Friday 25 June 2010

Green papaya cubes with green tea - Effective

Dear Friends,


Append below is the article I received from my contacts and I cannot find it more useful than blog it out. For those who have tried this out, please share with your experience. Thank you in advance for your participation.


This is a really effective, just mix green papaya cubes to the ordinary green tea, my cousin brother tried and found it very effective. I have also shared with a friend with gout to try this (his "toe joints" started to deform), after a week of drinking this formula there is significant improvement, after two weeks the toe joints heal and revert to normal state. It is almost three years now, the joint pain is gone, but he maintain the intake between 1-3 times monthly to avoid relapse. 

其他的朋友喝了都有解決多年痛風的困擾,沒事也可喝,還不錯。  

Other friends suffering from years of gout problem have also recovered. It is good for all, even those without gout. 

好方法喔~~快告訴需要的人!!!!

Good formula! Do share with the people in need!

中國藥學院---  授改良新方式:

An improved sequence by Professor Lai from the China School of Pharmacy : 

木瓜切成丁放入水中煮沸後才放入茶葉,泡茶過程和一般茶葉相同。
據實際臨床經驗效果更佳,而且治療尿酸效果更佳(須常期喝


Cut green papaya into small cubes, place into the water, bring to boil, then add green tea leaves, similar to the tea-making process. Clinical tests show that this brings better effects for treatment of gout, subject to frequent drinking of this formula. 

木瓜泡茶 
台南縣仁德後壁村長劉結慶患胃痛多年,把木瓜當做茶壺泡茶喝,一個月後竟治癒宿疾,家人尿酸過多喝木瓜泡茶也不藥而癒,劉村長因而種了許多木瓜,送給有病的親友親。 

Mr Liu Qing, Chief of the Rende Town in Tainan, was suffering for years from severe stomach pain around the posterior wall of stomach. He used green papaya as a tea pot to prepare the family tea daily, after a month his chronic disease condition was much improved. His family members with high uric acid were also healed by the same papaya tea. For this Mr Liu planted a lot of papaya to share with relatives and friends with similar sickness. 

劉村長說,木瓜最好選擇果實肥短,容量比較大,將木瓜頂部切開,出木瓜內的種,再開一個小缺口方便倒茶水,8 F一邊開個小洞透氣,放入茶葉、倒進沸水後蓋回木瓜頂部,並以牙籤固定,泡茶過程和一般茶葉相同。
 
According to Mr Liu, in selection of the Green Papaya as tea pot, pick those whose shape are fat and short, with larger capacity. Cut off the top part of the papaya, clear away the seeds, open a small hole at the upper side wall to facilitate pouring of tea. Create a small ventilation hole at top cover, put in the tea leaves,  pour in boiling water, place the top cover back to papaya, you may use the toothpicks to secure the top cover. Similar to normal process of preparing tea.

Liu like to use Oolong tea as the taste is good. He was pleasantly surprised that the stomach pains he suffered for many years was healed after a month of drinking tea from the green papaya pot, without taking any other medication. He passed some green papaya leaves to a friend who worked at a Medical Center to test and analyse the content. The tests confirmed that healthy the enzyme present in papaya is beneficial to human health. Now as papaya in Mr Liu's orchard is yeilding suitable size fruit, he would share the fruits with family and friends.

Xu Fuchang, an experienced papaya farmers, the green papaya refers to papaya that is not ripe, where the skin is still green in colour. Generally, the papaya takes about four months to fully mature and ripe, but there healing effect would be lost after it is fully ripe. Green Papaya should be harvested when the papaya is approximately three months old, when the fruit is still firm, and the  "papaya milk" contains high papaya enzyme and other healthy ingredients. Not only the green papaya can be used in tea drinking, you may also cut them into cubes, and boil with the ribs, or even slicing the green papaya into fine long pieces and fried with garlic, very tasty, and no adverse effects on the human body.



Thanks for your time reading this article and we look forward to hearing from you,


Your Chief Servant,


James Oh

Friday 18 June 2010

HISTORY OF TEA ART ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA

My Dearest Friends,


Today,we are going to touch on the history of how the tea shops/house begin in Malaysia. These tea shops/house in Malaysia began in the early seventies. Just about a dozen people from all walks of life, dedicated to the tea culture, began to promote tea culture in Malaysia. They allowed people of all ethnic groups from all over the country to enjoy quality tea by complying to the tea culture, which cultivates good values such as patience, concentration, harmony and a peaceful environment.


The Kuala Lumpur Tea Art Society, Malaysia was finally established and approved by the Registrar of  Societies Malaysia in early December 1998. This is the result of more than a year of planning and preparation and since then it started to grow.





Southern Chinese Tea Ceremony 3


The Mission of the Association is to promote the tea culture amongst Malaysians. They also constantly organise activities and programmes such as, tea pot art lectures and tea exchange programs both domestically and in foreign countries especially China to explore the concept of tea culture, tea art training and curriculum.


For those who have the passion to acquire this skills and knowledge are always encouraged to join this association.


For other parts of the world, you may join such association in your own country. They are more than happy to train any foreigners to acquire this skill and knowledge.


Here, we always believe that we can only progress through sharing.


Hope you find this article useful and meaningful.


Your Chief Servant,

James Oh

Founder and Group CEO

Skype me at james.oh18

http://liftyouup.blogspot.com

Thursday 17 June 2010

CHINESE TEA EGGS

Dear friend,

In Malaysia, snacks such as Chinese Tea Eggs are very commonly available in most  tea shops or some Chinese conventional medical shops especially in major cities. Now, they are also available in shopping mall especially with high number of  Chinese shoppers. The aroma is so strong that you can smell  it from far as the seller may keep heating them up. 

For lunch, in addition to other light meals such as noodle apart from  tea.

Tea eggs, stewed in a black tea/soy sauce/spice blend, are  ubiquitous and cheap snacks sold  in major cities around Malaysia. They're also easy to make at home. Getting the marbling effect is as simple as cracking the egg once it's partially or well cooked. You can use any black tea, or Pu'er for an earthier taste. (Green tea is too astringent to use for tea eggs.) The eggs can be simmered for 1 to 3 hours; longer simmering means a more intense flavor and color.
Once the eggs are cooked, you can eat them hot or cold as a snack. Alternatively you may serve them as appetizers at a party, cut in half with caviar on top. Or even take them on your next hiking trip.
Simple yet delicious and you may add this item into your meal whenever you like it. Rich in nutrition and yet delicious in taste, try it out and share  with us your experience.
Thanks for your precious time to read this article and look forward to hearing from you, 




Your Chief Servant,

James Oh


Founder and Group CEO

Skype me at james.oh18

Tuesday 8 June 2010

TEA POT OF YELLOW CLAY









Hi! My dearest readers,

This article we are going to share with on the above two little lovely yellow clay tea pots. One of these as shown above is of the bigger round shape lid with 4 Mandarin characters as " Round Moon surrounded with Good and lovely Flower" indicates a relaxed life in peaceful and harmonious environment.

Whereas its pot is also with a larger flat bottom compared to the other yellow clay pot which matches well with its lid. The lid sit well at the ledge of the pot which attracted my younger brother's attention, and he brought this good news to me. At that time, I instantly requested him to take me to see the mainland Chinese merchant, who came to my mother's usual market place to sell his handcraft.

Thank God. When I reached there, these two items still available. After serious inspection and  scrutiny of these two items, I bargained with him and at last he told these two pieces to me at a good price since he was leaving my country very soon.





The photo above shown these two pieces, with the lid being removed and placed at their sides, which I bought from the mainland Chinese merchant. You can see clearly the differences between these two pieces despite both look alike, but their sprouts are so much different from each other. The left sprout is of italics whereas the right one is of straight and sharper sprout.

As mentioned earlier, the lid of the left pot with a smaller lid compare with the one on the right. Both are of  round shape.

No doubt both had been engraved with lotus flowers; one is a big lotus flower whereas the other is smaller with three lotus flowers. One is with a bird, represent peaceful, joyful and harmonious environment. Whereas the other one is a gold fish and lotus flower which well reflect a fish flowing freely in an environment of peace, joy and surrounded by lotus flower.

The Chinese characters on its pots and lids are also different. The meaning of its Chinese characters on the smaller lid well reflects the pots wide spread to every part of the world, without any boundary and limitation.

Look closely at "Mark Chop" at the bottom of both the pots closely. You will realise that both pots are made by different potters, which I initially thought was the same potter. However, I have no regret in buying both of them. I have kept them easily for more than five years and I will keep them in the near future.

We hope by now you will appreciate each and every pot which I have displayed with short description. We find each one has its own meaning and its unique crafting is very pleasing to our eyes and soul.

No wonder, every participant can enjoy every moment of the sip of the tea of his preferences. Together surrounded by the beauty of the pots, cups, bowls, trays and all types of accessories which we have shown you in our preceding articles. Perhaps, you should close your eyes and imagine all these items displayed in front of you and you are surrounded by your loved ones. Each one of you is sipping the tea slowly and you can see through their expression, the real full satisfaction of the tea that you have brewed for them. How wonderful and meaningful you will feel, especially from the snap shot of that particular moment.

Folks, what are you waiting for? Begin with some of these accessories and start to brew the tea. Take, the snap shot of that particular sweet moment become your goal/ end. Keep moving and let us know your experience.

Thank you and look forward to hear your experience both new or existing ones.



Your Chief Servant,

James Oh

Founder and Group CEO

Skype me at james.oh18



Monday 7 June 2010

TEA SHOP IS EVOLVING OVER TIME IN MALAYSIA


Hi! everyone,

Franchising concept is becoming popular amongst the Chinese teashops worldwide. They not only sell a variety of tea-leaf products, but also provide places for customers to experience fine tea brewing and the art of Chinese tea-drinking.

These shops are run not just by retirees in the Chinese community but many younger persons and students have participated in this popular Chinese cultural art form.

The Kung Fu tea ceremony literally means brewing tea with great skill. In brewing Kung Fu tea, a person needs to focus on symbolic hand gestures as practised in the Japanese tea ceremony. Some of these teashops are not only cultural brands, but also cultural business as well. They are more inclined to an enterprise which integrates body, mind and soul.

No surprise that there is a Chinese saying that tea is one of the seven basic daily necessities of life – besides fuel, rice, salt, oil, soya sauce and vinegar.

But in the early eighties, Chinese tea-drinking seemed to only interest the elderly people in Malaysia. Many of these people have a strong desire to introduce the art to the younger generation as they feared that the art, which has been around for over 5,000 years, might face extinction.

Thanks to all these group of people for their wise move and action.

Instead of shrinking, these teashops in Malaysia eventually expanded to serve more variety of tea-flavoured dishes such as Oolong tea rice, Oolong tea-fried vegetables and Jasmine tea-steamed fish.As the time go by, more items were also added, such as tea mooncakes to widen its product range.

Today, you can even find tea bags or powder form. This is to cater for convenience of urban folks who have hectic lifestyles. We can also find tea cafe chains which runs like the Starbucks cafe concept in Malaysia.

Their wise move makes life more interesting with these additional activities. It turn out to be a real true blessings instead.

James Oh

Thursday 3 June 2010

TEA POT

Hi! Friends,

In our preceding article, we have written about the tea pot and its history.











Today, we are going to brief you about the differences you can find in these tea pots shown in the above photo.

They are made from different types of clay. The clay colours are also different caused by how they have been fired in the kiln in term of heat temperature. Each type of clay has its different porosity and serves well for the different types of tea.

You can see clearly that each pot has its own identity and personality, suits individual preference and liking. Each individual teapot has also its own unique shape and meanings.

If you examine further, you will notice that the thickness of the clay is also different from one tea pot to the other. BY rule of thumb, the thickness should be at least 1/4 inch in thickness, otherwise it could easily crack. 

Their spouts are of different lengths and designs. Each one serves its own function. By looking closely, you will also notice the hole in the spout is of different width. Some have bigger holes and they were designed for bigger tea leaves. Otherwise, the spout will easily be blocked by the tea leaves and cause inconvenience to the drinkers. No wonder, each artist is so detailed in his works and constantly use his talent, skills and creativity to fit its spout at the position best fitted for each pot, depending on its size and design. Some are at the very top of the pot and some at the middle.

Similarly, the position of its handle would also not be taken lightly by its creator. You may find some with a couple of inches down from the top and bottom. Some of them of have thin handles, some with much thicker handles despite having different designs. 

If you take a closer look at my green clay tea pot, you will notice that its handle have some crafting - distinct from the rest. You can see its handle is also much bigger compare to the rest. By having some crafting, it makes it more appealing.

The shape of the tea pot also varies, and the drawing or words written on it are also different. Thus, you will not find this hobby boring and the tendency of adding new teapots into your collection is very high. I am not an exception to this rule. I can assure you that I will add more into my collection if not for the spaces constraint at my display cabinet.  I have another brother who has a much bigger collection than me. He has expressed his interest to me to blog his collections. However, according to him, he just could not find time to do so. Once his blog is ready, we will add his to ours so as you have more variety and reading materials on tea and related stuff. In this connection, we also like to take this opportunity to extend our invitation to other bloggers as well.

Another interesting point to note is its lid. One obvious point is that each has its own size of lid. The shape also varies from pot to pot. The most challenging task to the tea pot manufacturer is how well they can make the lid sit on the inner edge of the hole so that the lid rests on the formed ledge yet fits snugly. As a general guide it is no more than half the size of its top. Here, may anyone tells us why there is a small hole in the lid?

That's all for this time and we look forward to hearing from you; be it an answer or a question.


Hope you are enjoy reading our article. Please stay tuned and we have more exciting article for you, as Valued Readers.

For those who have not tried our elephant pu'er, please contact us so that we could send it to you.

Thank and have a fruitful day.


Your Chief Servant,

James Oh

Founder and Group CEO

Skype me at james.oh18


Your Chief Servant,

James Oh

Wednesday 2 June 2010

THE GREEN TEA POT - LOTUS AND FROG ON TOP

Dear my friends,





The above teapot is a product of the maker's applied art. It was made after much thoughts, 
modifications and hard work before we see it as it is today. We would say that the
design is more inclined to practical know how and its design serves more than for 
its intended purpose - it pours well to tea cups or tea bowls. You can also see 
everything in it - the tea must pour out smoothly from the pot if it is well designed 
and crafted. To make it collectible, it must look good and feel good with its 
ownership. To achieve these effects, everything counts - be it the shape, style, 
type of clay, the skill and experience of the maker.


































This tea pot is of pumpkin shape. Its lid comprise of lotus flowers with a frog 
resting on top - indicates peace and harmony; surrounded by the lotus flowers. 
Each flower consists of one tiny stone, which is freely moving around as you 
shake the lid. Thus producing such a chilling natural sound which may add 
colour to your environment of having tea with your loved ones.

Its clay is so much different from the normal ones - mixed with red, yellow clay
and others and after firing in the kilns that produce different colors. Now, you 
are able to appreciate how creative is the artist's work, who is so skillful in 
engraving the clay till it is so adorable. 



























Look at its handle, it is not only bigger than the normal ones with a few rings
along its handle so as to give the user a better grip, at the same time, it supports
well the pot with its weight and content together with hot water - the art of 
balance is equally important here. Hence, you can see that it must be functionable, 
as it may be used frequently if not daily.

It comes with a big spout and hole - suitable for Puer tea which is of bigger tea 
leaves. The pot is of bigger capacity and the pu'er tea leaves will expand much 
more in hot water when compare with other tea leaves. Its spout at the very 
bottom of the pot makes it much easier to pour out the tea. 

No wonder in recent years there has been an increase in admiration of these 
unique teapots. Consequently, its price has increased tremendously from a few
dollars to thousands of dollars for a single pot. And with this increase in value, 
more talented artists are attracted to this trade and quality and the craftmanship
are also enhanced. Hence, more scrutiny and quality control is imposed on 
every pot. 
Those rejected will then be smashed once they are out from the kiln. The 
makers, especially famous ones are very proud of their products and you can see
their maker's mark ("Chop Mark") at the bottom of each pot of their 
production. This seal authenticates the work.The seal is chosen by the maker 
with great care - sort of self image for them. Most of the famous potters have 
their seal from a well known engraver and the chosen characters of the seal are
cut in stone. 


























You may agree with us that the pot can reveal most of the maker's preference 
and liking. Some potters prefer a little spout, some go for a heavy handle. Some reproduce 
trunks and knotty branches. Others have exquisite engravings of ratan 
or leaves. Each artist usually produces what he or she likes best. Each pot is 
represented by their individual thoughts and represented the best of what he or 
she thinks at the time of making.

Similarly, each pot has its own beauty and characteristics depending on its 
beholders. Here, you may say that its beauty in green clay is good for the mind
and eyes. It will mould the sentiments, foster temperament, and improve health
of its beholders.

In other words, to be happy and successful you should drink tea brewed in 
such a great product such as the above green clay of teapot.



Your Chief Servant,

James Oh

Founder and Group CEO

Skype me at james.oh18

Tuesday 1 June 2010

TEA POTS AND ITS HISTORY

Hi! Folks,

Today, we are going to show you some of my tea pots collection, as below. You may notice that they are of different colour of clay, yellow, green, purple and brown. Majority of them have not been used. Guess which ones are suitable for pu’er tea.





We are going to go through with you more details of each of the tea pots and its attributes so that you are able to appreciate each of them and their individual function.

In this article, append below is extracted from http://www.teapots.net/ on teapots history for your reading pleasure. 

A History of Teapots

The Need for Teapots

The story of teapots begins with their necessity -- the development of tea and its regular consumption required an efficient, and later an aesthetically pleasing, vessel for brewing and drinking.

There are two legends about the invention of tea. Some attribute the discovery of tea to Shen Nung, a Chinese Emperor in the 3rd century BCE, who sat under a tree while boiling his drinking water. When the leaves of Camellia sinensis fell into his bowl, the agreeable taste prompted the genesis of tea drinking. An alternative account gives credit to a Dharuma Buddhist monk who travelled to China from India in the 5th century CE. During his fifth year of a seven year meditiation undertaken to prove his faith, he became sleepy. In an effort to remain focussed he cut off his offending eyelids and threw them onto the ground, whence sprang the tea plant. He decided to make a drink from the leaves and discovered it kept him awake, allowing him to pursue his spiritual studies.

Camellia sinensis, the common tea plant, was first cultivated in the 4th century CE, after wild specimens were brought to China from India. Actually an evergreen tree which may grow up to 50 feet, the domesticated plant is pruned to a bush-like state and kept at a height of five feet. After three to five years of growth, its leaves may be harvested to make tea. Today, women constitute the majority of pickers, and there is no machine that can exceed the 60 to 70 pounds of leaves per day that an experienced worker can collect. These 60 to 70 pounds of fresh leaves produce approximately 20 pounds of dry tea, or 2800 cups of tea. (To find out more about the process of making tea, go to our pageFrom Tree to Teapot.)

Teapots were not used immediately upon the discovery of tea. From the 8th century CE, tea leaves were rolled by hand, dried and then grounded into a powder. At first, this powder was mixed with salt and formed into cakes that would be dropped into bowls of hot water to form a thick mixture. Eventually the powder was left in its loose form, to be mixed in a bowl with boiling water and whipped into a froth. This method of tea-making was introduced into Japan in the early 9th century CE. Tea was considered medicinal in both China and Japan for the next 500 years.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in China, leaf infusion as we know it now became popular. The earliest examples of teapots come from this period, made from the zisha, or "purple" clay, of the YiXing region of China. Pottery in the YiXing tradition has been strong since the Sung Dynasty (960-1279); wares are valued for their fine texture, thin walls, and naturally beautiful coloration ranging from light buff to deep maroon tones. The transition from drinking bowls to teapots was a smooth one. YiXing teapots were, and still are, used to brew tea as well as act as the drinking vessel -- one sips directly from the spout of a single-serving pot. YiXing teapots gradually season, the unglazed clay absorbing the flavor of brewed tea, making them a favorite choice for tea lovers. The dissemination of YiXing teapots greatly influenced not only the forms of teapots found throughout the world, but also prompted the invention of hard-paste porcelain in the western world. (Modern YiXing teapots can be found atwww.YiXing.com, along with information about the manufacture and use of these legendary pieces.) 

Japanese demand for teapots created a growth in the industry of this new form of pottery. By the 15th century CE, both the Chinese and Japanese were drinking tea for ceremonial purposes, and the beverage was no longer regarded solely for its medicinal properties. Chinese scholars and intellectuals involved themselves in the design of teapots. The "cult of tea" in Japan, led by the artist Sen Rikyu (1522-1591), became an impetus for stylistic and artistic evolution in YiXing teapot designs. Cha-no-yu, the tea ceremony which forms the basis for Japanese Buddhist "Teaism," serves as a natural expression and discipline of zazen meditation and is viewed as an art. (The Japanese tea ceremony is described in detail on our page Chado: Adoration of the Everyday.) Teapots detailed with themes from nature or sutras were desirable adjuncts to this art, and YiXing pots themselves became prized as creative works. The Japanese began making red clay or shudei teapots; they imported Chinese artists to teach them potting methods, and developed new techniques for creating these delicate wares. The old province of Bizen became an increasingly important center for Japanese ceramics. Raku, rough and dark earthenware, emerged.

The emergence and early evolution of teapots spanned several hundred years. Tea drinking had spread South through Asia, and was noticeable in Formosa (Taiwan), Siam (Thailand), Burma/Myanmar and the islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. The next 300 years would see the global spread of tea -- and, of course, the teapot.

By now, we hope you have an indepth understanding of tea pots and its history.
  
Your Chief Servant,

James Oh

Founder and Group CEO

Skype me at james.oh18