News
Lugu Farmers' Association Dong Ding Oolong Spring Tea Competition 2014 - Part One
He was in the final hour of roasting a batch of his spring tea harvest to be entered in the world's largest Oolong Tea Competition.
Spring Harvest Report 2014 #9 - Spring Rain's Late Arrival
Central Taiwan has finally gotten some rain this past week, interspersed with some bright sunny mornings in tea country. On Saturday afternoon a storm came through when we first arrived, but had cleared by nightfall.
Spring Harvest Report 2014 #8 - Waiting For Jade Oolong
Our source of Tsui Yu Jade Oolong (台茶13號) had an interesting story to tell when we asked him about spring harvest.
Spring Harvest 2014 Report #7 - Spring Shopping Begins!
Yesterday we visited our friend in Songbolin, Nantou County - Taiwan to taste some freshly made spring teas and collect some samples.
Spring Harvest 2014 Report #6 - The Weather's Fine As Harvest Climbs!
The weather this spring continues to be ideal during harvest season. Almost no rain has allowed farmers to remain on schedule and not have to postpone the timing of their harvest.
Spring Harvest 2014 Report #3 - First Sips, Jin Xuan Oolong
Last week, we tasted samples of two different batches Jin Xuan Oolong grown at 1000 plus meters elevation in Meishan, Chiayi County that were harvested and processed last week.
Spring Harvest 2014 Report #2 - Mid-Harvest
Lower elevation areas (Mingjian, Nantou) and southern areas (Meishan, Chiayi) have already been harvesting for the last 2-3 weeks.
Spring Harvest 2014 Report #1 - Winter into Spring
The weather this spring started out cold and dry – basically an extended winter season. This delayed the growing season of spring tea, particularly at higher elevations and in more northern areas.
Seasonal Shifts And Their Effects On Our Brew
The challenges of farming tea are similar to farm challenges everywhere, but how do those variables affect the brew in my cup?
What's Your Experience Of A Fine Brew? Lu Tong Says - Immortality
I took this photos some years ago on my way to one of my favorite mountain getaways, Dong Pu Hot Springs in Nantou County, Taiwan.
The Quest for Oriental Beauty
For many years I’ve wanted to venture north, out of my familiar playground of Dong Ding and High Mountain Oolong Country in Central Taiwan, to explore the heart of the famous and ever more popular Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea in Emei, Hsinchu County.
Returning From Heaven: Phoenix Mountain Offerings
Last week, in the first days of the Chinese New Year, I didn’t have a chance to visit my friend who provides us with our Dong Ding Oolong Tea. So today, I made a point of making it to his home during these final days of the holiday. When I arrived, my friend – who chose the English name Young, was holding the first draft of his English translation of a poem that a friend posted on his FB page. This poem was written by a friend in response to a photo that Young had taken on the ninth day of the Chinese New Year when he went to the local temple to make traditional offerings.