Author: Mei Lan Hsiao Page 12 of 31

Even though her family has nothing to do with tea, but she learnt the importance of consuming tea correctly in daily healthy diet based on the Chinese traditional medicine principles in Yin-Yang and 5 elements from her family when she was very young.
She entered the tea learning in Taiwan since 1985, left her root because of marriage in 1991 helped her to expand her learning from original inward-out views to 360 degree. She started to promote the authentic knowledge about tea and wisdom in Chinese tea culture in Belgium since 1995.
Tea has always been and will continue be her best teacher. In front of Nature and Tea, she remains as an innocent child, a life-time learning student.

“Aging” vs “Musty”

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 06/05/2019

In Pu-Erh

Don’t remember when was the first time I drank Pu’erh in Taiwan, can’t even remember whether it was Sheng (Raw) or Shou (Ripped) Pu’erh, all I can remember is I disliked the ‘musty’, even somewhat urine-like flavor.

In the year of 1985 when I started to learn tea, we could only buy or taste Pu’erh imported from Hong Kong and I did not know the difference between Sheng vs. Shou Pu’erh, because at that time it was not possible directly from China so it was not possible to get the first hand knowledge about Pu’erh at that time. I only knew many years later that Hong Kong Chinese loved the “aging” flavors in Pu’erh. But the question about “Why experienced Pu’erh tea lovers in Hong Kong like to emphasis the ‘aging’ flaov and taste” hunted me for many years until I have the first opportunity to visit the MengHai Tea Manufacturing Factory in XiShuanBanNa in 2002 when I was amazed by the pleasant flaovrs and tastes from authhentic aged Pu’erh.

Post fermentation is very important to the aging quality of Pu’erh. There are big difference between appropriately aged ‘aging’ flavor vs. badly stored ‘musty’ flavor.

People who first taste the Pu’erh would probably experience as what I have by its unique flavors and tastes without able to tell the difference between ‘aging’ vs. ‘Heap’ vs. “Musty” in flavors and tastes.

“Aging” reflects the the quality of post-fermented flavors of time (min. 10 years and above) that appears in different flavors, such as Chinese herbal woody sweetness, ripped plums, musk, or agarwood, as if old wooden furnitures in 3-D exuding. The flavors and tastes are pure and pleasant.

Tea particular from Fushu Puerh has very rich chemical substances, can easily absorb the moisture and ordor in the air, with unappropriate storage it eventually causes musty. “Musty” actually is a bad smell due to the corruption of quality that represents in unpleasant or even loathe flavors, some even in tastes.

“Heap” often appears in newly pile of Pu’erh that are yet to get aged further.With appropriate storing conditions, the heap flavors would gradually weaken in 2-3 years.

Tea, regardless tea type, should be stored in clean, ventilated, dark, dry, odor-free, non-polluting environment.

The aging process in the post-fermentation is very important for Pu’erh. However, the first thing must know is the aging process won’t make a bad quality tea to become good, but carefully selection and investment plus appropriate storing conditions and care would indeed improve the appreciation of pu’erh tea to become a better investment.

Drinking Tea Regularly

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 23/04/2019

In Others

Tea is in hip since recent years, let’s not to speak about how elegant or fancy tea drinking is, let’s first to clarify some basic health aspects.

More than 20 health benefits have been mentioned in various ancient classical historic writing about tea in Chinese history over >3000 years and here are some have already confirmed by various scientific researches in the world today:

Prevention against Heart Disease – Tea polysaccharide, thearubigin and theaflavin could effectively improve arterial condition and inhibit atherosclerosis, not to mention that we all have read a lot of reports of how tea could reduce the body fat.
Prevent against Cencer, Anti-Aging and Radiation – Anti-oxidation and free radical scavenging are two major methods to fight against cancer. Free radicals are products of oxidation reactions in human cells. Tea polyphenols in tea have powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects.
Inhibition of bacteria – there are researches shows children who drink tea have less 60% risk of having caries in teeth than those who do not. However, small children should avoid drinking too much and strong teas.
Enhance intestinal immunity – it is important to select tea carefully according to the physical conditions, from person to person; from period to period.

Conclusion:

Tea provides many health benefits but it requires a healthy life style on regular base but not just one or two cups of tea.

Judging Tea

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 17/04/2019

In Others

Of course, there are some basic guidelines for the classification of tea quality, i.e. hand-picked, semi- or completely hand process and natural authentic fine flavors and tastes are always considered as the best quality.

Price does give you some ideas about the quality that you can expect, but the fundamental principle is being able to tell the authentic vs. aromatic. The question is, exactly how much do you know about tea? No matter what, it is not logical to expect cheap price for premium quality tea.

To certain teas, the presentence of stems is normal, before exclude stems out, should try to clarify which tea types we are talking about.

However, I do think the most important thing for us, regardless how many years or how well we know about tea, is that we all have to remember:

Each person can draw the line about good tea based on her/his own personal preferences in flavors and tastes.
Try to deepen the knowledge by listening to tea instead of floating around.

Work-Life Balance

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 16/04/2019

In Others

There is no standard, right or wrong answer for a simple question of “work life balance”. The awakening of self awareness is must, being able to say “NO” often is necessary.

When think backwards, I heartedly appreciate the “impulsive” childhood learning from my father over Chinese classical philosophies and basic moral principles, because regular reflections eventually became a sub-conscious mental exercise.

The learning of Daoyin Qigong and Chinese calligraphy taught me the importance of aligning body and mind.

The learning and practice of tea and Chinese tea ceremony remind me.importance of “HONESTY, AUTHENTICITY, CALM and RESPECT” in actions.

Live by acting, not by thinking and talking.

Learn to stand straight before learning to walk; learn to walk before learning to run. Learn to listen own body before learning to obey with a blind folded mind.

Why worry for Taiwanese tea ?

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 12/04/2019

In Others

The TV news today (12/04) about the Taichung city government gave the final warning to the thermal power plant to improve their actions in worsening not only the air but water pollution, I can’t help to curse
the evilness and stupidity of DPP government. Of course, the world needs more cheap and easy energy meanwhile we concern potential % of risk from unknown nuclear disaster, but we definitely would say NO to worsen the air and water pollution because we know the harm of air and water pollution would affect our health immediately. Not only it concerns the health of Taiwanese people on the island, but also the impact to problems of global warming.

Taichung not only is my birthplace, more importantly it is an important growing region for tea and other agricultural and fishing farms. To the North, Miaoli and Hsinzhu are producing fine quality Oriental Beauty, to the South to the Central Mountain range is Nantou where produce many fine quality Oolong and Black tea.

In Taiwan there are plenty of agricultural,,including tea, and fish farmers try to provide safe quality products. Tea farmers are doing their best to use safe fertilizer and pesticide, but tea trees breath the same air and share the water resource. The most concern is, we can not contain polluted air or water; it is impossible to stop the expansion of air and water pollutions. But how can those small people fight against the central government who impulses policies to meet with their political agenda and keeps ignoring their responsibilities to protect the Nature and People on island?

Unless Taiwanese voters can use their votes to make a political change in 2020, otherwise my worries for Taiwanese teas and people remain.

The Birth of Jin Jian Mei

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 11/04/2019

In Red (Black) tea

Healthy tea trees in a protected eco-environmemt

Natural compose as fertilizer
Hand picked by hard working villagers
Manually processed based on traditional wisdom
Thumb up proudly with respect
Priceless values behind each leaf

Value in Tea

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 11/04/2019

In Others

Only the #quality based on consistent hard works and enhanced base can present the wisdom and beauty of “Less means more”.

The value in #quality #puretea is not limited to the #price per bag, but health benefits to body, how energy and mind are interactively charmed by fine and natural flavors and taste #percup.

Values in pure quality tea can not be measured by price per bag, but in quality taste and the journey that you can enjoy from each cup.

Investment Appreciation in Tea

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 10/04/2019

In Pu-Erh

Having the right quality and store it appropriately for the aging process for dark tea, including Pu’erh (particular Raw Pu’erh), would influence how well the appreciation of your investment in the coming years.

The post-fermentation process won’t make bad quality tea become good, therefore, it is better to invest on better quality instead of shopping because the price is cheap.

If you could invest well, then can expect the annual growth of investment appreciation by 10% or even more. Of course, the storage conditions play a vital role to influence the quality to flavors and taste in the aging post fermentation process.

#darktea #agingprocess #agedpuerh #ageddarkteaBelgium Chinese Tea Arts Centre Cha Dao – The Way of Tea.Pure Quality Tea Belgium Tea Shop Tea Culture Rendez-vous

Let Tea Talks

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 30/03/2019

In About Us

Which can persuade you the organic nature of the tea? A piece of expensive certificate that money can buy? or priceless actural growing conditions?

we work directly with tea farmers who care about #nature and #traditionalinherit.

We do not sell organic certificate, we simply do #organic #organictea We can not afford to pay for a fairtrade stamp, we simply do #fairtradetea.

#belgiumchineseteacentre

these are photos of tea garden of our traditional #meizhan #tieguanyin #jinxuan.

in order to support this #batenicalteagardens and his family, #wkp works for another tea estate for living.

Tea is more than a business, it is about #consciousness and #honesty. If the taste of tea can not convince you, then what a piece of expensive certificate can do?

How much watet per day?

By Mei Lan Hsiao

On 24/03/2019

In Others

How much water to drink a day? Many research suggested 6-8 glasses. But how much exactly from 6-8 glasses? Is it only from water or in total?

According to posting from Professor Fan ZhiHong from Nutrient and Food Safty Dept. of China Agriculture University, in general it means 2500ml per day that consume based on
~ 300ml water generated from metabolism
~ in food should consume 1000ml and
~ the rest should from fruits and beverage.

Exactly how many water to drink should consider two factors:

Conditions of living environmeny influence how,easy and how much from sweating
Conditions of health. Color of urine can reveal.

Patients who have problems with kidneys, Gout, patients who are taking diuretics, or patients with edema for various reasons should consult with doctor carefully.

Your health, your responsibility!