Where to get the best Tie Guan Yin

[britt]

This is more expensive than the limit you set but it still deserves being mentioned:

HouDe Select * 2009 Spring Mu-Zha Tie Guan Yin, Hand-Harvested

http://www.houdeasianart.com/index.php? ... ts_id=1179

This was as good as any TGY I've tried. Initially I brewed this in moderately thick porcelain. It was good enough that I never tried clay for this particular TGY.

I don't remember how many infusions this was good for but in general I've found I get enough from most of Hou De's oolongs that it helps balance the price difference when compared to lower priced teas that don't stand up well.

[pb2q]

HouDe Select * 2009 Spring Mu-Zha Tie Guan Yin, Hand-Harvested [...] I don't remember how many infusions this was good for but in general I've found I get enough from most of Hou De's oolongs that it helps balance the price difference when compared to lower priced teas that don't stand up well.

This tea never stood up to many infusions for me, only 5-6.

[JD]

$30 for only 2oz? Sheesh.. I might stick with Jas-ETea's premium TGY.

[chef07172]

Some of the best Oolongs I have received are from Aura teas in Canada. I would give them a try. I usually deal with them and specialteas. http://aurateas.com/cata-tea-oolong-tea.aspx

[JD]

Well, looks like the Jas Etea premium TGY is garbage. I did a couple infusions that tasted like dirt. So that TGY is out.

If Specialteas had a darker roasted TGY, I'd get that since their prices are a lot cheaper than everyone else.

[chittychat]

Where to get the best Tie Guan Yin seems now more difficult to answer after it turns out the term TGY can now be used unfortunately broadly to include the entire family of teas produced in southern Fujian. Or those from Taiwan using the TGY process.

You do not want to get them from sellers in China you say. It takes only 6 days to ship to the US. Anyhow I had excellent real Tie Guan Yin tea from Teaspring and formerly from Funalliance at affordable prices.

[JD]

It doesn't take 6 days for me.. it takes 4 or more weeks.

[entropyembrace]

Where to get the best Tie Guan Yin seems now more difficult to answer after it turns out the term TGY can now be used unfortunately broadly to include the entire family of teas produced in southern Fujian. Or those from Taiwan using the TGY process.

my understanding is TGY is a varietal not a process, so it doesn´t matter where it´s grown or how it´s processed it´s still TGY.

on the other hand there are southern fujian oolongs processed as lightly oxidized, lightly roasted ball oolongs which are not TGY...such as Rou Gui and Mao Xie...again they´re defined by the varietal of the tea bush...and aren´t always processed the same or grown in the same place.

Also as far as I can tell the definition of TGY as being a varietal is nothing new...I have TGY from the 80´s that is heavily roasted and rolled into strips like yancha not the balls we typically associate with TGY.

[Tead Off]

It will matter where it's grown and how it's processed just like all teas. The soil in different places vary considerably. Many factors contribute to the quality of the leaves. Then, there is the processing, which will also vary according to the ability of the tea master in charge of processing the picked leaves. No 2 teas are the same. There will always be differences.

Now, which is the best?

[entropyembrace]

It will matter where it's grown and how it's processed just like all teas. The soil in different places vary considerably. Many factors contribute to the quality of the leaves. Then, there is the processing, which will also vary according to the ability of the tea master in charge of processing the picked leaves. No 2 teas are the same. There will always be differences.

Now, which is the best?

I know it makes a difference in what the tea tastes, smells and looks like...but it´s still TGY

[Tead Off]

Yes, still TGY, but there will always be differences like Burgundies grown in France vs. Napa/Sonoma. They are not allowed to call it Burgundy in the States as this name is reserved for French use only. And, there are great differences in the wines.

[tenuki]

Muzha Tieguanyin from Floatings Leaves in Seattle. After my initial sample from them, I have ordered this tea 3 times. In fact, I have not had a bad tea from Floating Leaves.

+1 - this is one of my daily drinkers.

Tea Gallery for their Classic Roast TGY.

+1

[tenuki]

I will have to look into that FLT Muzha... I like to drink grandpa style when I'm camping.

that's how I drink it, it's a great tea for grandpa style.

[Tea_Rex]

I will have to look into that FLT Muzha... I like to drink grandpa style when I'm camping.

that's how I drink it, it's a great tea for grandpa style.

It is a good grandpa style tea as well as a good gong fu style tea. And I also cold brew it the nights before Little League games which are usually played far from any source of refreshment. I find people staring at my jar probably wondering what those leaves are floating in there.

[ebauer]

Do you mean Ti Quan Yin? Harney and sons have some. Everrything I have gotten from them has been good. It is at harney.com. Another place to try is Seven Cups. sevencupsdenver.com. Seven cups teas are a bit more expensive but maybe they do not deal with the volume as Harney and sons. Harney's has great plain teas of great value. But they also have some signature blends that they have created.