The Tieguanyin tea from Anxi is renowned at home and abroad for its high fragrance, long-lasting aroma, and mellow, sweet, and fresh taste. Anxi Tieguanyin has a delicate nature, poor resistance to adversity, and low yield. The lightly fragrant type of Tieguanyin is the most popular in China, with tea leaves that are curled, plump, and round, with a heavy and even appearance, a sandy green color, and a golden-yellow and rich amber color after brewing. It has a natural and rich orchid fragrance, a mellow, sweet, fresh taste, and a long-lasting aftertaste, making it the best quality.

According to the quality of the tea leaves, Tieguanyin is divided into three grades: first, second, and third. The following aspects mainly determine the level of Tieguanyin: the characteristics of the appearance, color, integrity, uniformity, and aroma of the dry tea leaves. Tea leaves that are tightly curled, compact, heavy, even, sandy green in color, oily, fresh, with distinct variety characteristics, and a pure aroma of the dry tea leaves are all considered top-grade; otherwise, they are considered lower quality. The first grade is the highest level.

Tie Guan Yin tea has two aroma profiles: light fragrance and intense fragrance. In terms of production, the light fragrance type undergoes slightly lower fermentation and is roasted at a lower temperature with more rolling, while the intense fragrance type is the opposite.The light fragrance type offers a high and enduring aroma, with a fresh, crisp taste and a golden-green soup color, reminiscent of fresh spring forest leaves. On the other hand, the intense fragrance type features a darker leaf color, a richer aroma, a mellow, lasting sweetness, a golden-yellow soup color, and a more robust taste.