25/06/2025
The Story of Tie Guan Yin
A poor tea farmer named Wei Yin lived in Anxi, Fujian.
Each day, he passed a dilapidated temple with a dusty statue of Guan Yin inside. The temple was abandoned and falling apart.
Even though he had little, he felt a deep sense of respect and devotion.
He:
• Swept the floors
• Burned incense
• Lit candles
• Cleaned the statue of Guan Yin
He did this daily — not for rewards, but out of sincere gratitude and reverence.
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One night, Guan Yin appeared to him in a dream, saying something like:
“Behind the cave lies a treasure. Tend to it well, and it will reward you.”
The next day, he explored the area behind the temple and found a single tea shoot — a special wild cultivar.
He nurtured it, processed its leaves, and what emerged became known as Tie Guan Yin — a tea so fragrant and complex it was seen as a blessing from the Bodhisattva herself.
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Hopefully this helps everyone know a bit more about one of our favorite Oolong teas :)
