TeaVivre
TeaVivre Tie Guan Yin: eight steeps of orchid, and the best value on this list
A lightly oxidised rolled oolong that unfurls over eight or more infusions. Per cup of drinkable tea, nothing else here comes close.
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What it is
Tie Guan Yin — Iron Goddess of Mercy — from Anxi in Fujian, in the modern green style: lightly oxidised, tightly rolled into dense pellets that look nothing like leaves until they meet water.
In the cup
Orchid and gardenia on the nose, cream and sweet greens in the mouth, and a lingering floral finish that hangs around for a surprisingly long time. Almost no astringency at any reasonable brewing parameter.
Brewing
Western: three grams, 195 °F, three minutes, then repeat four more times. Gongfu: six grams in a 120 ml gaiwan at 195 °F, twenty seconds to start. Eleven steeps before it stops being interesting is achievable, and steeps three through six are typically the best of the session.
Value
This is the arithmetic people miss. A bag that looks expensive is producing eight to eleven cups per six grams. Divide it out and it is cheaper per cup than the breakfast blend.
The verdict
The tea we would pick if we had to keep one. Forgiving, cheap per cup once you account for re-steeps, and genuinely beautiful.
Best for anyone who wants the most tea for the money and the least chance of ruining it.
What works
- Eight to eleven real infusions
- Almost impossible to make bitter
- Best cost-per-cup on this list
- Gorgeous aroma
What doesn't
- Needs a basket with room to unfurl — the pellets triple in size
- Floral style is not to everyone's taste; try a roasted oolong if not
Before you read the health section
Tea is a drink, not a treatment. Everything below is general information with its sources named, hedged to match how strong the evidence actually is. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it should not replace a conversation with a doctor or pharmacist — particularly if you are pregnant, taking medication, or managing a condition. Full disclaimer.