It is delightful to read
different opinions about tea tree cultivar on various social media.
As matter of fact, there are lots of unique varieties in tea trees, growing environment and climate factors around the world today. It is not only hard but also not fair to compare or to say which one is more superior than the others, because It does not matter what, the most important criteria are:
How
tea plantation was managed? because all tiny details about how tea trees are
taken care and maintain can influence the health of tea trees
which could eventually
also influence the taste.
How
manufacturing processes being managed? This is extremely important to tea that
requires complex oxidation, fermentation, rolling and roasting processes.
In front of nature and Mother Earth, it does not matter how smart we think
we are, we all have to learn how to emerge and show respect.
Furthermore, there is another question for us to question
ourselves is :
When we receive the tea, how much do we really understand and
respect the natural characters of that particular harvest of that particular
season from that particular region? How can we can brew a cup of tasty tea
based on our understanding.
The local TV, VTM, replayed a real
medical program – De Kliniek tonight, in the program there was a mid-age woman
who suffered the bone pain and was worrying for bone cancer.
The blood test result was
surprisingly confirmed she has no cancer, but the source of the problem is
because of her tea drinking habit – she liked strong tea and consumed 50 to 60
tea bags per day.
I
was stunned when she told the doctor about her ‘healthy life style’ that she
‘loved’ tea. The doctor was shocked when she explained how much she
‘loves’ the strong tea by using 8-10 tea bag per “cup” for nearly 10 minutes. I
was shocked and wonder how could she drink such thing. Actually it makes me
sick when I think about the tea that she had in her cup already.
A similar case was posted a year or two ago. A woman in the UK died from drinking excessive amounts of the cheap bagged tea.
The diagnosis
revealed the problems in two folds: ⋯⋯
1. The quality used for
tea bag is either BOP or dust, in one word “cheap quality”
2. The danger of drinking very strong tea for a
long period of time.
Tea is a very healthy drink, but
excessive consumption could cause more problems than can be anticipated.
Tea actually is a very economical
drink, but if you calculated the cost of 50-60 tea bag per day, I am afraid her
daily tea cost more than the 3g of fine tea that I normally like to drink.
Tea provides, tea does not
speak unless one is willing to listen. So who
or which to blame for this problem? Certainly the problem is not coming from
tea itself, this is the case how people misuse the tea.
Tea does not
hold the key for your health, it is up to you to manage the life style
yourself.
I have been doing my best
to promote tea and Chinese tea culture in Belgium since 1995, I
can’t complain and say that I haven’t achieved a lot, because my
efforts were noticed by the local government that I could have opportunities to
participate intercultural activities organized by them; also my intention to
promote the old traditional Chinese tea culture that we preserved in Taiwan has
been recognized by the Taipei Office in Belgium and EU. My migration
story is kept in the Red Star Line Museum. Currently I have a “Tea Talk”
column on the
local Chinese newspaper and I am posting my daily learning on my blog so I can
leave something behind about my learning journey…. I am doing everything as
much as I can.
Frankly speaking, I have indeed thought about
having a tea shop, but it has been very difficult to find someone who actually
shares the same values and passion for tea. For me, tea is more than a
business but it’s a social as well as cultural ethnic responsibility to promote
pure and authentic quality tea. I am too trying to find the right
solutions to promote quality tea via internet, for example a webshop.
With limited of resource under the current low economic curve environment, it
is important for me to be realistic of finding some pragmatic online marketing
approach that can maximize the return of investment. And, it is another
challenging learning ahead.
Continued learning has always been the primary
attitude that I have for every job in the past, certainly it has even higher
demands in tea and Chinese tea culture. So I have to manage different planning
for marketing, culture promotion activities; cooperation with local
partners and tea farmers/makers in China and Taiwan; carefully update the
quality evaluation and constantly practice of Chinese tea ceremony in order to
deepen the understanding the essence in our culture. Not to forget to manage
the office administration and household…..In short, I am a crazy woman who is
devoted to tea and Chinese tea culture; I am a story teller for tea.
Sometime I feel tire, frustration and even stress, but I only give in for few
minutes, after having a cup of tea, keep my head up and continue my efforts
again.
Few days ago, a friend asked “Can I buy
Taiwanese tea from you?” I replied “Of course”. But somehow I would feel more
relax if people could have an opportunity to taste the tea, know more about the
tea that s/he would like to purchase and know how to brew tea at home
afterwards. Because I truly believe my responsibilities are not
limited to sell or to promote tea, but are helping people to have better
understanding about tea, knowing how to brew tea correctly so s/he can enjoy
the benefits from tea in their daily life. Tea and Chinese tea culture
are not just a simple business model that standard calculation of ROI, but it
is something I must take the social and cultural responsibilities seriously.
That’s why some of my
friends joked and said I am just like a prodigal girl who spends a lot of money
on quality tea and tries to promote the Chinese tea culture without considering
the profit gaining in Europe. But for me, this is something that I can do
and I think I should do my best. When following my heart and doing my
best, I am not just promoting quality tea and Chinese tea culture, but also it
gives me a chance to know myself better that I can indirectly reciprocate the upbringing
from my parents.
Also I hope I can establish a good example for my children.
Belgium Chinese Tea Arts Centre in an unique
center for tea and Chinese tea culture, we offer tea lovers :
A home-like comfortable and cozy environment where people can
taste various fine quality tea and enjoy reading
A calm and serene space for individual and/or small group of
people to learn tea and Chinese tea ceremony
A reliable tea room where you can purchase the pure and
authentic quality tea from Taiwan and China
Reservation in advance is needed. For more information please contact Mei Lan Hsiao via email: info@chinesetea.be or telephone +32494506899
We can think and talk a
lot about the importance of enlightenment or finding Tao in life, we can talk
about how important it is to live in ecological way or what kind of benefits we
can get from mediation and/or relaxation…… Yes, we can talk a lot of wisdom and
to share many clever ideas, but at end it all goes back to a simple question of
are we really managing our daily life by respecting the ecology in the
nature balance and harmony?
An astonishing film that
urges us to rethink our life style. Please share it with your family and
friends. We can be different in many aspects but we share the same planet
and life together. It’s not yet too late for us to wake up and cooperate
with each other to save the planet not only for ourselves but for our children
and generations after that by taking actions together .
We are the one who are
killing the planet, how can we deny our responsibilities further? Indeed
talking is important, please spread the message and let’s live by example.
Give our future a chance.
Life can be simple and yet it is much more complex than what we could imaging when we were young and confident. At the first, we thought we knew everything and we were ready for all challenges, then the life gave us priceless lessons, some are good and some are painful, that we probably only knew some dots that we thought we know but without the full picture.
The clock is clicking, soon we realize we can not stop the time in life, but we can decide how to live by accepting and tolerating。
We can not redo what have already passed just like we can not rewarm he flavors and tastes of tea when the tea gets old. Fine quality tea offers fine natueal and complex flavours and tastes, it is better to enjoy it in time when still is warm。Because you can never have the same flavours and tastes after it gets old。
In life, we want plenty but actually what we really need are few. We probably have many acquaintances but only few friends.
Understanding from others are not something you can expect without efforts from self。
Respect is not what you can demand without showing respect to others and self first。 Respect is not something you can demand but have to think how to win without impulsiveness.
Inner peace is a process that one must learns how to manage him/herself from within。
The life journey is as brewing a cup of tea, there are many possibilities that each has to learn how to manage through life-time learning.
Evaluated the chage in pH and TDS in water from beore boiling and the chage with the green tea brewing.
Water selection： Lifialla, untreated mineral water from Iceland. Even though the pH level according to their brocure is about 8.2, but actural testing showed 7.8. The TDS according to the meter is between 49-50ppm.
First boiled the water, and took some sample for measurement when cooled down.
Added some fresh mineral water to the pot, to bring tge temperature down to 80℃ and brew Chinese green tea, #LungJing.
Before 30, never thought or worried about age, I was so confident and playful that I forgot about time.
In the late 20, I wanted to stay on 20 longer and thought I still have plenty of time, I did not worry too much because I was so occupied by many other things about work, relationship and preconceived self. I forgot about taking time easily until one day I stood on the cross road and asked what have I done in life, who was I and what did I want in life. My first awakening happened in time that I found my way in tea, the practice of Daoyin Qigong for health and inner peace.
In the late 30, all in sudden, I realised the time pressure. psychological pressures started to mount up, the risk of stress rose; the only thing I thought what I could do was to continue my life as in the 30, I thought could gain time by accepting and tolering. Of course, I was wrong because nothing could stop the clicking of clock,not in the past, now or future.
Life is like a boat journey, don’t ask why you’re on board, because you are already on. The when is not upto our choice, but the key of what and how is on our hands that we have to learn how to manage itourselves.
Soon stepped into 50 from 49, I realized I couldn’t stop the time and the youth was flying out through windows that I forgot to close in time. I hoped I could stay forever young, ignored menopause crisis; but of course nothing could stop the clock. I started to think and worry about the time and fun that I lost and hoped to stay young longer. But I didn’t know who could I talk to, so I became more silent and submissive. Hopefully the emptiness and pain would go away. Of course, they didn’t.
The bitter betray and chaotic change that my ex-husband （father of my children） forced me through were like iced cubes over my head. I lost the family that I have dreamed about, I lost everything, luckily I and children were protected under Belgian laws. I was alone, I have no family to turn to and I didn’t know who to trust; I was forced to stop my carrier because of the responsibilities for two young boys. Despite all those unthinkable chaos and pain, I found myself back. When it seemed I was abandoned by the world, I realized “ I can’t change others, but I can change myself”. Others can fail me, can deny me, but I have to do my best to be myself and I can’t forget who I am and may not deny myself, simply because I am daughter of General Hsiao Li-Guay. I found so much strengths from the Chinese traditional moral teachings that I was fortunately inherited since childhood, I was enlightened by the wisdom of Chinese Buddhism, Daoism and saw the beauty of implementing the practices of Confusius teachings in life through tea, Chinese tea ceremony and Daoyin Qigong. This time I refuse to be submissive without trying best with a peaceful mind and devoted actions.
When one door is closed, another one is opened. Life goes on and on.
Once said goodbye to the 50, started the number with 6, I realized I couldn’t stop the time, regrets won’t help. I reborn from heart. Everyday from heart I appreciate the time that I gain, I am doing my best for myself through tea without asking why.
My life as tea and tea is as my life. I don’t live for tea, because I am tea, tea is in me.
Indeed I can’t stay as young as before, so what. Because I can keep the young in heart forever, and I am trying best everyday.
My health, my choice; my life, I live with gratitude.
Nearly 25 years ago, I met a good friend of mine in Taipei, Olga, who then just returned from Hangzhou and bought back some Xihu Long Jing. When we had a cup of tea in the tea room, she complained the flavors and tastes of Long Jing she bought were not same as the one she drank in Hangzhou, she thought she has been cheated by the tea shop. I explained to her, the chance she was cheated is small, especially when she bought it on spot where it was freshly made. I briefly explained the reason she felt differently was because of Water.
Water used for tea brewing does influence the color, flavors and taste of tea greatly. The first factors we should check are pH and TDS,
First of all, the pH and hardness of water from the water source in Taipei is different from Hangzhou
The average pH of our body is between 7.35 – 7.45, therefore the most suitable pH of tea liquor should be as close as to the pH level as in our body.
When the pH is lower than 7.0 : Basically the water is more towards to acidic instead of base. Even though the flavor of tea is fine and soft and the color is brighter, but the taste tends to be more flat and weak
When the pH is between 7.0 – 7.5 : The tea flavors are more full, the color is more brilliant, the tea liquor is more fine and soft; more able to bring out a good balance in flavors, color and tastes
When the pH is between 7.5 – 8.0 : It would weaken the flavor notes, the texture of water is more rough that darken the color of tea liquor. Even though it could present in more full body in taste but sometimes could increase the risk of imbalance in taste.
When the pH is higher than 8.0 : The taste of tea is more flat, dull and tasteless; and darken the color of tea liquor.
Besides checking the pH, we should also consider the influence from TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) value. TDS values represents the amount of dissolved impurities in water (ppm) , which indicates how many milligrams of total dissolved solids are dissolved in 1 liter of water (mg/l). Normally you can find such index on the water bottle package. The content of dissolves, such as Calcium, Magnesium, Ions, Colloids, Proteins, colloids could make a significant influence to the color, flavors and taste of tea as well.
the larger TDS value, the greater the impurity content in the water and vice versa. The value should be suitable for human body’s absorption, suggest to avoid either too high or too low.
The WHO suggests less than 50mg/l. But the standard is varied in different countries, i.e. 0-50mg/l in the US standards, 0-70mg/l in the EU standards. Basically speaking 100 or less can be accepted.
Some water filter system can reduce the TDS to Zero while maintain the neutral pH values, even though the taste of astringency is less, the color of tea liquor is brighter, however, it also weakens the fullness in flavors and tastes that we expect from certain teas.
The above data can give us a guideline when choose mineral water, but still is not the absolute factor. Years ago in a tea event which was sponsored by a very well-known mineral water company. The pH is <6.0 and the TDS is also very low. When I used that water to brew Taiwan Gaoshan Oolong in the first evening, even though the color was nice (bright and transparent), but the flavors and taste of my Taiwan Oolong were flat, dull and tasteless. So quickly I changed the water for the next day by mixing that expensive mineral water with the tap water from Brussels, then my Oolong was alive and tasty. Recently I tasted the natural untreated mineral water from Iceland, Lifjalla, the pH is between 8.2-8.5 and the TDS 9.4mg/l. The natural taste of that water is sweet, and it matches perfectly well with traditional Oolong, black tea, dark tea and Pu’erh with the representation of full body in flavors and taste, and the color is brilliant and transparent.
Therefore selecting the right water is important for tea. However, there are other factors could also influence the flavors and tastes of tea, i.e.
The conditions of water pipeline would make a great difference to the quality of water from the tap.
The temperature and humidity in the tasting room would also influence the flavors and tastes, suggested room temperature between 15-27°C and humidity around 70%.
Even the light, the quality of air, air flow, colors in the tea tasting room should take into consideration.
Making a cup of tea is easy, but there are many fundamental factors could influence the flavors and taste of the tea that you would like to enjoy. Small details require great attention.
In this cyber-world and social media on internet today, learning what and how to respect copy rights and privacy are must learning.
Here I repeat again that I do not give Facebook or any one who I connected or associated on Facebook the permission to use my photos, information, text or posts, from past, now and future.
PRIVACY LAWS
Based on The General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) A data controller must provide, upon request, an overview of the categories of data that are being processed (Article 15(1)(b)) as well as a copy of the actual data (Article 15(3)). Furthermore, the data controller has to inform the data subject on details about the processing, such as the purposes of the processing (Article 15(1)(a)), with whom the data is shared (Article 15(1)(c)), and how it acquired the data (Article 15). Profile definitely should be treated as private and confidential.
Besides the definitions as a criminal offence according to national law following Article 83 GDPR the following sanctions can be imposed:
a warning in writing in cases of first and non-intentional noncompliance
regular periodic data protection audits
a fine up to €10 million or up to 2% of the annual worldwide turnover of the preceding financial year in case of an enterprise, whichever is greater, if there has been an infringement of the following provisions: (Article 83, Paragraph 4)
the obligations of the controller and the processor pursuant to Articles 8, 11, 25 to 39, and 42 and 43
the obligations of the certification body pursuant to Articles 42 and 43
the obligations of the monitoring body pursuant to Article 41(4)
a fine up to €20 million or up to 4% of the annual worldwide turnover of the preceding financial year in case of an enterprise, whichever is greater, if there has been an infringement of the following provisions: (Article 83, Paragraph 5 & 6)
the basic principles for processing, including conditions for consent, pursuant to Articles 5, 6, 7, and 9
the data subjects’ rights pursuant to Articles 12 to 22
the transfers of personal data to a recipient in a third country or an international organisation pursuant to Articles 44 to 49
any obligations pursuant to member state law adopted under Chapter IX
noncompliance with an order or a temporary or definitive limitation on processing or the suspension of data flows by the supervisory authority pursuant to Article 58(2) or failure to provide access in violation of Article 58(1)
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