Archive for September, 2007

2008 Yunnan Trip, Would You Come with Us?

By Guang, 12 September, 2007, 14 Comments

Yunnan Yunnan!

One most exciting news in No.3 The Art of Tea is the announcement of 2008 Spring Trip to Yunnan. Mr. Liang, the chief editor, exchanged this idea with me when we met in US for the Pu-erh tasting party this June. We both agreed it is a fantastic idea, but to organize such kind of trip will surely be a daunting task.

But just as daunting as The Art of Tea, if we have the will and we can do it :)

I already have plans to go back visiting Taiwan(oolong) and Fujian(yen cha) next Spring, so adding a Pu-erh trip seems completing the game!

Goal? I thik the main goal is definitely to learn and to see our beloved Pu-erhs. But I have no objection to have fun there, too! WuShing has good connections with local government and factories so that will provide us with invaluable access/convenience/safety.

When? Liang’s suggestion is either March or May. April is a busy tourist month because of Dai’s Water Splashing Festival. Hotel/trnasportation will be expensive. So if our main goal is “tea”, March or early May both sound good.

What to see/to do?

  1. Factory visit: MengHai, Chang Tai or Xia Guan
  2. Remote are visit: Take us to some off-the-map (a.k.a. “Wild”) area to see old tea trees/plantations.
  3. Tasting/Blending learning: Most likely in Chang Tai. Taste single-region mao cha and how to smartly blend them guided by their master blender. If quantity allow, we may be able to press our own Trip Memorial Cake!
  4. Tea markets visit.

How many days? I guess about 4~5 days is good.

How many people? This is tricky. Liang said because of the rugged mountain road condition, larger vehicle is not possible. And to provide best care for eveybody, we possibly will limit to 15 people max.

Cost? You are responsible for your own flight ticket/passport/visa etc to get you to and back from Yunnan. Once there, the hotel/food/transportation are not expensive. I haven’t had a more detailed budget for the trip. Once I have more info, I will provide.

As you can see, the trip is still in the very early planning stage. Your thoughtful or thoughtless idea and comment are all very welcome! If you have a strong desire to go together, please let me know asap so I can keep track of how many people may want to join.

Guang

No. 3 The Art of Tea Arrived!

By Guang, 7 September, 2007, 10 Comments

The #3 issue of The Art of Tea just arrived! I attach some pages below for you. The topic of this issue of the History of Pu-erh. The three most important factories, Kumming, MengHai and Xia Guan, are covered in great details in three articles individually. I am sure these are invaluable information for most of us!

In Yixing section, this issue features National Master Mr. Ke Tao Chung. Excellent introduction to his works and art philosophy.

Q&A section they interviewed Mr. Huang Chuan-Fang.

Once we finish sending out all subscriptions, we will start offering it on Hou De. Also, you will find two articles of mine, one talks about the diversity oolong and especially aged oolong, and the other a brief discussion of the importance of Yixing in the art of Chinese teas.

Guang :)


No. 3 Art of Tea


No. 3 Art of Tea


No. 3 Art of Tea


No. 3 Art of Tea


No. 3 Art of Tea


No. 3 Art of Tea

Tai-Tung County’s Si Cha and Fo Shou Oolongs

By Guang, 1 September, 2007, 1 Comment

August was a crazy month for pu-erhs! Now that the 98 Meng Hai cakes were all gone, it’s time that we calm down and look at some premium Oolongs Hou De can offer :)


07 Tai-Tung Fo Shou

In Spetember, we introduce two totally unique oolongs from Taiwan’s eastern Tai-Tung counry: one is the “Si Cha” oolong, and the other is the Fo Shou. You can go to Si Cha oolong’s link to look at more info about this tea. As for Fo Shou, sorry I drank too much that I have only 200g left. Irene was complaining, Are you going to offer this tea or not? :evil:

This Fo Shou, from above 1500m high-mountain Costal Mountain range of Tai-Tung, is quite different from the Fo Shou I had before. Not only the leaves are HUGE like pu-erhs, but the taste has an interestingly complex mineral components in it. I really like the “heaviness” in both of them, such inviting and quenching!

In this month, for every order of the 1oz Si Cha oolong we will include a small 10g sample of Tai-Tung Fo Shou (until supply last!).

Guang

Tai-Tung County’s Si Cha and Fo Shou Oolongs

By Guang, 1 September, 2007, 7 Comments

August was a crazy month for pu-erhs! Now that the 98 Meng Hai cakes were all gone, it’s time that we calm down and look at some premium Oolongs Hou De can offer :)


07 Tai-Tung Fo Shou

In Spetember, we introduce two totally unique oolongs from Taiwan’s eastern Tai-Tung counry: one is the “Si Cha” oolong, and the other is the Fo Shou. You can go to Si Cha oolong’s link to look at more info about this tea. As for Fo Shou, sorry I drank too much that I have only 200g left. Irene was complaining, Are you going to offer this tea or not? :evil:

This Fo Shou, from above 1500m high-mountain Costal Mountain range of Tai-Tung, is quite different from the Fo Shou I had before. Not only the leaves are HUGE like pu-erhs, but the taste has an interestingly complex mineral components in it. I really like the “heaviness” in both of them, such inviting and quenching!

In this month, for every order of the 1oz Si Cha oolong we will include a small 10g sample of Tai-Tung Fo Shou (until supply last!).

Guang