Teguanyin: the effect, taste and properties of tea, the benefits and harms of oolong for the body

Author: Julia Kopylova , tea expert.

Let's immediately define the terminology: oolong and oolong are the same tea. The difference in name is related to pronunciation preferences.

Green tea varieties have long been valued in the East not only for their excellent taste and rich aroma, but also for the positive impact they have due to their unusual composition.

A cup of a drink prepared according to traditional recipes helps to relax after lunch or in the evening, calm the nervous system and prepare for sleep, focus on your own thoughts, or simply enjoy the process.

& laquo; Iron Goddess of Mercy & raquo; belongs to the category of partially fermented mainland oolong, and deservedly enters the cohort of elite Chinese varieties.

What effects does Te Guan Yin create for the human body, how to brew tea correctly so that the beneficial properties and taste are fully revealed, and what you need to know about its features to get extremely positive impressions about the tea drinking ceremony? Let's figure it out.

 

Overview

Semi-fermented oolongs in the established classification occupy a place between red (called black in our country) and green tea. Iron Goddess & mdash; turquoise, or blue-green variety, popular both in China and beyond, growing in the southern part of Fujian region, Anxi County.

Raw materials, the harvest of which is harvested four times a year, is characterized by fleshy leaves, while each season has its own specifics: spring harvest is recognized as more fragrant, autumn & mdash; has many flavors.

It is believed that the raw material aspect also affects the quality indicators.

The first three flushes have a wider range of shades, and can spill up to twelve times, while the ulunas from the fourth or fifth bush sheets are more saturated, but at the same time lose their basic qualities after the fifth brew.

In addition, the height at which the bush grows & mdash; the higher the plantation is relative to sea level, the brighter the taste and more active the beneficial properties of Teguanyin tea.

The popularity of the drink influenced the development of production & mdash; today, the variety is grown not only in Anxi, but also in other counties of the province.

Title History

Like any oriental drink with a fairly ancient origin, many secrets and mysteries are associated with the Iron Goddess of Mercy. Oolong name & mdash; a reference to a mythical character known not only in Chinese, but also in Japanese, Korean, and other cultures.

This divine image, usually taking on a female appearance, is associated with salvation from various troubles and hardships & mdash; it was Guangin who was approached by people who were desperate to have children or find a happy family life, experienced need and deprivation, or dreamed of justice in their own destiny.

A thousand hands, each of which had eyes in the palm, made it possible to see the embodiment of each human entity in all existing worlds.

Such qualities of the deity, descended from the Buddhist bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, determined both his intolerance of the wicked and scoundrels, and loyalty to sincere, kind-hearted and disinterested people.

The ancient Chinese sages, speaking about how to properly brew Teguanyin tea, emphasized that when preparing and drinking a drink, the soul should be open, thoughts & mdash; light, and the heart & mdash; clean.

Origin

Despite numerous archives and sources, it is not possible to accurately determine the day when one of the tea masters first brewed the leaves of this oolong.

The first mention is found in books dating back to the Tang era, which dates from the 7th century AD.

It is worth noting that there are many legends, two of which are especially popular with connoisseurs of the noble drink.

The Legend of Wei Qing

The duties of one of the workers of the goddess Guanyin, who was responsible for maintaining the garden in proper condition, included the daily preparation of three cups of green tea & mdash; in the morning and evening.

The ritual was strictly observed for ten years, until the gardener had a strange dream.

In it, he saw an unusual tea tree & mdash; a bush that grew on a high mountain slope.

Barely waking up, seized with enthusiasm, the man immediately went in search of the plant & mdash; and they, despite the difficulty of climbing a steep mountain, were successful.

The cut stalk was planted near Wei Qin's hut in an iron pot, and after a while, when it was time for seasonal flowering, the master cut off the juicy leaves and brewed a new drink from them.

This tea delighted Guanyin, in recognition of whose divine mercy the newly discovered variety was named.

Wang Legend

Another version of the origin sends us to the small town of Siping, located under the Guan Yin mountain slope, where one of the ancient Chinese scientists lived.

His practice involved daily recording of plants that could be found in the surrounding landscape.

By the time the next tea tree was discovered, the researcher had already managed to compose a rather impressive tome, but the find, which differed from the known varieties, made a special impression.

The man transplanted the handle closer to his own home, watching its growth, and marveling at the special smell of the leaves. Properties and benefits of tea & mdash; Ulun Te Guan Yin, whose description Wang traditionally gave after the first few sips of freshly brewed drink & mdash; characterized as invigorating and tonic.

Subsequently, the scientist managed to present a new variety to his imperial majesty Qianlong, who immediately ordered the organization of a full-fledged plantation, and supply dried raw materials directly to the palace.

General features

Today, Teguanyin is a loose oolong, characterized by the uniqueness and variety of shades and taste combinations created during brewing.

There are various options for & mdash; so, in the catalog & laquo; Russian Tea Company & raquo; You can order a classic variety from Anxi , dairy or creamy oolong as well as other varieties of this popular tea.

Appearance

Traditionally, the brew looks like large, tightly rolled leaves with a characteristic emerald color interspersed with brown.

During the brewing process, they unwind, transferring the taste and aroma to the brewing infusion.

The drink itself has a straw tint, after each spill it acquires additional saturation of tone, and reaching the end of the ceremony to a state of yellow or green.

Aromatics

They depend on the specific region and conditions in which the raw material for brewing grew.

The description of the Teguanyin Chinese tea bouquet characterizes it as quite bright and rich, having a thick floral composition, in which lilacs and flowering herbs play the greatest role, causing associations with the summer season.

Taste

The richness of taste, which excludes the use of synthetic additives, is described by experts as a sweetly delicate combination of honey velvety and buttery, with a long floral and herbal aftertaste that sets off a unique combination of orchid and lilac notes.

Such a gamma is considered classic for most partially fermented oolongs, which are especially valued for the duration of receptor perception.

Effect

For most people tasting Te Guan Yin for the first time, its effect may seem rather unexpected.

The drink is recommended as the final chord of a hard day's work, allowing you to achieve a state of relaxation and harmony.

Calm and peaceful & mdash; the best recipe for those who are tired of nervous tension and want to regain mental balance and comfort.

Benefits

Like other natural varieties, carefully assembled in compliance with centuries-old technology, oolong contains many microcomponents, vitamins and minerals & mdash; from retinol to iodine.

The combination of elements causes both the benefits and harms of Te Guan Yin tea: if overused, side effects may well appear, but if you include 1-2 cups in the diet, you can:

• Eliminate toxins and toxins.
• Stabilize blood pressure.
• Strengthen the gums and tooth enamel.
• Moisturize and smooth the skin.
• Stimulate immunity and metabolism.

Many Chinese experts also note that the unique combination of components is a combination that blocks oxidative cycles, that is, it actually serves as an antioxidant that prevents early aging and cell death.

Manufacturing Technology

Manual harvesting and processing of raw materials explains the high cost of oolong compared to other tea crops.

The result is definitely worth the money, and is achieved as follows:

• Procurement of raw materials. It continues throughout the summer, but autumn varieties are considered the best in taste.
• Airing. The arrangement of leaves in direct sunlight contributes to the drying of foliage.
• Drying. It takes place in a well-ventilated room, which eliminates the formation of mold or fungus.
• Fermentation. Starting the material with a centrifuge that activates the natural oxidative cycle and fermentation.
• Re-drying. Form small heaps to remove residual moisture.
• Calcination. A mandatory process that stops further enzyme formation in the brew.
• Twist. It is performed manually, and is a sequential processing of large sheets folded into small bundles.
• Sort. Sampling of off-spec raw materials, as well as material cleaning from faulty and foreign elements, including debris.

It is worth emphasizing that even minimal deviations from the norm can affect the taste, aroma and effect of Teguanyin tea.

Manufacturers diligently monitor key processes, eliminating any violations of regulations.

Varieties

In addition to characteristic territorial differences, varietal species also differ, they have their own characteristics in cultivation, aging, drying.

Select the following options:

• Van & mdash; rich, characterized by a bright aroma and pronounced taste. Considered the most prestigious available outside of China.
• Lao & mdash; produced by aging raw materials in flax bags for several years, which explains the brownish tone and a new reading of the taste combination.
• Nut Xiang & mdash; autumn variety, characterized by tartness, rich aromatic bouquet, and an oily aftertaste.

On the market you can find a special, black Te Guan Yin, also positioned as a semi-enzyme.

In this case, the technology is noticeably different & mdash; the brew fried at the final stage of the blank does not belong to oolongs due to the violation of the fermentation cycle, but it has a dark tint of infusion and a pleasant aroma of smoke.

How to brew Teguanyin oolong properly

Fans of classic oriental drinks know that not only the quality of the raw materials is important for maximum flavor disclosure, but also the observance of rituals that turn tea leaves into a rich infusion.

It is recommended to stop the selection of dishes on clay , porcelain or earthenware, since they do not restrain the aroma and do not affect the taste of tea.

A professional kettle used in traditional ceremonies is called a gaiwan, and looks like a cup on a saucer, additionally equipped with a lid.

Popular & mdash; using glass kettles with two flasks, or gunfu , in which each new strait allows you to immediately start infusing the next portion.

Important factor & mdash; choosing water that can change the taste perception of the infusion.

For best results, select a spring, well, or bottled fluid and take care of the cleanliness of the heating coil in the kettle.

The procedure for brewing Te Guan Yin is as follows:

• Wash the dishes and preheat the thin walls.
• Cool boiling water to a temperature not exceeding 80-85 & deg; C.
• Fill the brew in a ratio of 3-5 grams per 200 ml.
• Steam and immediately drain the first volume, removing tea dust.
• Refill the water, and after a quarter of a minute pour the infusion into the chahai.

Learn more about making tea here:

Contraindications

The effect of Te Guan Yin tea does not provide for serious medical restrictions.

However, a certain accuracy of consumption should still be observed, since with excessive volumes there is a possibility of an increase in the concentration of alkaloids in the blood.

In addition, caution should be exercised during pregnancy & mdash; due to the presence of tannins, as well as make sure the origin and quality of the brew.

Improper storage can cause pathogenic microflora.

If you do not want to worry about your own well-being once again, and prefer extremely high-quality products & mdash; we recommend choosing a suitable option in the catalog & laquo; of the Russian Tea Company & raquo; , where there are noble drinks for every taste.

Let's summarize

Today, in order to feel like a gourmet, and feel all the delights and features of oriental teas, you no longer need to go on a long trip, or even get out to the nearest thematic restaurant of national cuisine.

Everything you need for a classic ceremony can be easily ordered at home, after which you just have to choose the right variety for brewing.

Wulong Te Guan Yin & mdash; one of the elite representatives of Chinese tea culture, definitely worthy of attention, and guaranteeing a positive taste experience.