TEA SHAMPOO

Hi ! Everyone.

 Big congratulation to you for coming to the blog talk about tea, which is second most HIGHLY consumed after water.

This article I decided to illustrate further how tea has been closely associated with our daily life. It has been widely recognized and accepted as one of the important beverage. Its dried tea also can be used as pillow, fertilizer and etc.

Today, my article is going to touch on tea essence shampoo. No doubt, tea has also been widely accepted as a nutritious product in my country, today it is also used to produce tea essence shampoo and is easily available in Malaysia. Perhaps you may find such products in your country. Please update us in the comment column provided below. Thanks.

This uniquely formulated shampoo, with the antioxidant properties of tea, especially Green and White tea essence is able to revitalize hair. Here, anyone would like to share your thoughts or experiences in this aspect. You are always more than welcome here. No doubts, there have been lots of scientific proofs of such properties found in tea leave. Not surprising that some of you may have read or be aware of it..

Append below please find such a product which are available in my country for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks and look forward to seeing you again.

James Oh

Skype me at james.oh18

WATER

WATER

Hi ! Tea folks,

As some of you may be aware that water is the main component of brewing the best possible tea, apart from having good quality tea. As such, we cannot afford to ignore the significant importance of water. It has two great impacts on tea in term of type of water used and at what level the water is boiled.

In today's article, I am going to focus on the latter to ease the understanding. So, the question arises here is to what level the water should boil at. To answer this question, we need to know what type of tea you are brewing. Append below I have listed down  some useful guide for the respective type of teas:-

a) about 70-80 degree C for green tea;
b) 85 degree C are good for white or lightly oxidated Oolong teas;

It is interesting to know that the ancient tea masters, prior to invention of thermometer,  used visuals or hearing to determine the correct water temperature, for steeping tea, as appended below:-

a) when you see the bubbles like small fish's eyes or crab's eyes, that translate to about 70-80 degree, suitable for green tea.

b) When the bubbles grow bigger and like the size of crystal beads or pearls, indicates to 85 degree C, suitable for white and lightly oxidated Oolong teas.

c) As the billows surge wildly in the kettle, with the size of longans, the water is nearly reaching the boiling point and perfect for for steeping black or Pu'er teas.

That's the main reason for my preference of glass kettle, which I have blogged much earlier. You may read it again at the link below.

Before I pen off, I like to take this opportunity to share a useful Chinese poem in this connection which closely associates the sound of water gurgling in the kettle with other natural sounds from the wind or water flow as belows:-

a) "wind blowing through pine leave" which translates to water boiling at 75 degree C. b) Whereas sounds resembling "spring water spurting out of the stone ' which would be 85 degree C
c) "waves crashing on the shore", translate to 91 degree C.
d) When the water reach the boiling point, there is No sound at all.

Lastly, can you guess which step makes the most noise. Scroll down for the answer.



e)  However, half-boiled water makes the most noise. This phrase I believe is the most well known phrase in life and still applicable in today's world. Here, I write to congratulate those who answered it correctly.

Trust you find the above article not only entertaining, but also enriching as the name of this blog suggests. Please feel free to let us know as how to make this more entertaining and enriching should you have any idea/suggestion. Your valuable feedback is greatly appreciated.

Hope to seeing you again,

To your success in enriching life,

James Oh

Skype me at james.oh18

TREASURE OF AGED TEA

VERY WARM WELCOME HERE,

I  had always been approached and asked "What are the differences between  aged and new tea?"

In this article, I decided to address this question below in the hope that you have a better understanding.

New tea as opposed to aged tea, is usually harvested, produced and sold in the same season. As for aged tea, it is usually kept for a few years or even decades.

Naturally, the characteristics of new tea are fresh, sweet and astringent with aroma. As a consequence, the new tea is more exciting to your stomach and much easier to refresh your brain. Due to these similar reasons, new tea is not recommended for the elderly to drink.

The next question arises as how to take good care of the aged tea?

You may know that the aged tea is stored for long periods, so the taste is not fresh, and other tastes may be lost as well. Although the aged tea comes with the light flavor, its' taste mellows slowly and consistently.  It is worthy to note that high quality aged tea does not taste unpleasantly old or musty.

Append below please find the most common ways to age tea.

a) Sealing tea in the pot and then put in the cellar or
b) Bury into the ground.

In the above manners, tea will change favor slowly and naturally.

Lately, you may find some people prefer roasting out the tea every few years after starting the aged process in order to prevent bad odour. Please inform us more about this newly invented way, which I am sure it is of great assistance to the readers of this blog.

However, no matter which way tea is aged, if you don’t use the high quality tea, do not expect the poor taste tea to change to better ones. Hence, the high quality tea base is the most crucial for aged tea.

Interestingly to note that aged tea will tend to appreciate, similar to wine. Not surprisingly that it has been used as one of the hedging tools against inflation, which has become the current phenomena worldwide. These aged teas have increased in value many folds recently and big congratulations to those who have made a windfall. For those who have not, please spare some time to learn this hobby and you too can make such similar fortune.

Here, I must confess that I am very fortunate that my investment in the aged tea and apparatus had been successful and I can be well rewarded if I were to realize them. However, I still prefer to keep them and continue to learn more of this hobby.

Thank God and those who had assisted me in such a rewarding investment and hobby.

Stay tuned and look forward to hearing from you,

James Oh

GAIWAN IS NOT REINVENTED TEA BREWING METHOD

Gaiwan is not a reinvented tea brewing method

In my preceding article, I have discussed quite indepth on how this method reinvented tea brewing. To make it more fun, I decided to write an opposing view on today's article so as to enhance the readers' perspective.

In my preceding article, my argument that gaiwan reinvents tea brewing method because it makes the process much simpler and faster. However you should be mindful that this method  only applies to tender tea such as green tea. Hence, it has limited scope and application.

Due to the above limited scope and application,  it is more appropriate/ accurate that to say that it offers another brewing method to tea drinkers. Hence, it should be viewed as a compliment to other brewing methods rather than replacing them. In short, it adds more color to life, so to speak.

As such, it makes other brewing method relevant and applicable till date. With technological advancement, more varieties and methods are made available. Simply put,  you are more pampered with plenty of choices as it evolves through time. Greater challenges and excitement awaits  you if you choose to explore further.

By its simplicity and ease of use in nature, one may argue that it lacks kick; glory or fun in term of the activities involved. Be mindful that it has a great adverse impact on the economy as well. Today's world, everyone is more concerned on the sustainable economy rather than anything else.

Alternatively, you may also choose to stay the way you are in. Grab whatever opportunity that comes along. You may turn every situation to your favour so long as you are contented with. To do so, you need to be creative and innovative.

Once, you see the benefits, you should then act upon it, without any delay. Never wait until a right time for you to do so and I can assure you that the right time will not come.  

To share with you my initial experience when I begun my blog. I know, for sure that there is so much imperfectness and incompleteness. However, I chose to embark it first and tidy it whenever I have the time to do so.

Hope you enjoy reading it and have a fulfilling day,

James Oh

Skype me at james.oh18

HOW TO BREW CHINESE GREEN TEA (VIDEO)

GAIWAN

Gaiwan Method

The Gaiwan is a traditional teacup from China, with a lid and saucer. By placing the lid at an angle, the lid functions as a strainer and makes drinking pure leaf teas easy. The saucer helps in lifting the cup, especially when the tea is at a high temperature. Originally the Gaiwans were made of clay. Over time many designs have evolved. These days porcelain, stoneware and glass Gaiwans are used to enjoy pure leaf teas. 

If you prefer, you may also use the gaiwan method, the oldest method for brewing tea, instead of the gongfu method of making tea. You may click at the link below to refresh your memory of the latter method.

http://teaartblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/gongfu-tea-ceremony.html

In this article, I am very proud to share with you of the latter method. This method involves tea cup, cup lid and saucer. Please allow me to give you a short history of this method.

A porcelain cup with a lid that fits inside the lips was created during the Ming dynasty. You may drink from it directly or serve the tea in individual testing cups. Later, a third element was introduced, the saucer, also called in China "Tea boat". This piece was added to insulate the bottom and enable people to hold the cup more safely. By placing the lid at an angle, the lid functions as a strainer to keep the leaves away from the drinking or pouring edge. As such, it makes drinking pure leaf teas easy. This method is suitable for drinking tea alone as well as sharing with a group of people using a pitcher and small cups.      

Due to its functionality and practicability, the Gaiwan has long been recognized as one of the most common tool in China to prepare tea. It is the favorite way of preparing and drinking tea in the Sichuan province. Teahouses there mostly serve tea in gaiwan cups. The gaiwan is used more appropriatly especially when brewing tender tea such as green tea, white tea, and tisanes. Otherwise, it would be easily over brewed when clay teapot is being used. Another great advantage of using this cup is that you could drink it directly. Thus, you are just enjoying tea exactly the way they used to during the Ming dynasty. It evolved over time. These days porcelain, stoneware and glass Gaiwans are used to enjoy pure leaf teas. 

James Oh

Skype me at james.oh18

AIR TALK ON TEA

Dear Everyone,

Greetings from Malaysia! Here I have good news for you.

Lately, I received a mail from our local radio station, BFM 89.9- The Business Station I www.bfm.my I 5.01 Wisma BU8, 11 Lebuh Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 47800, Malaysia I Map tinyurl.com/bfmmap I Join Facebook Group tinyurl.com/bfmradio I Follow on Twitter www.twitter.com/bfmradio where you can log in their website if you want to know more about this station.  

They came across my blog while looking for someone to do a scoop on tea appreciation for the upcoming Chinese New Year season. In this connection, they wrote to me to inquire whether I could assist them in doing so. Of course, my answer to them is a BIG YES and that I am more than happy to assist in any way I can to promote this healthy art and culture. What is more important is to bring more cheers to their listeners so that they can have more fun and look forward to a more exciting program.

We then proceeded to fix a day to do recording and I do hope you could continue to extend your support by tuning to this channel, as scheduled on Time and Date  ........................................

Trust you will enjoy it and hope that it will give you a good kick off for this coming Rabbit Year, we all are awaiting for.

Before I end here, I write to wish you "Gong Xi Fatt Choi" and let Tea be the bridge to help you to cross over your challenges and achieve your goals.

Thanks and have a fulfilling day everyday!

--

Best regards


James