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Tea Palace

Iron Goddess of Mercy

Regular price £6.00 GBP
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This famous and elegant oolong is the benchmark for teas of its type. Aromatic, nutty and slightly sweet this wonderful oolong reaffirms its status with every cup.

Probably the most famous oolong from China, Iron Goddess or Ti Kuan Yin is formed from the leaves tea bushes grown in Fujian, China which are prized for their aromatic and refreshing nature.

This distinctive tea is created by taking the long, flat leaves, rolling them into loose balls and then part-oxidised to develop a fuller, more robust flavour. Oolongs are known as half-fermented and this refers to the oxidisation in this process.

Iron Goddess is a particularly fine example of oolong as it has a nutty, slightly sweet taste with stone fruit hints for a complex, invigorating and refreshing cup.



Iron Goddess of Mercy is also included in the following signature gift collections:


Story

Map of Origin

Iron Goddess is probably China’s most famous oolong, and as with many Chinese teas it has a fabulous name and a story to go with it!

The story starts with Kuan Yin (Guanyin), a Buddhist goddess venerated for her compassion and with the glorious longer-form name Guanshiyin, or The One Who Perceives the Sounds of the World. So receptive was she to the prayers of her people that she was seen as much as a beloved mother as a deity.

One such devotee was a local village farmer in Shaxian who tended his fields next to an ancient stone temple that contained a simple statue of Guanyin. Although his farm was beset with disease, drought and failed harvests, the farmer devotedly cleaned the temple and prayed to Guanyin for a fruitful harvest and relief from travails for him and his whole village.

One day, during his daily devotion, the farmer looked to the iron statue and it seemed to stir with life before his very eyes. As he stared at the statue he is said to have heard whispered words: “The key to your future is just outside this temple. Nourish it with tenderness; it will support you and yours for generations to come”. When he looked back to the statue it was still and silent.

The farmer left the temple and looked down to see a small, straggly sapling and he knew that this was the future that Guanyin had promised. He returned daily to the temple and added tending the plant to his daily duties. Before long the sapling had flourished into a fine glossy plant and he found that when he had dried the leaves and then refreshed them in water they produced a delicious liquor and invigorating beverage. Quickly, the leaves of this very special plant grew popular, it’s scions planted into fields and the wealth and reputation of the village restored for all time.

Product Information

To Enjoy

Place one teaspoon per cup into an infuser, filter or teapot. Switch the kettle off, before it boils, when you hear the water rumbling. Add the hot, but not boiling, water and infuse for 3-4 minutes. Serve immediately or remove leaves to prevent spoiling

Ingredients

Oolong Tea

Allergy advice

May contain traces of nuts

Sizes Explained

Sample Caddy
Our small sample size caddy is the perfect way to our delicious Oolong tea.
Contains tea for approximately 10 cups of Tea.

Refill Carton
The refill carton, available in Standard and Large, is a perfect, environmentally friendly way to replenish your Tea Palace Caddies. Contains enough tea for approximately 50 cups (Standard) or 80 cups (Large) of Oolong tea.
**Please note this container is not airtight and therefore once opened tea should be transferred to an airtight caddy or storage jar. 

Standard Caddy
Our bespoke purple damask caddy is the perfect way to keep your tea fresh.
Contains tea for approximately 50 cups of Oolong.

Large Caddy
Our large bespoke purple damask caddy is the perfect way to keep your favourite tea fresh.
Contains enough tea for approximately 80 cups of Oolong.

Health

Helps to lower cholesterol levels.

Can be used as a weight loss supplement according to studies. 

Can help people with diabetes by keeping blood sugar regulated.