Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Role Model of LA18 for the month July/2008
Due to technical problem,
please click on following link:
http://www.tonylamfilms.com/la18/rm/thomas_shu.htm
please click on following link:
http://www.tonylamfilms.com/la18/rm/thomas_shu.htm
Friday, December 19, 2008
Delightful Rain


"Oh, heavenly God, it is raining ..."
There is a very popular Hakka folk song: Delightful Rain (天公落水).
The melody is very cheerful and your feet will tap along as soon as you hear the music. Back on 2005 Los Angeles Hakka Concert, Lynn and Josephine tried to work on adding new spirit to this old Hakka folk song. They did a marvelous touch-up, and this song appeals to me a lot more sense and it is one of my favorite.
天 公 啊....... 落 水 啊....
阿妹啊 戴著笠媽 來到坑水邊
坑水啊 清又清 魚兒在水中介泅來泅去
坑水啊 清又清 魚兒在水中介泅來泅去
Oh, heavenly God, it is raining!!
The young girl wearing a bamboo hat, arrives at the creek side.
The creek is clear that fish are swimming happily.
April 5, 2006, I was back to Taiwan for our family's annual tomb cleaning.
That afternoon, my brother Jackson invited me to visit a friend of his at Pinlin Pouchong tea district. There's a slightly shower right upon our arrival...the farmer was extremely excited. No time to sit down to have a cup of tea...he simply invited us to visit his tea garden right on the hill behind his house...and his wife joined with us to the tea garden half hour later with some nice delicacies…
It triggered me to have the idea to re-write the lyrics for this Hakka folk song. I hope you will appreciate it as much as I do.
茶園情真 (用 客家歌謠「天公落水」)天 公 吶... 落 水 啊...
天公吶 落水啊 阿哥啊 戴著笠媽 來到茶園唇
茶樹啊 青又青 茶枝生満嫩芽新葉
天公吶 落水啊 阿妹啊 摜著點心 來到茶園唇
看哥啊 笑咪咪 期望好茶啊 賣出好價
天 公 吶..... 落 水 啊 ......
天公吶 落水啊 阿哥啊 戴著笠媽 來到茶園唇
茶樹啊 青又青 茶枝生満嫩芽新葉
天公吶 落水啊 阿妹啊 摜著點心 來到茶園唇
看哥啊 笑咪咪 期望好茶啊 賣出好價
天 公 吶..... 落 水 啊 ......
Oh, heavenly God, it is raining!!
A young man wearing bamboo hat strolls to the tea garden.
The tea bushes are green, and the branches are full of young buds and new tender leaves.
A young girl carrying a bucket of snacks strolls to the tea garden.
Looking at her lover with big sweet smiles,
they both are hoping:
A young man wearing bamboo hat strolls to the tea garden.
The tea bushes are green, and the branches are full of young buds and new tender leaves.
A young girl carrying a bucket of snacks strolls to the tea garden.
Looking at her lover with big sweet smiles,
they both are hoping:
We will have a good crop, and our fine tea will bring us a fortune!!
Oh, Heavenly God, it is raining!!
How true it is! These farmers are waiting anxiously for the delightful rain in the Spring time.
A cup of fine tea is indeed filled with love and gratitude.
Salute to these diligent tea farmers!
I found one video of the play from the YouYube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc7szrhPwnc
In 2015 World Tea Expo - on the Special Events Stage 5/7/2015 - I have this one to cheer up our audience. Delightfufl Rain
In 2015 World Tea Expo - on the Special Events Stage 5/7/2015 - I have this one to cheer up our audience. Delightfufl Rain
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Enjoy a Taiwanese film - Cape No. 7

I admit that I don't know movie, but I enjoy watching good movies. To me, a good movie just like a good tea. You have to blend in many different ingredients with various elements and efforts to have a harmonized presentation. Is this tea good? Only the one who drinks it can really tell. Apparently, "Cape No. 7" is a fantastic Taiwanese movie that many Taiwanese enjoy it so much and I am definitely not alone.
The 1st Los Angeles Taiwanese Film Festival was successfully taken placed on December 12-14, 2008 at James Bridges Theatre, UCLA. I was invited to offer Taiwan teas at the reception party for the Opening Ceremony. Due to this help out, I got the chance unexpectedly to have close interaction with Director Wei of the hottest movie from Taiwan, Cape No.7.
Director D.S. Wei is such a humble and descent young man. Very hard for me to believe that he is the one who breaks so many records in Taiwan's movie industry. Most unbelievably, he told us that including himself, this film is consisting of a bunch of people's efforts, who were all at their careers' low point while this movie was shooting. No one expects this movie will be such a big hit drawing all kinds of attention, received good echoes from the diversed groups of audience who bought tickets, not only once, not only for ownself...many audience admit they haven't entered movie theatres for a long long time. Director Wei quietly says: hoping this movie won't use up all his luck.
One can easily google "Cape No. 7 " for so much great comments from the news and many blogs...in case you've seen it yet...
This is a movie about the unwavering pursuits for music, dream and love. It not only moves us with its passion and also lures us by its lavish presentation of South Taiwan's breathtaking scenery through its top-notch cinematography.
Why this movie can touch so many Taiwanese hearts?
Just like Director Wei said at the Q&A session after the movie:
He believes that every audience might find the shadow of oneself from the film.
We have studied the event and decided to serve the following three different Taiwan teas on the evening of 12/12/2008 at the Opening Ceremony:
Jade Oolong Classic -
A high mountain grown Chin-Sin Oolong from Alishan. Very soothing with luscious aroma and lingering sweet finish...
Earl Grey XO -
"XO" draws good attention from guests...alcohol in this tea? most guests ask the same question.
Well, for the wine, XO means extra old., this Earl Grey XO is Excellent Oolong that scented with Earl Grey flavoring... What a nice treat for our American friends!
Herbal Guava -
I was told that many guests might be afraid of caffeine, especially during the evening.
We then decided to have this most popular Herbal drink in Taiwan's history. It was often served under the big tree to greet the people who travel by on the country paths...the story fits so well for this occasion.
These 3 teas were freshly brewed in tea-one brewers and served in 3 air-pots that been refilling whole evening long. Our volunteer Rebecca Wang did a marvelous job. Again, Josephine did a nice display and elegant signs for each tea...I am glad to say, "Mission Accomplished".
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Formosa Oolong



(用 鄭智仁「台灣百合」in Hakka Taiwanese)
Formosa 烏龍茶 實在讚 蓬萊寶島介特產
作茶介功夫 第一流 一年一季來膨風
綠色介茶蟬 六月來訪問 留下特殊天然蜜香
風行全世界 人人都誇讚 東方美人名聲最響
作茶介功夫 第一流 一年一季來膨風
Formosa Oolong truly is amazing,
the famous and unique product of Taiwan.
It takes great craftsmanship to produce this tea,
and merely one short crop every year.
Those green leaf-hoppers are angels from the heaven,
arrive in June with their natural fragrance.
The beloved Formosa Oolong is known as
"Oriental Beauty" throughout the world.
It takes great craftsmanship to produce this tea,
and merely one short crop a long year.
========================================
"Formosa Lily", composed by Dr. J.Z. Cheng. This song won him the second place award in 2003 Panama World Folksong Contest. In our Hakka Concert 2005 and 2006, we have used several pieces that composed by Dr. Cheng, and I helped to convert the original Holo lyrics in Hakka Taiwanese for those concerts. Since then, we become good friends. After the concerts, oneday I got the idea, why not use this beautiful melody to promote my beloved Formosa Oolong...I got his permission, and this "Formosa Lily" has another new lyrics to introduce "Formosa Oolong - the Oriental Beauty" !
I thought this will be a great tool, and I always enjoy this song while I am doing my Oolong Tea Class. The audience can share my passion in this tea and appreciate its uniqueness. STI's first Oolong 3 class back on Jan 21,2007 at San Francisco is my virgin performance.
(The following video was filmed while I had a tea workshop with a bunch of students at UC Irvine, back on 11/19/2009.)
Another video available:
https://www.facebook.com/teafestivalla/videos/854335634584
Another video available:
https://www.facebook.com/teafestivalla/videos/854335634584
Taiwan Oolong vs. China Oolong

Back on Taiwan Teas Study Tour last October, we had a small discussion about how to easily identify different Oolongs on our bus to Tung Ting, Nantou.
Similarly, some participants of STI's Oolong 3 classes did reflect to me that they have this experience: when they finish my Taiwan Oolong session, they thought they got it, they can surely tell the difference among various Taiwan Oolongs now. However, when they completed the China Oolong session, they then got lost again...
It might be true that Taiwan Oolongs are categorized by the Processing, and Most China Oolongs are still remaining to be identified by teas' cultivars. This means in Taiwan, you can easily pick one Oolong, and tell what type of Oolong it is and you have the confidence to brew the tea well accordingly.
Thing does not just happen...I do have the following story to share.
It began long time ago while Master Jackson Huang chaired Taiwan Tea Manufacturers' Association. He and his board members have tried very hard to cut off super complicated names for Taiwan Oolongs on the market. TTMA has figured out different ways to simplify the categories of Taiwan Oolongs and the efforts paid off. I remembered when I was helping TTMA to participate 1996 Fancy Foods Show at Philadelphia...we set up our display with Four teas, four only for a 40' booth. Those 4 teas are Jade Oolong, Amber Oolong, White-Tip Oolong and the Pouchong. We gave away free tea samples with a simple request: you have to tell us which tea by calling the name loud. (*That was really a lot of fun!) After they took the sample, we asked the next question: "Do you know how to make it? Do you want to join us for a hands on tea tasting?" It ends up we have run 36 Tea-One Tasting Classes right at the show and we have seeded 100 plus Taiwan Oolong Tea Specialists. Among them, some now own big tea companies, some run tea stores, some are still teaching at WTE and STI...
Time flies, it is a great memory that I will always enjoy with a cup of Oolong.
What type of Oolong?
Well... give me Pouchong now.
Later, I will like to have a cup of winter Jade Oolong...
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Unreachable Star
This is Hakka Song is produced by Sam-Gup-Shui Studio.
It was the song for 228-61 Hakka Concert...
It was the song for 228-61 Hakka Concert...
“The Unreachable Star”
潘掬慧 作詞/ 黃令先 作曲
台灣人 肩揩 忍不得介傷痛
來改正 無法度改介錯誤
就算手骨酸痛 也愛緊去試
去摘 該粒 無可能介星星
To reach the unreachable star,
we are to reach the unreachable star!
台灣人 勇敢 面對困難
撈 打不倒介敵人 打戰
就算手骨酸痛 也愛咬著牙根
直到 摘到 該粒星
To reach the unreachable star,
We are to reach the unreachable star!
Tea and Zen
A friend wrote us to find out the proper translation for her tea event at NY...
無限茶趣-以茶入道 茶禪一味
my suggestion is:
Experience the World of Harmony
with a cup of tea that in tune with Zen practice!
無限茶趣-以茶入道 茶禪一味
my suggestion is:
Experience the World of Harmony
with a cup of tea that in tune with Zen practice!
Happy to Launch...

We are excited!
Finally, we launch our own blog! For a long time, we have talked about it.
Finally, we launch our own blog! For a long time, we have talked about it.
It is a great experience to learn all sorts of tricks and having fun. I have the same feeling for the preparation of a new tea: Just try on, after few infusions, we will figure out how to make a good cup of tea!
Talk about tea, tea's a lot of fun...
Talk about tea, tea's a lot of fun...
We will try to focus our blog on tea and...Hakka culture.
We pick the name: Pon Fong Cha as it is indeed a great tea that only produced in Taiwan's Hakka villages, very near our home towns. Hakka in Taiwan has experienced a long history and a fairy close ties with Taiwan's tea industry. Singing Hakka Tea Mountain Love Songs is another hobby we have been shared for the past few years. We run Sam-Gup-Shui Studio, which we work with our talented pianist Lynn Huang to make new Hakka songs and produce Hakka concerts and various culture programs.
We pick the name: Pon Fong Cha as it is indeed a great tea that only produced in Taiwan's Hakka villages, very near our home towns. Hakka in Taiwan has experienced a long history and a fairy close ties with Taiwan's tea industry. Singing Hakka Tea Mountain Love Songs is another hobby we have been shared for the past few years. We run Sam-Gup-Shui Studio, which we work with our talented pianist Lynn Huang to make new Hakka songs and produce Hakka concerts and various culture programs.
We are happy that from now on, we can record our ideas, events and many many crazy thoughts...right here at our own blog.
It will be a big commitment to carry on. In the meanwhile, please enjoy many good pictures taken from our recent Tea Tour at Taiwan. (just click on the following link)
http://www.abctea.com/monthly_newsletter_november_2008.htm!
http://www.abctea.com/monthly_newsletter_november_2008.htm!
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