When buying tea

When just thought I probably have tasted a lot of tea in my life, then I was surprised by a tasteless tea (from tea bag with nice name and beautiful paper box packaging) .

Good or bad quality tea (even for CTC or tea dust packed in tea bag) has some kind of aroma and taste. But that tea that I dronk in a prestiege restaurant in Brussels last Friday was absolutely NONE. There was no any sense of natural or aromatic aroma with the dried tea bag and tea; there is no taste, just a cup of warm water with tea color. The tea was labelled as pure tea, but I wonder where, what and how it was made of.

What you are looking for when buying tea?

• Brand that sounds nice or famous?
• Tea name? How much you know about tea? Are you aware there are many different quality classifications for same type of tea name? Certainly green tea or black tea (red tea in Chinese) is tea category but not tea name.
• Price factor? It is subject to what kind of quality of tea you like to drink.

  Taiwan Hongshui Oolong that has unique characters from both Taiwan Oolong and Red Tea

• Individual preference? Some people prefer pure and fine quality tea, some people prefer aromatic flavored tea. There is no right or wrong choice, but a plain simple individual choice.

Are you looking for pure and fine quality teathat can match with your restaurant and/or hotel's image? Please contact us. We provide:
1) Pure and fine quality tea from Taiwan, China and Darjeeling
2) Consultancy and training

Belgium Chinese Tea Arts Centre

Mei Lan Hsiao

Email: info@chinese-tea-arts.com

GSM: +32-494-506899

龍井茶

昨日一位湘西的朋友問龍井茶的名稱的來由. 霎時我一下子沒想起來, 只想到杭洲的虎泡泉.  第一時間想到的是泉水或是地名. 但是在那一刻中卻也沒想到到底是哪裡.  湘友說是歷代皇帝取的名字. 聽起來好像很有可能, 我就問他, "是哪位皇帝?". 他說不知道. 回到家後一夜都在想這件事. 今早起來第一件事就是重新溫習龍井茶的歷史.

沒錯, 在諸多野史傳說中, 龍井茶確實是有跟清朝乾隆皇帝有一段故事, 但是龍井茶已有1200多年的歷史, 最早是在元代四大名家之一虞集 (1272-1348) 在他詩中提到龍井茶.

<遊龍井>

仗藜入南山, 卻立賞奇秀,

所懷玉局翁, 來往絇履舊

空餘松在洞, 仍作琴筑奏

徘徊龍井上, 雲氣起晴晝

入門避沾灑, 脫屐亂苔甃

陽崗扣雲石, 陰房絕遺构

澄公愛客至, 取水挹幽竇

坐我薝蔔中, 餘香不聞嗅

但見瓢中清, 翠影落群岫

烹煎黃金芽, 不取谷雨后

同來二三子, 三咽不忍嗽

講堂集群彥, 千蹬坐吟究

浪浪雜飛雨, 沉沉渡清漏

令我懷幼學, 胡為裏章綬

由此詩中我們可知, 龍井茶的茶名不可能是清朝乾隆皇帝所賜的. 在杭州確實是有一龍井村. 我幾次去杭州, 在往獅子峰拜訪西湖龍井茶園與採買茶的路上有經過該"龍井村". 該村可以說是今天去杭州西湖一遊的人都會去的觀光景點. 據資料, 在龍井村有龍井古泉流于其間. 所以 龍井茶是因龍井村而知名還是因茶而村改名, 這雞與雞蛋的互連關係, 誰前誰後說實在是有說不清理還亂呢. 
 
當然西湖龍井是在龍井茶中由於杭州自古的美譽最被人知. 龍井茶的產地除了杭州西湖以外還有錢塘龍井與越州龍井. 在杭州西湖產區產的龍井叫做西湖龍井, 這些年西湖龍井的價格被炒作的太過火. 價格令人咋舌. 其它兩地(錢塘與越州) 產的龍井俗稱為浙江龍井. 而它們的芽葉, 香氣與口感說實在也真的不比西湖龍井遜很多. 而價格也實在些.

中國茶名的取名經常是依地方名字而取,有的是在地名後面再加上芽葉的特色. 有的當然是以葉片特色取名. 但是用心的人就會留意那茶名前的產地名稱. 比如說龍井茶, 武夷大紅袍, 君山銀針, 洞庭湖碧羅春, 黃山毛峰, 廬山雲霧...等等.

蕭美蘭

比利時中華茶藝中心

8/12/2012 安特衛普, 比利時

www.chinese-tea-arts.com

Friendships as water

An old Chinese idiom:

Friendship between gentlemen is as light as water

 

 When observing the change in garden starting from spring till today, flowers that have very strong sweetness aroma normally didn't last long. Year in and year out, the nature rhythm remains unchanged in such straight forwards and simple manner. What will happen in the garden next year, again it is something that can not be predicted now.  So what is the difference in the relationships or friendships between people?

 

The sooner we  can see through this nature rhythm of change, the sooner we can relief burden from our shoulders.

 

If we can maintain positive thinking and energy, then whether the day is a good day or bad day won't make too much different, isn't it?  Everything rest when the sun is sat and tomorrow is another day.

 

Mei Lan Hsiao

© Belgium Chinese Tea Arts Centre, 2012

 

古人訓: 君子之交淡如水.

看看園中花草自春到今, 只見濃香撲鼻招蝶的花都只能短暫而不能持續.

大自然的韻律如此, 人際之間的變化又有何不同?

是短暫是長久何苦活在恐懼與惶恐中. 看開了負擔都可相對的減少. 

日日開心那麼該日是好日是壞日不也就是短暫的嗎? 

 

春風拂面不停留, 水面漣漪不留痕

友誼何須重香豔, 點滴在心永長留

蕭美蘭



 

Questions about the overnight tea

Q: How can I push the flavor out of Puerh tea further after many infusions?

Yes, you can with Puerh tea.  At the end of brewing, you can try to use the 'cooking' method.  You can use a bigger size of clay teapot in case that is the size can fit to the burner.  You can push the brewing for at least 2-3 rounds or more, it subjects to the quality of tea leaves and your taste preference. 

Q: Can I keep the leaves in the pot for 2-3 days?

First of all, I think it is important to distinguish the difference between brewing tea over night in the pot from drinking tea that has been brewed and filtered but store in a seperate drinking container.

The one people brew tea in the pot and let the infusion continue or re-use the leaves that they brewed tea the day before, this is the overnight tea.  Even if you filter the water out, there is still some water left in the pot.

Lu Yu and many Chinese traditional medicine gurus all suggested not drinking the overnight tea because it is not good for the health.  There are certain things to consider if you choose to leave the leaves in pot over night and hope you can continuously to enjoy it next day:

1. The change of water quality in the tea pot
2. The continuing oxidation will weaken the Vitamin C and other minerals in tea with longer infusion time, so what can you benefit or hinder by the overnight tea? That is a question.
3. Tea is base drink, the overnight infusion might release too much iron in the water
4. Also the overnight infused tea would release more Tannin that might be too aggressive to stomach as well

Furthermore, there are worries for transforming the protein and saccharide to bacteria, therefore, it is suggested not to drink the overnight tea.

Of course it is pitty to throw such tea away.  There are different creatives way to use the overnight tea. For example -

• Use it to brush teeth or to clearn moutn since the overnight tea contain rich acid and Fluorine
• Tea has calming and cleasing effects, so probably try to use it as toner after you wash your face, especially for young people who have problem with acne
• Tea contains rich iron, so can use it to water the evergreen plants which need a lot of iron
• Tea removes fat and bad odor, it's an ideal nature detergent for refrigerator or to clean the kitchen top
• When feeling very tire with your eyes, can dip a cotton pad in tea, then put the web tea cotton pad on eyes.
• .....etc.

The sky for reusing the left over tea leaves has no limit for a creative mind.

In case you really like the quality and taste of the tea that you drink today and would like to enjoy it further next day; you can infuse the tea and filter it out today, then keep in a non-toxie bottle.  Keep the bottle in dark and cool place or refrigerator, then you can still enjoy it next day.

Mei Lan Hsiao

© Belgium Chinese Tea Arts Centre

info@chinese-tea-arts.com  



Basic & utmost rule in Chinese tea ceremony

In a Chinese tea ceremony people could have chance to taste different kind of teas.  But, it is inappropriate to behave casually in a tea ceremony as if attending a normal tea tasting event. 

Indeed Chinese tea ceremony is more social oriented than Japanese or Korean tea ceremony.  And showing respect is a must.

In Chinese tea ceremony you have a chance not just to appreciate tea and to enjoy a peaceful moment but also to practice good and respectful manners.

Showing respect

• Sit in calm and ease.  

There is no strict rules about how you should sit.  Just relax and enjoy tea in ease.  

However remaining calm and still are important.  Remaining calm and still is not just showing respect to the person who is preparing tea for you, it helps others to know how you would like to be respected too.

• You do can talk and ask questions before sitting down, but should remain still when the tea ceremony begins.
• When sitting around a table, the tea master will pass the tea cup to her/his left hand side in both hands; the left hand side guest should also receive the cup with both hands.  Then that person should serve the cup to her/his left hand side as well and so on.
• Both tea master and guests should remain calm and still during the first three rounds of tea serving.  The box of dialogue is opened after the 3rd round.  

As we all know that meditation is very helpful exercise to relax our body and mind and helps us to reach the inner peace.  Meditation can be sitting still or moving forms.  Chinese tea ceremony is a moving meditation because it  eases your body and mind when anticipating and appreciating a cup of tea.

Organic GABA Oolong Tea

GABA is an abbreviation of gamma-Aminobutyric acid (γ-Aminobutyric acid); according to Wikipedia it is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system.  It plays a role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. In humans, GABA is also directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone.  Also there is evidence stating that the calming effects of GABA. 

 

GABA Tea was discovered by Japanese researchers in 1987 when they were trying to find a natural method to preserve food.  Accidently they discovered with the fermentation in a nitrogen rich atmosphere GABA increased in 5 to 10 times.

GABA Oolong is using the organic Taiwan Jing Xuen tea leaves and processing the fermentation in an anaerobic environment

·         It’s being tightly curly in ball shape, the dried leaves are in dark gray mixes with brown color
·         The dried leaves give rich but smooth flavor that normally are found in oolong that have been processed under heavy fermentation and roasting. The creamy flavor from Jing Xuen remains in the deeper layer. 
·         Can sense very clear Peach (it particularly reminds me of fresh juicy 21^st century peach that I love from Lishan in Taiwan, Mmmm yami) that blended with rich flora and fruity flavor.

·        When it could loosen up in the pot, the dark grayish leaves became amber-brown color.
·         As you could see the beautiful rich amber color from the cup. Really love its pure and tranquil and mirror effects.
·        On top of the surface as you can see the gelatin-like tea energy bubbles.  Indeed if you pouring the water too fast to the pot or cup, it would generate bubbles, but that kind of bubbles would disappear quickly.
·       The gelatin-like tea energy bubbles that normally can only be found with teas that are pure and non-toxie, i.e. tea made from organic tea or wild tea.  Those tea energy bubbles are like glue floating on top of tea surface that did not move or disappear even I rolled the cup several times on my hand.

 ·         The taste definitely is what you smell what you get, except much richer and finer dried sweetness that mix with peach, flora and fruit.

·         Does not develop bitter taste even with longer infusion.  Has smooth mint after taste in mouth.

Brewing

Quantity vs water

-  1:50 of 1:75 if you like to brew your tea in Kungfu tea ceremony style. 

- 1:100 if you prefer mild and smooth tasting

Tea ware selection

- Glass, porcelain or Yixing tea ware

Water temperature : 90 – 95 Celsius

Infusion time

- Short infusion time for Kungful tea ceremony, it is matter of few seconds, definitely less than a minute

- For normal infusion,

The 1^st infusion: 1 minute

The 2^nd/3^rd infusion: 30-45 seconds

4^th and onwards: 1 minute

Multiple infusion : 6-8 times 

Please contact us for more information, Email: info@chinese-tea-arts.com 

Life is like a cup of tea

Energy bubbles of tea

On top of the suface, the organic tea that I've brewed gave a kind of gelatine-like bubbles. The color of tea appeared in a very beautiful mirror and tranquility effects.

Of course if you pouring the water into pot or cup fast, there will generate some bubbles; but that bubbles will quicky disappear and is not same as the gelatine-like bubbles that can be found with organic tea. In Chinese such gelatine-like bubbles has another name - 茶氣 (Cha Qi) meaning energy from tea.

However, not all kind of teas could have this gelatine-like tea energy bubbles. According to my experience it can only be found organic teas which I believe it has something to do whether the quality is pure and non-toxie or not. In other word, the small gelatine-like tea energy bubbles give us signals for pure quality, and pure quality tea not only allow you to enjoy a genunine flavor and uncompromised taste.

Life is like a cup of tea

So if only pure quality tea could generate such beautiful energy bubbles, then what is the difference in our life based on the basic philosophy of being pure and tranquil?

Mei Lan Hsiao

Belgium Chinese Tea Arts Centre

茶氣

有機茶的茶湯面上會偶些許凝膠狀的氣泡久久不散開. 茶湯清澈純靜, 亮麗精華中又有神.

但是不是每種茶都有茶氣, 這根茶是否純淨無毒有關. 通常在有機茶湯面上會看的到這種令人開心的氣泡.

當然如果你快速注水, 那在壺中或是杯裡會產生一些氣泡, 但是那些氣泡會很快消失, 完全跟那種凝聚狀氣泡是不一樣的.  專家稱這種凝聚狀的氣泡為 "茶氣".

這種茶氣只有在料很純淨的有機或是生態茶中才會看到. 這跟茶的純淨與無毒是有關連的. 這就是為什麼有機或是生態茶對人的身體健康有好處.

人生如茶

試想, 只有純與淨能產生凝聚型的茶氣.  純淨的茶不但是對身體健康好, 同時更讓你能享受那天然的持續清香與甘順.  那茶與人生在世做人處事講求純敬雅儒原則又有何不同呢?

蕭美蘭

比利時中華茶藝中心