A few acres of Taiwanese tea in the middle of China

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Last April, I was in China for a short tea sourcing trip. The main purpose of this trip was to visit my father in law in Huangshan. He happens to own a tea garden and factory in the middle of one of the mythical tea terroirs of China. You might have heard of Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea? Yet, this not tea that he makes at his garden. You see, my father in law is Taiwanese and a pioneer in his own discreet but original way. He chose to plant Taiwanese cultivars to make Taiwanese style teas right in the middle of China. And to add to the challenge, he decided to go organic right from the start, over 12 years ago. Now that’s what I call a true pioneering spirit! And very often, pioneers don’t have it so easy. This is even more the case when you’re a Taiwanese tea maker making tea in China.  This blog entry is my humble way to pay homage to him and his oeuvre.

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A journey to the source of the dragon’s well. Or, finding the secret source of the purest Longjing Green Tea

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After our blog entry about how Chinese made Yixing clay tea pots can find a justified place on a website dedicated to Taiwan’s teas and it’s uniquely rich tea culture, today, we are again exploring a cross-straight dilemma as we follow the same path to argue the case of allowing the intrusion of a Chinese tea in our selection. Right away we wish to mention that this is an exceptional measure and also circumstantial. Yet again, “how can we justify this?” – you will ask. Well, our case is supported by one sole argument: Whenever we find unquestionably unique teas that are made from the harmonious balance of tradition, a respectful use of the landscape and the environment, and are true authentic treasures of world tea culture, one must share this find with others in the true spirit of tea appreciation. And, when this find calls for an equally authentic and interesting story, we can only be compelled to share it even more! Follow us as we explore in many pictures and a few words the remote high mountain regions of Anhui and Zhejiang where the purest and cleanest Longjing teas come from. Is this authentic Longjing tea we’re talking about ? Read-on and you’ll be able to decide for yourself as we also lift the veil on some myths and dogmas in the world of tea by telling the story as it is.

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Why do we find Vintage Yixing Teapots on a webshop dedicated to Taiwan Teas and Tea Crafts?

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One of our most popular product categories at Taiwan Tea Crafts is our Vintage Yixing teapot selection. We’ve received many inquiries about them and have answered all of them individually. Every time, our response begins with apologies about the incomplete information our pages show about each individual pot we propose as well as our intention to take care of that matter very soon. I will not divulge how many times we wrote these lines to individual inquirers but would like to reassure you that we are not chronic procrastinators. We are simply very busy procrastinators, as our preceding post will attest. Odly enough, I’ve never had a longer list of things to do than today and here I am writing this long overdue post.

To get to the point: the reason we find Vintage Yixing teapots on a website dedicated to Taiwanese Teas and Tea Crafts has a story that starts in a classic fairy tell way: Not far away from us, in a neighbouring village lives an old man

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Giving a new lease on life to abandoned tea gardens

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Tea Field of Cui Yu Tea Cultivar in Nantou, Taiwan

In our quest to secure reliable sources of organic and low pesticide teas, we’ve taken a logical but nonetheless bold step of acquiring tea gardens recently. Being able to fully control the source of your raw leaf material has become a key concern in order to ensure a quality supply of tea that meets our highest standards as well as the required conformity to certification norms. Very soon Taiwan Tea Crafts will be able to propose tailor-made teas for which we will be 100% accountable and responsible for the end result… as I write this, part of me is freaking out at this prospect. In any event, here’s the story of how we got to give a new lease on life to some abandoned tea fields in the hope of making not so bad tea with them. If all fails, at least it will give me something to write about for a few more chronicles.

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Review: Taiwan Tea Crafts … florals or flowers? | TeaGuide: Reviews and Ramblings

Today we leave the podium to TeaGuide who surprised us with a nice review of our teas. It starts with “I love Taiwan teas, …” How could not invite her to share her thoughts here! She gracefully accepted that we re-blog her article which we reproduce in its entire form with our accompanying comment. We invite you to follow TeaGuide here or on her Facebook Page. Thank you TeaGuide ! Read more

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100cc of pure fun up to Shanlinxi, and back.

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If you know Taiwan the slightest bit, you are probably aware of the omnipresence of scooters on this island. They are everywhere — scaringly so, some will say. Not only does everybody own one but Taiwan is also a major producer of these two-wheeled contraptions, and good ones too! And, if you know the author of these lines a bit, you will know that I’ve been an adopter of this component of the Taiwanese lifestyle well before I became a resident of this island. Read more

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A shoot of new shoots

It’s been not even 2 weeks since rows of young tea bushes have found a new home in the red earth adjacent to our compound and consequently changed life’s pace for this writer. Just like a proud new father who is struck with the responsibility of caring for new living creatures, one gets up much earlier than usual since then, and without any additional effort might I add. The giddy pride and simple pleasure of witnessing life taking root get’s us out of bed and into our wellies for an attentionate daily hand watering before it gets too hot. Read more

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A new tea garden is born

What started off as a construction project for a new tea factory a few months ago has taken a new twist in the last weeks. Thanks to goodwill, a long-term vision and a bit of government regulation, a new tea garden is taking shape in our own backyard. Here’s a first picture instalment in a new series of articles chronicling the activities surrounding this new venture as we slowly move towards the goal of sampling the first cups made from our backyard bushes. Make yourselves comfortable as the ride will take a good two years to reach that step! Read more

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Drum roll please! Here’s our Top 10 Teas of 2012.

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I will have to admit, I love top 10 lists. I also love this time of the year for all the retrospective TV shows that look back on the events of the last year. I think it is healthy to take a moment and look back into the rear view mirror. It gives us a better perspective of where we are now, what we’ve accomplished, and if we wish, move on to the next step: plan the route ahead (some call this resolutions). At least, it’s a process that can justify the infusion of some good leaves to help in the process of reviewing your notes and, most certainly, re-validate your selection! Now, of course, we do this for fun. And, of course, this a purely subjective list, and the comments are very personal as they reflect some of the highlights of my past year’s experience in Taiwan. Nonetheless, the comments are genuine and well thought out. Read more

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The Tea in the shadow of the Black Dragon

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 Today, Taiwan Tea Crafts proposes a short historical chronology to explain the presence, and rebirth, of Black Tea in Taiwan. There’s nothing like a good story to make us further appreciate the tea we are sipping, especially if you are drinking a superb black tea from Taiwan!
 

It may come as a surprise to many tea enthusiasts that only consider Taiwan as a source of magnificent oolongs, but Taiwan has also a long history of producing black teas that date back to the early 1920’s. Then under Japanese rule, Taiwan was chosen as the territory to launch an economic offensive to compete against the rule, if not the monopoly, of the British Empire over black tea. Why such a venture you may ask? We are not sure to be quite frank (in fact, we will research this further and get back to you on it). Nevertheless, Yuchi township, situated on the shores of the scenic Sun Moon Lake of central Taiwan, was chosen for it’s perfect climate and soil for the growing of Assamica tea bushes and build a successful black tea industry. Read more

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