Which oolong tea is named after the Chinese goddess of mercy?

Which oolong tea is named after the Chinese goddess of mercy? Tieguanyin is the oolong tea named after Guanyin, the Chinese goddess of mercy.

Tieguanyin literally means “Iron Guanyin” or “Iron Goddess of Mercy.” Guanyin is the Chinese form of Avalokiteśvara, a bodhisattva associated with compassion and mercy. The tea originated in Anxi County, Fujian Province, and is generally dated to the 19th century, although popular origin stories place its discovery in the Qing dynasty.

One famous legend says that a tea farmer named Wei Yin, devoted to Guanyin, dreamed of a tea plant growing near a temple or rocky cave. He cultivated the plant and shared its cuttings. This story explains the tea’s religious name, but it is folklore rather than independently verified history. Scholars generally agree on Anxi as its historical home.

Tieguanyin is an oolong, so it is partially oxidized—between green and black tea in broad processing terms. Modern Anxi versions may be lightly oxidized, floral, and green-leaning, while traditional roasted styles can be darker and nuttier. “Iron” refers to the name, not to an iron ingredient or a metallic flavor.