Posted in Health, Tea, Wellness on Jul 20th, 2007 No Comments »
There is plenty of research literature these days on the benefits of green tea. How it is full of anti-oxidants. How it effects blood sugar levels. Cholesterol. How it gives energy without the jolt and buzz. That it is good for the liver. That it calms the spirit. It is good stuff!
But, what research [...]
Posted in Taiwan, Tea, Wellness on May 18th, 2007 1 Comment »
There are times I miss it. Miss it with an ache.
Longing for the quiet metronome tick of an antique clock that counts out eternity, while drinking tea on Yong Kang street.
I miss those evenings when hours would disappear into tea and conversation. Surrounded by bamboo shadowed walls, charcol fired spring water, and tea from places [...]
Posted in Taiwan, Tea, Travel on Nov 9th, 2006 No Comments »
It is not a leaf or region.
It is not a taste of bitter or sweet,
or a feeling in the mouth.
It is an unfolding connection between plants and rain, mountains and mist.
Soils, insects, sweltering afternoons of sun, and moonless nights of dark.
It is an art of timing, selecting and drying.
Bruising and rolling.
Roasting and laying fallow in [...]
Posted in China, Tea, Travel on Oct 4th, 2006 1 Comment »
Da Jue Temple is an excellent place to drink tea. North of the Summer Palace and resting in the foothills outside the 5th of Beijing’s 6 ring roads, it offers a quiet enough to hear the wind rustle leaves moment to recall that forgotten sense of peace that comes with stillness.
Da Jue,大覺, literally translated [...]
Posted in China, Tea, Travel on Sep 24th, 2006 No Comments »
Bus, subway, bus, wander through the enormous West Beijing train station to the south lot catch the other bus, then down the street. It’s a long way from south of the Temple of Heaven to the tea market streets on the west side of town.
Both China and Taiwan have this curious commercial habit of jamming [...]