Showing posts with label Chinese Ceramics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese Ceramics. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Taiwan Honey Aroma Oolong Tea



Our best supporters, Mr and Mrs Tsai (my parents-in-law:D) just visited us, and brought beautiful tea sets and teas from Taiwan.






One of them that I want to introduce is Taiwan Honey Aroma Oolong Tea.
This tea is from a Taiwan tea master company, Qi Cai Song, which won many prizes with its craftsmanship in tea.







This is before you brew them. Each tea leaves are nicely rolled.







Steeping for 50 seconds at first. 
Very fragrant and smooth.


Starting from 50 seconds, it is better to extend brewing time around 10 to 20 seconds each time, rather than steeping its tea leaves in hot water for 2-3 minutes like many teas.  It can be brewed 8 times maximum.



I like the second and third time the most.
It is still smooth, and deep floral aroma spreads entire through throat to nose.
I could also taste little bit of honey like aftertaste.  







More you steep, it get lighter and it get slightly tarter, but still very enjoyable.









 After 8 times, the tea leaves should be look like this. 
You can see individual leaves that still have nice leaf shape.
It is still fragrant. Maybe I should steep one more, next time. 







 

This is after I dried the leaves.

There is a lot of way to re-use these tea leaves.
 I will post it next time about re-using.




We also upload one of the Honey Aroma Oolong Tea.





You can check it here.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Ju Ware Gaiwan from Lin's Ceramics Studio




 As my previous post, we took some nice tea wares from Taiwan, and I really want to share "a perfect Ju ware Gaiwan" here.

Gaiwan literally means “covered or lidded bowl” in Chinese. It is perhaps the most versatile of all tea brewing tools. This single gaiwan is good for partly fermented and semi-fermented teas, because of its materials.






There were two versions of Ju ware; Crackles glaze ware and non-crackles glaze ware. I prefer crackles one, because it makes the pieces one of a kind. Also beautiful crackled glaze will change depending on who and how it's used. It is very personal and unique. 






It comes with a beautiful wooden box, which helps this product as a great gift for tea lovers!
Not only its beauty, but the nice tactile feel on your hands and mouth will tell you that this is a highly luxurious piece.




You can purchase this item at our online store.








Lin's Ceramics Studio.



Lin's Ceramics Studio



  During Taiwan trip in this October 2013, we try to learn and explore Taiwanese tea culture as much as we can. While we were looking around many tea stores in Yongkang street in Taipei, we fell in love at first sight with this beautiful ceramics store, called Lin's Ceramics Studio.


"A good pot makes good tea."

  Its tea wares were beautiful, yet functional, and modern, yet traditional. Also what I was shocked the most was the taste of Pu'er tea. Pu'er tea that I'd tried before, always has strong earthy fermented taste, but the one from Lin's was smooth, aromatic and sweet. I didn't even recognize that was Pu'er. The secret was in the tea wares' materials and its craftsmanship.



Lin's Ceramics Studio


  Established in 1983, Lin's Ceramic Studio has been creating every piece of work with artistic mood, professional know-how and practical consideration. Its tea wares are made by only five selected craftsmen with selected materials in Taiwan. Especially I couldn't take my eyes off from Ju Ware series and Purion series.

Ju Ware was created in one of the most famous Song dynasty kilns, Yu kiln in Qing Lian Si village, Henan province. The wares were a stunning break-though produced for China’s Imperial Palace. Much different from the previous Ding ware, Ju pieces are characterized by a lovely pale bluish-green color and a depth of glaze that is almost flesh-like. Fewer than 70 pieces
are to be found today in the hands of a few museums, foundations and private collectors.
With elegant form and translucent glazing, the wares are regarded as the official kilns.

Modern versions of Ju ware are not as rare as the originals, but not many of them can recreate its beautiful elegant originality with a modern touch. With a nostalgic feel and respect for ancients, Lin’s Ceramics Studio employs the ancestors’ wisdom to make brilliant crafts that are worthy of our collection.

 You can check our collection from my next posts.
Or check our Online store.


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