Are these Specialty Teas ?

Are these Specialty Teas ?
More and more 'jobbers' walk in or text in to inquire about some basic teas, most Green, either pan-fired or steam-fired, Black, OP or BOP, Oolong standard... They want to 'create' Specialty Teas with their own blends...
From the demand and repeating orders that make me believe some trends are going big out there. I don't want to know what are those added in the blends... Smell strong though, look pretty too, just not in my cups.
What exactly Specialty Tea trade I am in? Since APTI to STI... Still not sure.

One of my tea sensei, Mr. CS Lo, shares with me the following statement, I thought my tea friends will be interested in reading it. ----

"What is specialty tea depends on how you define it. I used to discuss with visitors on the definition of good tea, in our QandA session.

My advice is that you can only find your good tea for yourself personally after a certain period of tasting time on various teas by yourself. The maker’s specialty tea is not necessary the real good tea for you or good specialty tea for the consumer in person individually.

Specialty tea with its high quality, scarcity, high commanding price or its profound commercial promotion is indeed good for conspicuous consumption, showing your high social status symbol. To an ordinary tea-lover, such a conspicuous consumption is nonsense, waste of money and even at the expense of one’s personal health.  Specialty teas are the games of tea experts, tea connoisseurs, brokers and gifts makers and so forth.  Specialty tea has its two blind spots, poor cost performance and non-mass production. (成本太貴，不能量產).  

To me, tea is an honest product, plain in nature, easy to access and always affordable to consumers at large; and most of all, good for health and thought.  As a tea maker, I am proud of being able offer those merits to the societies at large.  After all, all businesses are local, different teas serve different local options or demands."

Enjoy Fine Oolong while you are traveling... Introducing #TD-106

Last October, after our 2011 Taiwan Oolongs Study Tour Program, I tried to find one travel tea set for myself. This is not for tea ceremony, simply for my own enjoyment of having fine Taiwan Oolongs in a hotel room or at the place that tea sets are not readily available. Most Oolongs are bolder leaves, so I have to get one with large chamber for the leaves to unfurl. I figure 3 oz teacup is a right size for me for each infusion. Since it is for traveling...try not to be too complicated... a 6 oz teapot that could offer two cups of tea, not to worry about extra tea is over steeped in the pot, and no need to have additional pitcher... So I got this Ivory White Porcelain Travel Tea Set, sku#TD-106 added to our stock line.

Very well designed tea pot, especially for Oolong leaf to have full chamber to unfurl during the infusion... Perfectly to make two cups of fine tea at each infusion.

Well, the plastic tea tray is not included...you can find it easily at your local grocery stores... or you can prepare a mate.

Tea cups and tea pot could be packed in separate bag, and then to be rest assured in a foam/cushion filled travel bag.

Next time while on a run again, pack this set in your luggage... make sure you have your favorite tea with you. Here is a selction of Specialty Oolong from Taiwan for your reference -

Amber Oolong, the gongfu

The craftsmanship of baking Amber Oolong requires great effort and many years of practice. The toasty aroma with a natural sweet lingering finish can be enjoyed after many infusions. This tea is often used in traditional Gongfu tea ceremony.

Brandy Oolong, the darling

Made from Taiwan’s unique cultivar, Brandy Oolong has been skillfully processed with indoor withering, high-oxidation and heavy rolling to bring out the rich notes of each cultivar. Ruby 18, FB 27, FB 74…to name a few which have become the modern classics for tea enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds.

Jade Oolong, the classic

This naturally fragrant high mountain tea instantly captures tea drinkers’ love. After repeated withering, oxidation and wrapped-rolling, the pleasant aroma and delicate yet lasting flavor are sealed in the semi-balled, tightly rolled leaves.

Oriental Beauty, the exquisite

With the special visit by green leaf hoppers in early summer, Oriental Beauty delivers an exceptional fruity and elegant floral aroma with an intense, complex flavor followed by a rich honey and ripe peach aftertaste. This is truly the Champagne of teas, only from Taiwan.

Pouchong, the esteemed

Famous for its exceptional captivating aroma; this tea demands the most superior skills in every step of processing. Pouchong is often used as gifts bestowed to elders and special friends.

Bliss Oolong, the harmony

This tea can be a result of blended with various estates, crops, batches, or types; or of scented or mixed with herbs and tisanes. Its flavor and aroma always brings bliss – a taste of harmony.

Tea Cozy, keeps your tea warm, makes your room cozy, and your heart happy!

 These grass-woven Tea Cozies that we bought at a small Hakka village in Taiwan on our way to visit tea gardens in Miaoli during March 2010. A few aged ladies were making these tea cozies to support their families and raise their grand children while their parents working at the cities.... In Taiwanese, they called these tea cozy, 茶壽, what a great imagination for a tea cozy. We were told the idea was originally from the Bird's Nest...and now it become an energy saving warmer for our tea, and makes our room cozy. When we are relaying our orders to those ladies...from our friends and our fellow tea colleagues...we know we are also making many families happy! We sure will like to keep this handcraft to be preserved and will also further introduce it to the upcoming World Tea Expo. Josephine and I plan to have one as the raffle drawing prize.
If your tea rooms or your tea shops plan to get one, we will be more than happy to serve. Every piece is different in size, weight, and the fabrics also varies. >

Write your own Tea Stories!

We have custom made this package for displaying 6 teas at a time with their stories...
The first Azusa Tea Club MeetUp, we introduced "A Taste of Taiwan Oolongs" - 6 different Taiwan's specialty Oolongs: Wenshan Pouchong, Oriental Beauty, Classic Tung-Ting, Alishan Jade Oolong, Mucha TieGuanYin, Chichong Pouchong (Baked Pouchong).

The second Azusa Tea Club MeetUp, we introduced "USDA Certified Organic Teas, Around the World" - another 6 different Organic teas: Taiwan Jade Oolong, Formosa Bonita, English Breakfast, Rooibos Bourbon, Genmai Cha, Pomergranate Tea.

We plan to have 6 teas in a group to make each Book with 6 tea stories...and serves as a Live Tea Menu for tea rooms or fine diners...even the traditional Dim-Sum Restaurants...

Wishing to have more inputs from our fellow tea enthusiasts, tea lovers... Let us write up many more tea stories...

Help customers find the right teas to buy

On 10/20/2010, TOST group stopped by a tea shop (Lin J. Tea Garden) located in Lugu, Nantou to experience a different way of tea retailing. The owner has 10 different teas set in array for us to cup. 1 - 10, each tea had gone through different baking process with various temperature and length of time. This way, they can introduce customers the teas that meet with the right taste profile. (*I was told that Mr. Lin got this idea from the system of Steak House...rare, medium, well...customer' s choice...) Looks like it works very well for his tea business. Then later in Ocha Matsuri 2010, I found one tea booth got the similar idea to present 4 Senchas with different roasting process...customers can taste four samples and decide which one appeals the most...then the right tea will be presented for formal cupping....

In a highly competitive Oolong tea market like Lugu in Taiwan and Green tea market as Shizuoka in Japan, tea farmers or tea vendors must find his/her unique way to stay in business. What should we do in Northern America?

(At the 2010 Ocha Matsuri, in one Japanes Green Tea Company's booth, attendants use a tray with four teas, just to test your taste profile first...and then they will bring the right tea for your formal infusion. This is a smart filtering process in tea retailing service. Make it simple and find the right product for your customer. So Des Ne....)

TEA NOW !

How about a new slogan: Tea Now !

Over the years, I have had the "Tea-One Tasting Class" -

with the mission: Take one step ahead to the Basics.

2011 New Year Resolution: "Tea Now Tasting Class" -

have tea in our current lifestyle...

A new avenue was launched just a day before New Year's Eve, Josephine and I have organized AZUSA Tea Club. This will be a scheduled Meet Up with tea enthusiasts with Topics.

We are trying to have professional cupping session at the first half; and then do a demonstration of creative Tea Tasting Ceremony with one of the teas we've cupped...and invite our attendees to have a forum of sharing the ideas of how to prepare your own tea. Hoping that we can have Tea in our current lifestyle.... No need to be limited in very Asian: Zen or Kung-Fu...Nor to be too English: Victorian or Afternoon Tea...We will find out many new ways to make teas that can fit in our daily lifestyle, so...friends...TEA NOW !

Fortune can be found when given a little luck

When the global economic is down...
we have been thinking for our business partners...especially for their
business promotion during the hard time.
How do you cheer your customers up?
How do you show that you're the one they can rely on...
Here is a small token for you:
A golden colored Yuan-Bow (Nugget) saved in a ceramic steamer,
packaged with an organza bag.
Yuan-Bow can be used as a paper weight, while the steamer can double as an air tight caddy or a little trinket box. You can have your logo imprinted on the steamer to make sure your message is delivered! (*we wish your Money and Investing continuously growing...)
We have take one more step:
Two lucky steamers in one nice gift box, one with the goleden nugget and one filled with fine tea for celebrating Wealth and Wellness!