Iron Goddess of Mercy (Tieguanyin) tea is one of the 10 classic teas of China. This tea originates in Anxi County in Fujian Province in China and is named after the goddess attributed to giving it to humans centuries ago.  
 
According to legend, a poor farmer discovered a neglected temple to the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) with an iron statue inside. The farmer cleaned and tended to the temple, and as a reward, the Goddess appeared to him in a dream, revealing a treasure hidden behind the temple. The treasure turned out to be a tea plant, from which the Tieguanyin tea is produced.
 
Oolong teas are in the middle of the oxidation spectrum with green & white teas having little oxidation and black teas having full oxidation. Within Oolong teas, there is a wide variety of flavor & aroma (mild & floral to strong & toasty) and appearance (light green to dark). This tea is a lightly oxidized cultivar Oolong (15% oxidized).