Old Friend .. recent find

Rummaging through kitchen cabinets in search of the tea travel buddy I brought home over a year ago …. for Robbie to take on the dive boats.

From the back corner this cup emerged.  A gift from a colleague at Printronix. In 1986, I had just returned from Singapore (the first of a 5 year assignment) .. Long story short, I was talking about my trip with one of our software engineers, next day she brought in this cup-with built in strainer. It has remained unused all this time. So Xmas day will be its debut, thinking of friends around this small world of ours.

喝茶 hē chá Drink Tea

 

Days gone by, The British Raj

From the mid 1850’s to 1947 …  The time of the British Raj in India.  A great many words and expressions have found their way from Indian culture into the every day lexicon of modern Britain.  

What brought this about is one of the cups I have in my office:  Good old Camp Coffee,  A Truly unique product of Scotland.  

I’ve had this small mug for almost 40 yrs. How time fly's when your having fun,  the sole survivor of a set of four.

Ho Ho Ho

Thx to Manjit for the e-card.

New Record

A bike built for Nine .. Note: this is a Bike TAXIEvery day its not unusual to see Scooters and Motor Bikes put to Herculean tasks.  Nine is a first for me, not the strangest but a definite eye popper.

A bicycle loaded with more than its share:… Dongguan City– Da Lang town

Early present

Andrew came over Saturday afternoon bearing gifts.  He and his girlfriend had a new spaniel puppy .. (sound asleep)I got an enlightening gift :   Yixing teapot, A hand-carved tree with four depictions of the Buddha.  One hopes  this will promote meditation and enlightenment.

Just Tea .. more tea

More presents for Robbie.  A banner year for Robbie in terms of: Diving, Computing Horsepower and Tea.

I’m guessing this batch of goodies from Da Xia will round out this year (in tea terms)  Kevin, my US-China mule, returned with multiple pounds of Jasmine (Robbie’s favorite) And this note from; Da Xia, thanking Robin and I for sending her a gift.

Tea and Sympathy

Xie Xie Ni Jeff returning from Taiwan .. with a gift of:  Ali Shan High Mountain Oolong Tea.   Saturday we had a party with; Sean's fiancée, her family and long time time friends; Linda, Kerry and Katelyn Shimizu, and Robbie’s dive buddy Ruth. Twelve of us, good size group for a, very rainy day, get together. (See Facebook for pics)

So on Sunday morning I entered our tea room and saw the aftermath of; 4 hrs of tea and tall tales, I immediately  felt sympathy for our downstairs Maid, who had to clean this up.

Wait!!  its Sunday the maid’s day off  .. and I have to put things to right … Five pots, 4 Yixing and one glass pot, endless cups and fun times were had by all.  For the record, these are the main teas we drank throughout  the day:

花茶  Hua Cha Flower Tea

鐵觀音 Tie Guan Yin

普洱  Pu erh

老烏龍茶  Aged / Old Oolong

茉莉花茶  Muo Li Hua Jasmine

Friends in WuXi

My collogue Kevin made a quick trip back to WuXi this week.  Many thx for delivering a gift to Da Xia  .. looks like cold weather as moved in ….Da and her brother in the family tea shop Da Xia and Kevin, now we know why my nick name for her is: Xiao Da Xia.I have to share Kevin’s note to me: …

John,
        Here's some pictures of my visit.  She was very exited to get your gift.  She's really sweet. She wrote you a note I'll give you when I get back.

Kevin

This one for distant Friends and Family

Sunday, we milked the sun for all it was worth with a few friends.  Just a very pleasant day.

 Evi and Shara, on their way to the party:….  Ben looks for the Tennis ball, as Ben (on all fours) walks off with it! Friends and Family … Life is Good Shara inspects the bolt tightness, what a charmer.

Reading the Tea Leaves

The new batch of TGY;  Hand Picked, Hand Process, Hand Packed and Hand Delivered. Da Xia and her family are superb craftsmen and artisans of Ti Guan Yin. The father is an amazing person that will talk endlessly about the subtleties of his craft, I only wished my understanding of their dialect (a variant of Hokkien) would let me follow him directly without translation.  His passion needs no translation.Dry leaves  have a dramatic appearance, Rich Full Colour, uniform shape lacking deformity, Clean, no dust or cuttings.  The rolled leaves don’t have that tight compact shape typical of machine processing.  These are hand manipulated at every step of the processing.   The Dad will explain how he can manipulate aromas and flavors from various plantings by how he he kneads the leaves in the large drying woks.The texture and handling of the dry tea is a pleasure, the subtle and complex aroma only add to the anticipation of what is to come.The full leaves yield their captured essence in the pot, look at the large full leaves. These examples only underscore what is possible when time is taken and care is given to the picking and processing of leaves.

Auspiciously designed to please and preserve

Personal observation over the years in China, I have seen genuine improvements in the retail packaging of tea.  China has a great history of exotic, elaborate and expensive packaging for gifts.  The recent trend in Moon Cakes ( yuèbing  月饼 ) given and received as gifts during the mid-autumn festival is a classic example.

The contents remain modest and the packaging, as beautiful as it is, does naught to preserve the contents,  rather they promote the “Giver” (in their mind) providing additional status as a wealthy person capable of such an extravagant gift.   I like this festival time in China and enjoy going to the various sales outlets (mostly hotels) that try to trump their neighbors in the presentation and packaging of Moon Cakes. There is no subtlety here; hotel – large KTV – drunk businessmen – buy expensive gifts ..

On to a development that, I feel, exemplifies the ability of presentation packaging to convey all the aspects of: beauty, extravagance and practicality. Inside the  matching carry bags are the presentation Boxes. When emptied, in themselves they don’t yield to an after use as container for collectables or knick-knacks. They are purpose built, proudly announcing  the contents and house the same.  In the RED, a set of SIX (lucky number sounds like wealth)  small tins/caddies. containing NINE  (an auspicious number, sounds like longevity) small individual tea packages. The BLUE set has THREE  (lucky, sounds like Growth-Alive)  caddies with Nine packs each  Inside each pack there lies another surprise:…. Inside each vacuum packed foil pouch the tea is housed in an inner clear bag. All of this ties to a very harmonious gift that also serves to keep the treasured tea at its best.

Tiě guān yīn, as good as it can get

My colleague, Kevin just retuned from WuXi .. Last Wednesday he visited my friend Da Xia’s tea shop .. I came into my office Monday morning to find this cornucopia of   Tiě guān yīn chá 铁 观 音 茶The gem in this package is the accompanying note:

“This is the gift for the coming Christmas Day. Wish you enjoy it.  Da Xia” Despite his many visits to China /WuXi this was Kevin’s first visit: in his words “To a real China tea house, a truly memorable experience, this was with genuine people, an experience of the true China”  So much so he forgot to take pictures!!  Earlier in the day one of the folks form our Wuxi office called the shop number I had given Kevin. The number was still good, but they have moved to a new location in WuXi city. Da Xia’s little brother met them outside and guided them to the shop.  Now I can't wait to see the new place and old friends.

After thanksgiving my friend Jeff will go to Taiwan and Wuxi .. he can be my mule to take an early present to Da Xia, making tea in Dongguan shopThe tea we are talking about here is only the VERY best Fujian TGY, from Da’s family plantation.  I just had to open one of the small sampler packages sent. Liquid nectar .. this I’m going to enjoy …  The presentation packaging is in its self is a work of art … again thx to Kevin for bringing this back ... I seldom bring back the beautiful packaging,  just the tea. 

Da Yu Xiao Hu, Saddleback College Art Gallery

Robbie is a registered student at our our local JC, about 7 mls for our home. This notice just came across the transom: Local name: UCLA (University California Left on Avery)

  Big Fish Small Pot

Da Yu Xiao Hu 4

Fourth International Small Teapot

Competition and Show

Saddleback College Art Gallery

28000 Marguerite Parkway

Mission Viejo, California USA

Entry deadline: 11 DEC 2009

Exhibition:  11 FEB through 11 MAR 2010

Pity, a few years back we disbanded all the pottery stuff and small kiln, unfortunately we not the Tardis, and a very little, home made pottery goes a very long way ….especially with a house full of “rug-rats”

Would be an interesting challenge to attempt crafting  a couple of YiXing inspired Teapots….

The value of a “Prototype” + update

Looking  to build a pair of small stools that will augment our tea room, I set about trying to scale them to the room, design a style that pleases, stores easily and provides comfort to the sitter.  I will incorporate  a Japanese influence to a style that I see in many of the construction sites around Dongguan …  On the job-site they double as a small work bench, step stool, flip it over and you have a cradle to bundle fire wood, a 101 uses …

Thinking in three dimensions: step one, build a prototype that approximates the end goal.  Saturday morning, Robbie is off diving with Gerald,  I enjoy a 30 min fling with some left over “Doug-Fir” 2"x6"..  cobbling  together a 1:1 scale model.

Height: 15 ½", seat length 22",  legs set at an 8º  splay angle.   Observations: it’s about:  ½" too high .. seat; 2" too long, 5 ½" (nominal width of a construction 2x6 stud) too narrow. Overall 1 ½" material is just a tad thick .. maybe sculpt a curved seat, no, in this I want horizontal flat surfaces. Not to worry this will be re-purposed as kindling .. cold nights approach. Using leftover Oak and Poplar from previous projects, I fashion stool No.1 .. most likely I should have it completed mid Sunday afternoon.  The core is jointed and enjoys a squeeze. On to Sunday: … What design for No.2?  similar but not the same …. I’ll rummage and see what lumber is left.

A couple of hours: some finish joinery and a protective coat and we can put this one into service .The finish of the finishing .. time to commission this “cutty stool” (colloquial humor) By 3:30 pm No.1 is complete. This works, a design I’m comfortable with.Unobtrusive when not in use.  Not much change in the tea set up .. Pu-erh and more Pu-erh this weekend …..Raise your hand if you like this design.   By 4:30 pm the second cutty stool is 80% jointed (had to buy some more Poplar)  I made the stool a little wider, reduced the bulk in the legs .. creating  the desired difference but with similarity and balance .. should have it wrapped up mid-week. Both in place .. finished up on Sat 11/7. By the by: changed or clock back an hour, my least favorite .. dark too early!!

Definition: cutty stool (noun) (Historical Term  in Scotland)  the church seat on which an unchaste person sat while being harangued by the minister.

Yunnan Brick Tea

The tea I started to prepare on Sunday .. migrated to the office .. and now its Tuesday.

The dry brick, when opened, looked  to be fairly homogeneous,  no obvious layering of different leaf types / sizes.  The wet leaves support this, they are fairly large and uniform (ish)  .. Colour is a rich brown with a few lighter tones of brown, providing a strong rich soup, supporting multiple infusions, as one would expect. The aroma is not strong, a delicate flat tone with a light toasted base, The flavor is an immediate wash on the palate, leaving no mouth dryness, quite a surprise in such an otherwise full rich tea.  I’d propose an analogy of this to a Single Malt Pu-erh,  a notable standout from the crowded world of blended  offerings.  I need to do some backtracking to suss out the age of  this ShuPu, and many thx to Da Xia

I’m at a bit of a loss to conjure up appropriate categorematic expression or indeed appropriate euphemisms to describe the taste and aftertaste.  They are to say the least, very pleasant.  So I’ll let the “little gray cells” run their course and see what transpires.  For now I am satisfied to just enjoy and enjoy some more …..

More tea please, MORE! MORE! , yes please ….

xiexie ni Julia. 謝謝你朱莉婭,  Mr Yin brought more tea from Taiwan to the office in Chang Ping,  Julia sent a couple of packages of Taiwan High Mountain Oolong, as I am here in my US office. Life of an International shipment .. Chang Ping, Dongguan China to Irvine California. Picked up on Thursday night at 9:03 pm .. arrived Monday 9:28 am.

Date/Time 10/26/2009 9:28 10/26/2009 7:18 10/24/2009 2:48 10/23/2009 21:56 10/23/2009 17:03 10/23/2009 13:03 10/23/2009 12:47 10/23/2009 19:59 10/23/2009 12:58 10/22/2009 22:27 10/22/2009 21:03

Activity Delivered At local  facility Departed location Arrived at location Departed location Int'l shipment release Arrived at location In transit Left origin facility At local facility Picked up

Location IRVINE, CA IRVINE, CA OAKLAND, CA OAKLAND, CA ANCHORAGE, AK ANCHORAGE, AK ANCHORAGE, AK SHENZHEN CN DONGGUAN CN DONGGUAN CN DONGGUAN CN

A brick from Yunnan tea factory: This was a gift back in 2008 from a friend of a friend. Da Xia and her family own and operate a tea farm in Fujian province, and a retail shop in WuXi. Her friend from Yunnan sent her this tea to pass on to me.  Life is all about the web of friends and contacts we weave and share … Sunday, a great opportunity to try this tea .. a cooked pu-erh .. using, one of  the many SS dive knives we have around the house,  the moderately compressed brick yielded its treasures. As luck would have it .. Sunday went pear shaped very quickly … both Robbie and I ended up home about 6:30 pm ish .. too late to try new tea. .. So Monday in the office it is … more later

Ops .. a especial thx to Trevor (# 2 son) for stacking TWO cords of wood.  As you can see this is a fair amount. (remind me to fix my kayak ) .. ready for the harsh Southern California winters :) we are currently hunkered down in the mid-80’s F

It’s NOT English actually !!!

Every once in a while I get my knickers in a twist. (panties in a wad, colonial translation)

Fraud is afoot :

Yesterday my Russian friend proudly announces “ When I live in Russia this tea was my favorite, not in the Tea Bag ,but in Russia we just buy this type of tea, is loose not in bag. But I think this is good, is from London.” Ceylon Tea / Black tea

 

Anatoly left a tea bag in an individual airtight wrapper.  After a bit I looked at the bag “AHMAD TEA London”  If it looks like a Duck, Walks like a Duck, Talks like a Duck, chances are it is a Duck.  The packaging (picture), company name, street address  just did not fit.  Check out the company web site .. Ye Olde  England dripping off  very page, yet it seemed to be a pastiche that failed to convince (me)  So I dig a little deeper.  It’s NOT English actually !!!  This veritable tea company is an Iranian, Internet “Fred in a shed” based in Tabriz.

Poke around the NET and you find:

Import and Export of Tea products in Iran and East Azarbaijan in Tabriz. We purchase and distribute Black Tea in Tabriz city.   Managin: Ahmadi

Business Role: Importer      Business Type: Distributor/Wholesaler

Business Status: Corporation/LLC      Years In Business: 16 to 20

Number of Employees: 6 to 10        Number of Offices: 1 to 5

My observations are that this is a deliberate effort to:  market and sell by deception and mislead the buying public. 

From Taiwan with Love .. 從台灣的愛

My colleague Jeff’s (the leader of the Mt. Baldy summit team) wife is Taiwanese, and they have friends visiting from Taiwan.  This morning Jeff came in with a wonderful present of:

Taiwan “High Mountain Oolong.”   高 山 烏龍 茶 We review and discuss the leaves, while the pot heats up and the tea breaths a little.

I made a first infusion and the day quickly evaporated .. tomorrow morning we sit and enjoy. And plan next months trip (Jeff, wife and daughter) to Taiwan.

Show your STUFF

What is in your collection of stuff ??

My office is a magnet for “Stuff” an eclectic mix to say the least:

One example: top two shelves of a small corner bookcase. Stuff from: Singapore, Malaysia, China, Germany, Thailand, Korea, Scotland, England, USA(various states), New Zealand (south island)

Taiwan celebrates National Day and 60 years

Friends summit Mt. Baldy, 10,064 ft., San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California, on 10/10/09