The Father Day’s gift I received is a quiet Sunday afternoon, all to myself, with just a string attached – “you gotta update something new for Hou De Blog!”. Hmmm.., why I cannot fully comprehend it as a gift? 
Anyway, happy Father’s Day! Keep working hard and stay healthy, just don’t expect too much on the gift … you know, it’s more a Mother’s Day thing.
Ok, back to tea. Last week we gladly received Tai-Tung green tea and black tea from the same producer we sourced last year. The green and black teas from him were really popular, and received many positive feedbacks.
Last month when we were on the phone chatting, he said something about the quality of green tea and black tea that is really fresh to me. He said, a really good green tea, except the usual quality criteria for green tea, should have the feeling of a premium black tea – the richness, the silkiness, the complexity in fragrance. On the other hand, a really good black tea should also have the feeling of a premium green tea – the coolness, the refreshing sensation.
I was not completely after what he said. But the more I thought about it later, the more I felt, hmmm, it does make sense.
So today I have the chance to try the two teas from him together to see if his offerings practice what he preached!
The Hao Xian Bi Lu (Green) tea packs so much fragrance that the instance the hot water touched the dry leaves, I could smell the heavenly floral+honey+nutty scent. On the third cup I especially noticed a touch of fruity fragrance – like citrus. The taste is undoubtedly silky and smooth, and slight thicker feeling than other green teas.
The Hao Xian Black tea packs even more juice and fragrance! Every leaf is like a little powerhouse of scent. Richly fruity and honey. And there was a slight airy coolness – like a fresh mint. Strongly recommend enjoying it without sugar or milk, as it is smooth and rich enough to do without “make-up”.
Try them yourself to see if you find the same, that there is richness and silkness in the Bi Lu Green, and coolness in the Hao Xian Black!
Guang 
Hi Guang!
First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on the blog—it’s proved not only to be an interesting and engaging read for tea aficionados and food enthusiasts alike, but a reliable source of information as well. It’s always exciting to come upon people so passionate about something that they can’t help but share it to the world.
And seeing as how one of your passions is tea, I just wanted to make sure you knew about our upcoming tea exhibition here at UCLA’s Fowler Museum, aptly named Steeped In History: The Art of Tea. The exhibition will be on display from August 6 to November 29, 2009 and will feature everything related to tea—oil paintings, prints, photographs, ceramics, as well as other tea-serving paraphernalia, all gathered from around the world. And the best part aside from everything I’ve mentioned? Tea will be served! I’ve attached the official press release for the event and I’m hoping you’ll be able attend the exhibit and see everything for yourself.
We at the Fowler would also be more than grateful if you can forward this information to family and friends that might be interested in viewing the exhibition, or perhaps discuss this upcoming event in your blog/site for all of your tea-loving readers to see. I’m sure they’ll be very interested and thankful for the information you’d be able to provide regarding this.
Best of luck in your site, and may everything go tea-rrificly!
Sincerely,
Beatrice Eyales
UCLA Fowler Museum, Marketing and Communications Dept.
E-mail: beatrice.eyales@berkeley.edu
For pictures and other information, e-mail Stacey Abarbanel at staceyra@arts.ucla.edu
Hmm. That’s interesting. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say before that Green Tea and Black should be compared with the finer teas. But about the complexity, fruitiness, sweetness, and such I can see where the comparisons are in order. I’d like to know how Oolong fits into the equation.