Compare two teas
Side by side across seven dimensions. There is no verdict and no winner — the purpose is to understand the difference, not to be told which to buy.
Why these two get confused
Two heavily charcoal-roasted rolled oolongs from Taiwan and Anxi. Both taste more of roast than of leaf and are frequently mistaken for each other.
Point by point
| Dimension | Tan Bei oolong | Nong Xiang Tie Guan Yin (roasted) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Oolong · partially oxidised | Oolong · partially oxidised |
| Production | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Oxidation → Kill-green (fixation) → Cloth-ball rolling → Drying → Charcoal roasting. heavy roast and winter harvest. | In order: Withering → Bruising (shaking) → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Roasting. heavy roast, bud and three plus and autumn harvest. |
| Origin | Taiwan — Nantou | China — Anxi |
| Flavour | roasted, sweet and nutty. full bodied, rich, smooth and complex in the mouth. Aroma: roasted chestnut, caramel, dried longan, warm wood. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. | roasted, nutty, sweet and woody. full bodied, rich and smooth in the mouth. Aroma: roasted nut, dark caramel, dried longan, charcoal. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. |
| Brewing | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 25s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 25s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 90–95 °C, first steep 180s of 2 authored. |
| Cultural context | Not recorded for this tea. | Roast levels vary widely, and older stock is sometimes re-roasted before sale. A tea labelled simply 'Tie Guan Yin' may be either style, and the two are not substitutable. |
| Who may prefer it | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and is willing to drink something several times before it makes sense. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and wants to enjoy it on the first cup. It tolerates an imprecise brew. |
Nothing above is a recommendation. The last row describes the drinker each tea suits, using each tea’s own authored fields and the same sentence structure for both, so neither can be framed as the safe choice.
Brew Tan Bei oolong · Brew Nong Xiang Tie Guan Yin (roasted)