Slope direction: climate and soil contents vary greatly for slopes facing different directions.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Slope direction can change the taste of your tea
Monday, July 13, 2009
Translate a tea book vs write a tea book
I just got off the phone with a friend who suggested me to write a book about Dan Cong. Because a business associate of hers decided to write a book about Dan Cong after spending 2 months in China learning this tea. He learned of the existence of Dan Cong through my friend a year ago whom also learned of the tea from me. So she felt I am more qualified to write a book about Dan Cong than he is. I feel a bit insulted to my teacher.
I suggested to her the book of Fenghuang Dancong Oolong Tea. I told her I am translating the book and I am not anywhere near qualified to write a book about Dan Cong myself. Even I learned every thing of my teacher's, still does not make me qualified to write a book myself.
Many tea books written outside of tea regions are mostly by passionate drinkers/sellers whom spent a quantity of time learning it without any growing or processing practice. Witnessing the process makes great entertainment material, in a book form it's also what it is.
For this reason, professionally I am not qualified to write a book about tea, any tea. My profession is to sell tea, not to grow and process tea. I chose to translate a tea book, because translation dose not include my own opinion, contents of the book are as they intended by the original author whom is well qualified with decades of experience in the field, also educated formally in the field (Master degree in tea cultivation, professors/researchers teaching the subject.). It's unfortunate that most of these books are not written in English. I feel these valuable information should be made available to the rest of the world without any personal interpretation. No misleading information, no guessing, no misinterpretation, no misrepresentation. Straight from the source written by those whom farm those lands, pluck those leaves with their own hands for many many years. That's what makes them qualified to write books of their beloved teas.
I suggested to her the book of Fenghuang Dancong Oolong Tea. I told her I am translating the book and I am not anywhere near qualified to write a book about Dan Cong myself. Even I learned every thing of my teacher's, still does not make me qualified to write a book myself.
Many tea books written outside of tea regions are mostly by passionate drinkers/sellers whom spent a quantity of time learning it without any growing or processing practice. Witnessing the process makes great entertainment material, in a book form it's also what it is.
For this reason, professionally I am not qualified to write a book about tea, any tea. My profession is to sell tea, not to grow and process tea. I chose to translate a tea book, because translation dose not include my own opinion, contents of the book are as they intended by the original author whom is well qualified with decades of experience in the field, also educated formally in the field (Master degree in tea cultivation, professors/researchers teaching the subject.). It's unfortunate that most of these books are not written in English. I feel these valuable information should be made available to the rest of the world without any personal interpretation. No misleading information, no guessing, no misinterpretation, no misrepresentation. Straight from the source written by those whom farm those lands, pluck those leaves with their own hands for many many years. That's what makes them qualified to write books of their beloved teas.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Fenghuang Dancong Oolong Tea
I have been reading this book for the last few days. It's exciting and overwhelming at the same time, due to the wealth of information in this book. It covers from the origin and initial development of Dan Cong; to current cultivation condition; history of ancient cultivation methods and current methods; quality identifying techniques; brewing method and Chao Zhou Kung Fu Tea; legend stories, poems, ancient records, traditions and customs related to Phoenix Dan Cong teas. A comprehensive look into this less known to outsider tea. The information in the book is more professionally written than most I have read. More technical than entertaining for sure. I wouldn't classify it a coffee table book.
My knowledge of Dan Cong tea is relative limited, not even 5% of what my teacher's. When he asked me to translate this book into English, I gladly accepted thinking I can translate word for word. Little did I know, it turns out to be a bigger task than I expected. What I have encountered with Dan Cong are mostly finished products, not anywhere near cultivation, not to mention the vast area of Phoenix mountain climate variations, soil condition and so on. It's a vast amount of information I can only imagine without participation. This is one of the reasons why I have been procrastinating. I need to learn much more in order to make sense in the English version. This book reaffirms my future plan of living in Chao Zhou for a good amount of time, to sip the teas, to learn the teas and sip some more teas.I did not plan on selling this book because it's in Chinese, however if you would like to own a copy of this book, I can arrange to have them send to LA. Please email me in the next 2 weeks so I can get a number count. $15 each, $4.95 shipping in US, $8 to Europe. free shipping with $100 purchase in US. For those who live in China, now you know what to get and where to get it.
Best tea?
A couple came in to my store and whipped out this tea bag (without a cover), and said to me this is the best tea in the world (he runs a tea business). It's the best because the company is owned by a Chinese, Lipton buys from them, McDonals also buy from them. He then asked me to make him a cup with boiling water, and asked for milk and sugar. I am shocked and speechless. So I asked to have one, not sure if I want to drink it, because it has no cover and he just whipped it out from his pant pocket. I am so darn curious to see what "best tea in the world" taste like. Curiosity usually kills them cats. I don't think I have many lifes left after being killed a few times. Any volunteers? ;P
Tragedy if best tea in the world comes in this form.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Letter from Jenny C, UCLA Tea Event
This morning, I receive this warm letter from Jenny, the organizer of NCAM student group at UCLA. I too had a wonderful time sharing what I know, at the same time stimulated by enthusiasm of this intelligent group. I look forward to be a regular participant of any tea related events at UCLA as my fondness grow more connected to UCLA students, scholars and the likes. I shall make it a better event the next time.
Jenny's words:
We had a bigger turnout than we expected with over 80 people attending! And everyone loved the presentation and the tea tasting.
Thank you so much for making this event possible by donating not only your teas, teaware, talent (the kung-fu tea demonstration was awesome and we got a lot of good feedback about it), and knowledge, but most importantly your time in coming out to our event, preparing the presentation and tea tasting, as well as keeping in regular correspondence with me.
We're hoping to make this an annual event for our club and with such a successful first event, we should be able to get a bigger budget to work with next time. We hope to continue working with you in the future.
Nutrition, Complementary and Alternative Medicine at UCLA
http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/ncam
Jenny's words:We had a bigger turnout than we expected with over 80 people attending! And everyone loved the presentation and the tea tasting.
Thank you so much for making this event possible by donating not only your teas, teaware, talent (the kung-fu tea demonstration was awesome and we got a lot of good feedback about it), and knowledge, but most importantly your time in coming out to our event, preparing the presentation and tea tasting, as well as keeping in regular correspondence with me.
We're hoping to make this an annual event for our club and with such a successful first event, we should be able to get a bigger budget to work with next time. We hope to continue working with you in the future.
Nutrition, Complementary and Alternative Medicine at UCLA
http://www.studentgroups.ucla.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
My new found tea spot
I am slowly discovering the beauty of Palos Verdes Peninsula. It's hidden and well preserved. Natural, yet among nature are modern convenience, modern architectures. After a few hiking trips along the cliffs, I favor this little spot. An afternoon of reading under this tree while sipping some Lao Cong Zhi Lan Xiang. If I had a tea boy or girl to serve me Kung Fu tea, that'd be lovely. :D
I should arrange a tea tasting and picnic here one day.
I should arrange a tea tasting and picnic here one day.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
New batch of Dan Cong Oolong teas
Tasting notes:
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #1 <-------Honey orchid mixed with You Hua Xiang (Pomelo flower), winter honey sweet with purple yam sweet after taste. At some point, there is raw almond flavor. Very complex and unpredictable. Like it alot.
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #2 <-------Tingling sparking effect, July 4th sensation on tongue, smooth and sweet like butter sauteed honey (IR's), spicy peppery like Szechwan pepper corn sensation from mid to front of tongue, yet very clean with sharp note. Like it alot.
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #3 <-------Begin with citrus flower aroma, a mix of Huang Zhi Xiang (orange flower) and Honey orchid. It has a masculine energy. A bit salty in after taste. (W & L: it's got a little of that you know what). Sorta like a prince in one of the Barbie movies (yeah, I have to watch a lot of them with my niece), pretty boy persona. like it alot, the tea, not the pretty boy. :P
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #4 <------ Naturally has rose fragrance and rose nectar flavor in a light and airy way, not the overwhelming heavy rose perfume in a department store. One of the new fragrance I never had before. A white leaf varietal that usually presents a honey like flavor, however this is much better. Feels as if you were eating a rose petal salad. Zhong Ping is a village on Wu Dong Mountain.
Zhong Ping Lao Cong Zhi Lan<----- Soft Zhi Lan (cattleya Orchid) fragrance, clean and pure, even the sweetness is very pure, long lasting too.
Zhong Ping Xiong Di Jai - Little Brothers <----- Complex, began with a masculine note, sugar cane sweetness, by 3rd infusion, it turned soft and mellow like a man 3 years into the relationship, well run, smooth, softer and sweeter.
Li Jai Ping Lao Cong <----- Sweet and nutty, honey roasted chestnut, thick texture leaving a film coating all over mouth, strong energy right in the center of the body, like it a lot.
An Jiao Lao Cong Zhi Lan <-----Very nice with strong aroma and very strong Hui Gan, slightly better than the Zhong Ping Zhi Lan.
Ni Wei Yi - Affectionate Tail Ant <---- Top 3 favorites out of everything I have The name is endearing not to mention intriguing. Ni has no direct translatable term in English actually. Picture a girl leaning against her lover quietly, none of the public affection gestures that we considered as affectionate in the western world. Simple as that, something pure and innocent about it. As the tea unfolded its personality, we were in awe where it was leading us toward. The aroma seemed so near yet away, a forest full of flowers opened up a corridor for Snow White, excitement, curiosity and a lost soul in this beautiful surrounding. That was the first infusion. By the second infusion, my mind had Snow White picking Spring flowers right after the very last snow fall. The freshness, the preciousness came with singing and bird chirping all in my cup. 3rd infusion described by IR as cracked chestnuts wrapped in spinach buried in a chicken under the ground, a flower grow from it, I added a colorful mushroom next to it.
Mo Li - Jasmine Fragrance
Wu Ye - Dark Leaf <------- Floral aroma reminds me of Azealia after Spring shower in the morning, like it alot
Da Wu Zi 04- Big Dark Purple <------- Top 3 favorites The tea has a powerful female presence, started with a softer image, Elizabeth Taylor at 30 in black and white (mine) on the beach in a bikini (IR's), next infusion is a CEO of a fortune 500 company (mine) in a dark chocolate bikini (IR's). The flower aroma is strangely beautiful yet powerful in a dark and a little kinky way. It consumed my upper respiratory system, flooded me with Qi. By 3rd infusion, it was Venus in a red devil outfit with flaming fire burning from my back. It was powerful. By the 4th infusion, cloud has lifted me up from the neck up. The texture of the tea was melted black pearl (IR's). If you get a chance to go to Japan, fish up a wild oyster with a giant black pearl, please lick it and tell me what it feels like. I imagine this tea feels like that. The amazing thing is the linkage of black pearl and Dark Purple in the name. After the black pearl imagination, I realized the name also is dark, while the black pearl has an array of pearl glow ends with dark purple.
Tian Yi Xiang - Heavenly Leisure Fragrance (sample) <------ Have not tried
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #1 <-------Honey orchid mixed with You Hua Xiang (Pomelo flower), winter honey sweet with purple yam sweet after taste. At some point, there is raw almond flavor. Very complex and unpredictable. Like it alot.
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #2 <-------Tingling sparking effect, July 4th sensation on tongue, smooth and sweet like butter sauteed honey (IR's), spicy peppery like Szechwan pepper corn sensation from mid to front of tongue, yet very clean with sharp note. Like it alot.
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #3 <-------Begin with citrus flower aroma, a mix of Huang Zhi Xiang (orange flower) and Honey orchid. It has a masculine energy. A bit salty in after taste. (W & L: it's got a little of that you know what). Sorta like a prince in one of the Barbie movies (yeah, I have to watch a lot of them with my niece), pretty boy persona. like it alot, the tea, not the pretty boy. :P
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #4 <------ Naturally has rose fragrance and rose nectar flavor in a light and airy way, not the overwhelming heavy rose perfume in a department store. One of the new fragrance I never had before. A white leaf varietal that usually presents a honey like flavor, however this is much better. Feels as if you were eating a rose petal salad. Zhong Ping is a village on Wu Dong Mountain.
Zhong Ping Lao Cong Zhi Lan<----- Soft Zhi Lan (cattleya Orchid) fragrance, clean and pure, even the sweetness is very pure, long lasting too.
Zhong Ping Xiong Di Jai - Little Brothers <----- Complex, began with a masculine note, sugar cane sweetness, by 3rd infusion, it turned soft and mellow like a man 3 years into the relationship, well run, smooth, softer and sweeter.
Li Jai Ping Lao Cong <----- Sweet and nutty, honey roasted chestnut, thick texture leaving a film coating all over mouth, strong energy right in the center of the body, like it a lot.
An Jiao Lao Cong Zhi Lan <-----Very nice with strong aroma and very strong Hui Gan, slightly better than the Zhong Ping Zhi Lan.
Ni Wei Yi - Affectionate Tail Ant <---- Top 3 favorites out of everything I have The name is endearing not to mention intriguing. Ni has no direct translatable term in English actually. Picture a girl leaning against her lover quietly, none of the public affection gestures that we considered as affectionate in the western world. Simple as that, something pure and innocent about it. As the tea unfolded its personality, we were in awe where it was leading us toward. The aroma seemed so near yet away, a forest full of flowers opened up a corridor for Snow White, excitement, curiosity and a lost soul in this beautiful surrounding. That was the first infusion. By the second infusion, my mind had Snow White picking Spring flowers right after the very last snow fall. The freshness, the preciousness came with singing and bird chirping all in my cup. 3rd infusion described by IR as cracked chestnuts wrapped in spinach buried in a chicken under the ground, a flower grow from it, I added a colorful mushroom next to it.
Mo Li - Jasmine Fragrance
Wu Ye - Dark Leaf <------- Floral aroma reminds me of Azealia after Spring shower in the morning, like it alot
Da Wu Zi 04- Big Dark Purple <------- Top 3 favorites The tea has a powerful female presence, started with a softer image, Elizabeth Taylor at 30 in black and white (mine) on the beach in a bikini (IR's), next infusion is a CEO of a fortune 500 company (mine) in a dark chocolate bikini (IR's). The flower aroma is strangely beautiful yet powerful in a dark and a little kinky way. It consumed my upper respiratory system, flooded me with Qi. By 3rd infusion, it was Venus in a red devil outfit with flaming fire burning from my back. It was powerful. By the 4th infusion, cloud has lifted me up from the neck up. The texture of the tea was melted black pearl (IR's). If you get a chance to go to Japan, fish up a wild oyster with a giant black pearl, please lick it and tell me what it feels like. I imagine this tea feels like that. The amazing thing is the linkage of black pearl and Dark Purple in the name. After the black pearl imagination, I realized the name also is dark, while the black pearl has an array of pearl glow ends with dark purple.
Tian Yi Xiang - Heavenly Leisure Fragrance (sample) <------ Have not tried
A day started low, then climaxed and still going
I came to the store in the morning only to find out there's no running water. The water company came out twice, the mall management people ran through the roof and couldn't find the issue. At about 11:25, the box of tea I had anxiously waited for arrived. But I was not in the right mindset to tasting any. At the end of the day, a friend of a friend came save the day. Apparently, a crew of workers worked in the store next to mine over night, I suspect they shut off my water unintentionally. I said "suspect" because they deny any responsibility although anyone knows it's too big of an incident right after they left I had no water. It kills my mood even thinking of it now. Nevertheless, I am just happy the water is back and I don't have to run to the next building to pee. For the most part of the agonizing day, I thought it'd end this way at a more intense level. But...
A couple of tea heads showed up unannounced, I thought what a perfect timing yet what a bad timing. Juggling between the water outage, running to strange restroom multiple times, and trying to make tea with limited water reserve, what a mess I told myself. This was when tea magically turned my day down side up.
Looking back at my tea journey, I recognize some more obvious periods, began as naive, subjective, then technical and more subjective. Then the next was trying to be "Zen" stage, yes, trying as in a artificially way to repress other aspects of life with tea, condensing all of that to emphasize on "peace" and "zen". While there is nothing wrong with peace in mind and zen to itself, I was not entirely "full" during that stage. I also hate it when Zen had to be staged intentionally, artificially. I notice the dullness in my writing, in my tea description to the point where I some what gave up. My mind was dull, clogged by techniques, methods and tea science.
We human live in herds, we feed off each other's intelligence with the right minded. Thanks to tea, it brought those sheep into my life. My dullness melted away, a surge of flood came rushing through my mind and emotions. As this new batch of teas are the high light of my tea career so far, my senses and being also reached a new realm today accompanied by these teas and a philosopher plus an artist. Ever since I began getting to know the Chinese Classic Zhou Yi (I-Ching), I see things a little differently than I used to. I am having difficulty pin pointing what it is, but it just is.
Here I'll show you a few tea descriptions and it shall give you an idea. We had total of 8 teas all new to me.
Ni Wei Yi, Affectionate Tail Ant. The name is endearing not to mention intriguing. Ni has no direct translatable term in English actually. Picture a girl leaning against her lover quietly, none of the public affection gestures that we considered as affectionate in the western world. Simple as that, something pure and innocent about it. As the tea unfolded its personality, we were in awe where it was leading us toward. The aroma seemed so near yet away, a forest full of flowers opened up a corridor for Snow White, excitement, curiosity and a lost soul in this beautiful surrounding. That was the first infusion. By the second infusion, my mind had Snow White picking Spring flowers right after the very last snow fall. The freshness, the preciousness came with singing and bird chirping all in my cup. 3rd infusion described by IR as cracked chestnuts wrapped in spinach buried in a chicken under the ground, then a flower grow on it, I added a colorful mushroom next to it. Some of you might think we were on mushrooms. :P
Da Wu Zi, Big Dark Purple, a special present to myself. The tea has a powerful female presence, started with a softer image, Elizabeth Taylor at 30 in black and white (mine) on the beach in a bikini (IR's), next infustion is a CEO of a fortune 500 company (mine) in a dark chocolate bikini (IR's). The flower aroma is strangely beautiful yet powerful in a dark and a little kinky way. It consumed my upper respiratory system, flooded me with Qi. By 3rd infusion, it was Venus in a red devil outfit with flaming fire burning from my back. It was powerful. By the 4th infusion, cloud has lifted me up from the neck up. The texture of the tea was melted black pearl (IR's). If you get a chance to go to Japan, fish up a wild oyster with a giant black pearl, please lick it and tell me what it feels like. I imagine this tea feels like that. The amazing thing is the linkage of black pearl and Dark Purple in the name. After the black pearl imagination, I realized the name also is dark, while the black pearl has an array of pearl glow ends with dark purple. These tea farmers are no dummies I said, they don't name something randomly, just like the other weird names.
I am laughing as I write this disclaimer: If you purchased these teas and did not have the same effect, there is no refund. :P
A couple of tea heads showed up unannounced, I thought what a perfect timing yet what a bad timing. Juggling between the water outage, running to strange restroom multiple times, and trying to make tea with limited water reserve, what a mess I told myself. This was when tea magically turned my day down side up.
Looking back at my tea journey, I recognize some more obvious periods, began as naive, subjective, then technical and more subjective. Then the next was trying to be "Zen" stage, yes, trying as in a artificially way to repress other aspects of life with tea, condensing all of that to emphasize on "peace" and "zen". While there is nothing wrong with peace in mind and zen to itself, I was not entirely "full" during that stage. I also hate it when Zen had to be staged intentionally, artificially. I notice the dullness in my writing, in my tea description to the point where I some what gave up. My mind was dull, clogged by techniques, methods and tea science.
We human live in herds, we feed off each other's intelligence with the right minded. Thanks to tea, it brought those sheep into my life. My dullness melted away, a surge of flood came rushing through my mind and emotions. As this new batch of teas are the high light of my tea career so far, my senses and being also reached a new realm today accompanied by these teas and a philosopher plus an artist. Ever since I began getting to know the Chinese Classic Zhou Yi (I-Ching), I see things a little differently than I used to. I am having difficulty pin pointing what it is, but it just is.
Here I'll show you a few tea descriptions and it shall give you an idea. We had total of 8 teas all new to me.
Ni Wei Yi, Affectionate Tail Ant. The name is endearing not to mention intriguing. Ni has no direct translatable term in English actually. Picture a girl leaning against her lover quietly, none of the public affection gestures that we considered as affectionate in the western world. Simple as that, something pure and innocent about it. As the tea unfolded its personality, we were in awe where it was leading us toward. The aroma seemed so near yet away, a forest full of flowers opened up a corridor for Snow White, excitement, curiosity and a lost soul in this beautiful surrounding. That was the first infusion. By the second infusion, my mind had Snow White picking Spring flowers right after the very last snow fall. The freshness, the preciousness came with singing and bird chirping all in my cup. 3rd infusion described by IR as cracked chestnuts wrapped in spinach buried in a chicken under the ground, then a flower grow on it, I added a colorful mushroom next to it. Some of you might think we were on mushrooms. :P
Da Wu Zi, Big Dark Purple, a special present to myself. The tea has a powerful female presence, started with a softer image, Elizabeth Taylor at 30 in black and white (mine) on the beach in a bikini (IR's), next infustion is a CEO of a fortune 500 company (mine) in a dark chocolate bikini (IR's). The flower aroma is strangely beautiful yet powerful in a dark and a little kinky way. It consumed my upper respiratory system, flooded me with Qi. By 3rd infusion, it was Venus in a red devil outfit with flaming fire burning from my back. It was powerful. By the 4th infusion, cloud has lifted me up from the neck up. The texture of the tea was melted black pearl (IR's). If you get a chance to go to Japan, fish up a wild oyster with a giant black pearl, please lick it and tell me what it feels like. I imagine this tea feels like that. The amazing thing is the linkage of black pearl and Dark Purple in the name. After the black pearl imagination, I realized the name also is dark, while the black pearl has an array of pearl glow ends with dark purple. These tea farmers are no dummies I said, they don't name something randomly, just like the other weird names.
I am laughing as I write this disclaimer: If you purchased these teas and did not have the same effect, there is no refund. :P
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Dan Cong, more Dan Cong and a Dan Cong Book
New Single Bush Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong teas are coming. I suspect it's already in LA at some USPS location near by. However due to the holiday, no mail today! I have to wait till Tuesday to try them. I lost sleep over this batch of tea 2 nights in a roll. I am sure there will be more till Tuesday. Then I'll lose sleep again because the non stop drinking will keep me up again. :P
This batch is very special, I don't mean the other batches are not. But this batch contains 1/2 a pound of Da Wu Zi - Big Dark Purple 2004, a reward for myself after 3 years of hard work. This tea should be better than Chuan Du Lao Ming Cong (top 10 famous tree out of over 7000 on the hill), that's something to look forward to! Came with a surprise is a small sample of Tian Yi Xiang - Heavenly Leisurely Fragrance, the other name for it is Hai Di Lao Zhen-Hunting for a needle under the sea. Just the name itself insinuates its rarity. The price is 2 times of Chuan Du Lao Ming Cong and more than Da Wu Zi. :I I think I'll be satisfied to have just a sample. I call these samples the teas-me (tease me) teas. A carrot dangling in front of a rabbit, taking you to higher, and even higher grounds every time. Neither of these 2 teas will be for sale, the prices are too intimidating. If you can come visit the store, I'll be glad to share some with you. :)
Included in this batch of teas are 7 whole trees of 2009 production, 3 of them are barely a pound each, 4 of them are 2 lbs and less. If anyone interested in acquiring the entire tree production, please email me for details. tea at teahabitat dot com
Ni Wei Yi - Affectionate Tail Ant, 2 lbs (Don't ask me where the name comes from. :P)
Li Jai Ping Lao Cong, 2 lbs
Zhong Ping Lao Cong Zhi Lan #4, 1.2 lb
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #1, 1.5 lb
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #2, 0.8 lb
Zhong Ping Xiong Di Jai - Little Brothers from Zhong Ping Village, 1.9 lb
An Jiao Lao Cong Zhi Lan - Temple(Convent) Corner Old Bush Cattleya Orchid, 1 lb
Da Wu Ye is back, also raided more Mo Li - Jasmine Dan Congs. I love my teacher! My all time favorite is Zhi Lan Xiang, so I got a couple more Zhi Lan Xiangs from different villages.
The book of "Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong" will arrive with the teas as well. It's published by Shang Hai Publishing Company in June, months after the original schedule. It's a semi-professional book with lots technical information relating to cultivation, processing, selection, tasting technique and more in depth information with 200 pages of photos. Shamefully, I am only at chapter 2 of translation. :P
All of these made this batch an exciting one to long for. Worthy of 2 or more nights of sleep? :\
This batch is very special, I don't mean the other batches are not. But this batch contains 1/2 a pound of Da Wu Zi - Big Dark Purple 2004, a reward for myself after 3 years of hard work. This tea should be better than Chuan Du Lao Ming Cong (top 10 famous tree out of over 7000 on the hill), that's something to look forward to! Came with a surprise is a small sample of Tian Yi Xiang - Heavenly Leisurely Fragrance, the other name for it is Hai Di Lao Zhen-Hunting for a needle under the sea. Just the name itself insinuates its rarity. The price is 2 times of Chuan Du Lao Ming Cong and more than Da Wu Zi. :I I think I'll be satisfied to have just a sample. I call these samples the teas-me (tease me) teas. A carrot dangling in front of a rabbit, taking you to higher, and even higher grounds every time. Neither of these 2 teas will be for sale, the prices are too intimidating. If you can come visit the store, I'll be glad to share some with you. :)
Included in this batch of teas are 7 whole trees of 2009 production, 3 of them are barely a pound each, 4 of them are 2 lbs and less. If anyone interested in acquiring the entire tree production, please email me for details. tea at teahabitat dot com
Ni Wei Yi - Affectionate Tail Ant, 2 lbs (Don't ask me where the name comes from. :P)
Li Jai Ping Lao Cong, 2 lbs
Zhong Ping Lao Cong Zhi Lan #4, 1.2 lb
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #1, 1.5 lb
Zhong Ping Lao Cong #2, 0.8 lb
Zhong Ping Xiong Di Jai - Little Brothers from Zhong Ping Village, 1.9 lb
An Jiao Lao Cong Zhi Lan - Temple(Convent) Corner Old Bush Cattleya Orchid, 1 lb
Da Wu Ye is back, also raided more Mo Li - Jasmine Dan Congs. I love my teacher! My all time favorite is Zhi Lan Xiang, so I got a couple more Zhi Lan Xiangs from different villages.
The book of "Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong" will arrive with the teas as well. It's published by Shang Hai Publishing Company in June, months after the original schedule. It's a semi-professional book with lots technical information relating to cultivation, processing, selection, tasting technique and more in depth information with 200 pages of photos. Shamefully, I am only at chapter 2 of translation. :P
All of these made this batch an exciting one to long for. Worthy of 2 or more nights of sleep? :\
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
