Anxi rolled-ball oolong, semi-oxidized 25-50%. Orchid-floral nose, milky-sweet body, the Fujian high-mountain standard.
From Anxi county, Fujian; two legends compete: the "Wei" version credits farmer Wei Yin (c. 1725, Yongzheng era), who found the bush after a dream from Guanyin; the "Wang" version credits scholar Wang Shirang, who discovered the bush in 1736 (Qianlong era) and later presented it at court, where the Qianlong emperor bestowed the name. Modernized in the 1990s when farmers shifted from heavy-roast (传统正味) to lightly oxidized green-style (清香) for the export market.
Anxi has 600,000 mu under tea, the largest single-county tea acreage in China. The annual autumn 秋香 harvest is prized over spring; veteran masters say 春水秋香 — spring for body, autumn for aroma. Premium grade is judged by the rim-bruise red ring on the spent leaf.
Tightly rolled jade-green pellets unfurl into whole leaves. Fragrance of orchid and gardenia, body buttery and faintly milky, with the lingering throat-feel Anxi farmers call yinyun (观音韵). Best at 95°C, gongfu-brewed in a small gaiwan.
Sun-wither, then bamboo-tray bruise (摇青) in 6-8 cycles to oxidize leaf edges only — the heart stays green. Pan-fire to kill enzymes, then cloth-bag roll-press 30+ times to lock the ball shape. Charcoal-roasted versions take days.
Variations
Qingxiang (清香, light-oxidation, green pellets), Nongxiang (浓香, charcoal-roasted, brown pellets), Chenxiang (陈香, aged 5+ years, medicinal), and the high-mountain Gande/Xiping subzones in Anxi.
On the Palate
Where Tieguanyin sits in the Chinese flavor cloud
Ingredients
Serves 1How it's made
4 steps · 2 min active + 21 min waiting
- 11 min
Pre-heat gaiwan with boiling water; discard.
- 21 min
Add 5 g rolled-ball Tieguanyin; pour 95 °C water and immediately decant (rinse).
Watch outPour the rinse water on and tip it straight back out — this wash wakes the rolled balls and rinses off dust; don't let it steep.
- 31 min
Brew infusion 1: 95 °C water, 20 sec.
Watch outHold the first real infusion to about 20 seconds — the balls are still tight and pushing it longer pulls out a harsh edge before they've opened up.
- 420 min
Increase 5 sec per round; good leaves yield 6–8 infusions.
