener end of its range: minimal oxidation, no roasting, and leaves rolled into tight balls that unfurl slowly through multiple steepings. That light hand in processing is what defines the character of this tea. Emeric Harney has long been drawn to darker oolongs, but Qing Ti Quan Yin earns its place in the lineup precisely because it goes the other direction, bright and fresh where the roasted styles are deep and caramelized. Re-steep the leaves several times. They open gradually, and the later steepings are worth the patience.