On Dongding and highest quality tea

[kyarazen]

Yeap. I agree. Taiwan tea can be really really expensive.

Especially if it has to be hyped up elsewhere or take a big detour on its way to the final consumer in order to fill some middleman's pockets for the sake of "service to the community"

i'm all for the direct consumer to farmer type of system. i think this is the future of quality tea. the farmer can make enough to put in the effort, the consumer gets the closest "bang for the buck".

i'm now currently working on small wuyi producers that have their plantations in the correct places, and dedicated production on classical flavours. on the hunt of an authentic classical/old style tie guanyin too. if any of these teas meet the cut, farmer is really honest, committed with a good outlook, these people should be made accessible to the international community.

[xabi]

Yeap. I agree. Taiwan tea can be really really expensive.

Especially if it has to be hyped up elsewhere or take a big detour on its way to the final consumer in order to fill some middleman's pockets for the sake of "service to the community"

i'm all for the direct consumer to farmer type of system. i think this is the future of quality tea. the farmer can make enough to put in the effort, the consumer gets the closest "bang for the buck".

i'm now currently working on small wuyi producers that have their plantations in the correct places, and dedicated production on classical flavours. on the hunt of an authentic classical/old style tie guanyin too. if any of these teas meet the cut, farmer is really honest, committed with a good outlook, these people should be made accessible to the international community.

Fascinating. But I know the tune of this song. All my "tea masters" on the island Taiwan claim exactly the same.

Have you considered moving here, for a change? You would be among your peers.

[Bok]

All my "tea masters" on the island Taiwan claim exactly the same.

The tea masters are a whole different kind of topic… they tend to be pretty dogmatic and each school rigidley follow theirs.
That’s why I tend to stay away from the so called “茶人”， personnally prefer the local southern style of just sitting together and having nice tea, instead of worrying in which order the cups are served or which direction the teapot is pointing…

Those 茶人 Charen are the equivalent of a Chinese martial arts teacher in silk pyjamas – if I see one, I just say thank you and walk away.

[kyarazen]

Fascinating. But I know the tune of this song. All my "tea masters" on the island Taiwan claim exactly the same.

Have you considered moving here, for a change? You would be among your peers.

moving to taiwan? yes. for the many perks
i deal in the medtech industry
if a deal with a taiwan hospital works out, there's a chance for me to set up a base there

but to do a tea business or tea farming? nope.
interested in any tea dollars? nope.
its just hobby and entertainment and some fun

[kyarazen]

All my "tea masters" on the island Taiwan claim exactly the same.

The tea masters are a whole different kind of topic… they tend to be pretty dogmatic and each school rigidley follow theirs.
That’s why I tend to stay away from the so called “茶人”， personnally prefer the local southern style of just sitting together and having nice tea, instead of worrying in which order the cups are served or which direction the teapot is pointing…

Those 茶人 Charen are the equivalent of a Chinese martial arts teacher in silk pyjamas – if I see one, I just say thank you and walk away.

it is a clear divide between preferences sometimes, but 文人，文雅 is something that is scheduled to make a come back.

on one side there is over focus on elegance and aesthetics, on the other side is the severe lack of focus on that. i think both have to be married some how to cater to the upcoming cultural progression in society. the southern styles are now considered too "old time" and the flavours too strong. the overly aesthetic ones are now presenting themselves in a very pretentious/faux, superficial manner.

at least in a local context in singapore, with a few friends driving culture rejuvenation, we hope to achieve a good balance

[Bok]

on one side there is over focus on elegance and aesthetics, on the other side is the severe lack of focus on that. i think both have to be married some how to cater to the upcoming cultural progression in society. the southern styles are now considered too "old time" and the flavours too strong. the overly aesthetic ones are now presenting themselves in a very pretentious/faux, superficial manner.

at least in a local context in singapore, with a few friends driving culture rejuvenation, we hope to achieve a good balance

Good point, balance between the two is probably best.
In Taiwan it is also a sort of class-divide. On the one hand the local mainly middle to low income Taiwanese population, on the other hand the newcomers from the mainland and their descendants, rich and mostly living in Taipei. Of course those lines are getting blurried over time. Hope is on the horizon with some younger people taking an interest into old people’s tea. Most still prefer coffee though.
I frequently get called old man, for showing a passion for tea…

In the end, I always stick with my favorite tea quote: “I am in no way interested in immortality, only in the taste of tea” (Lu Tong)

[xabi]

All my "tea masters" on the island Taiwan claim exactly the same.

The tea masters are a whole different kind of topic… they tend to be pretty dogmatic and each school rigidley follow theirs.
That’s why I tend to stay away from the so called “茶人”， personnally prefer the local southern style of just sitting together and having nice tea, instead of worrying in which order the cups are served or which direction the teapot is pointing…

Those 茶人 Charen are the equivalent of a Chinese martial arts teacher in silk pyjamas – if I see one, I just say thank you and walk away.

Some people may breathe the same Island air, but, as they say in Japan, 空気が読めない.

Sure... I hold the highest level of respect for what 台灣茶人 have to say...

[Tead Off]

In the end, I always stick with my favorite tea quote: “I am in no way interested in immortality, only in the taste of tea” (Lu Tong)

Yes, this has more wisdom in it than meets the mind. Nothing to do with balance, harmony, or any such concept that is held to be 'superior'.

[kyarazen]

Good point, balance between the two is probably best.
In Taiwan it is also a sort of class-divide. On the one hand the local mainly middle to low income Taiwanese population, on the other hand the newcomers from the mainland and their descendants, rich and mostly living in Taipei. Of course those lines are getting blurried over time. Hope is on the horizon with some younger people taking an interest into old people’s tea. Most still prefer coffee though.
I frequently get called old man, for showing a passion for tea…

In the end, I always stick with my favorite tea quote: “I am in no way interested in immortality, only in the taste of tea” (Lu Tong)

I'm more interested in immortality so that one can continue to taste and experience may more things

any chance of you bringing potters and ceramic artisans directly from taiwan onto the web so that the world can procure their wares directly? it seems that in europe and the west this is done quite well.. i.e. potter to consumer, but for taiwanese ceramics, of the mid levels and below are still not well exposed

[Bok]

any chance of you bringing potters and ceramic artisans directly from taiwan onto the web so that the world can procure their wares directly? it seems that in europe and the west this is done quite well.. i.e. potter to consumer, but for taiwanese ceramics, of the mid levels and below are still not well exposed

That is a thought worth pondering… Not immediately for me though yet, time is sparse at the moment with new family arrivals

It is true that there are quite a lot of good potters in Taiwan and most of them do not have any web presence or western-friendly buying platform. A shame really. Kind of in line with the “island mentality” that inhibits a lot of potential from fruition in Taiwan… Not an easy life for a potter in Taiwan, competition is huge and quality is good.

Especially as most of them do understand tea very well and how to create their teaware accordingly, which some Western potters unfortunately do not.

[Haddemall]

I'd be highly interested in an introduction to taiwanese potters. Lord knows they are hard to access.

[Bok]

I'd be highly interested in an introduction to taiwanese potters. Lord knows they are hard to access.

I mean look at this guy for example Huang Da-An
http://www.teartchat.com/%E8%87%BA%E7%8 ... %E7%A5%9E/

He has a mastery of the fire, which I have not seen elsewhere. The patterns he creates with something as uncontrollable as the fire, are as close to perfection as can be. Almost too perfect, sometimes the imperfections make the whole charm, but well in this case it is something else. Teapots are only ok-ish, but the cups and bowls are astonishing!

There are better examples on his facebook if someone wants to check out more.

[Tead Off]

I'd be highly interested in an introduction to taiwanese potters. Lord knows they are hard to access.

I mean look at this guy for example Huang Da-An
http://www.teartchat.com/%E8%87%BA%E7%8 ... %E7%A5%9E/

He has a mastery of the fire, which I have not seen elsewhere. The patterns he creates with something as uncontrollable as the fire, are as close to perfection as can be. Almost too perfect, sometimes the imperfections make the whole charm, but well in this case it is something else. Teapots are only ok-ish, but the cups and bowls are astonishing!

There are better examples on his facebook if someone wants to check out more.

Very impressive.

[xiaobai]

any chance of you bringing potters and ceramic artisans directly from taiwan onto the web so that the world can procure their wares directly? it seems that in europe and the west this is done quite well.. i.e. potter to consumer, but for taiwanese ceramics, of the mid levels and below are still not well exposed

That is a thought worth pondering… Not immediately for me though yet, time is sparse at the moment with new family arrivals

It is true that there are quite a lot of good potters in Taiwan and most of them do not have any web presence or western-friendly buying platform. A shame really. Kind of in line with the “island mentality” that inhibits a lot of potential from fruition in Taiwan… Not an easy life for a potter in Taiwan, competition is huge and quality is good.

Especially as most of them do understand tea very well and how to create their teaware accordingly, which some Western potters unfortunately do not.

There are a few Taiwanese art galleries with online presence. Just one example, see here:

http://www.ruoshuicg.com/

and specifically here for the list of artists and some of the pics of the work available from them:

http://www.ruoshuicg.com/talk.html

Google translate works reasonably well on this site. If you are interested in contacting them, they have English-speaking staff who should be able to reply to foreigner's emails.

They also sell on Taobao, but prices there hare much higher than at the brick-and-mortar shop, which is located in Taipei, not far from the Chang Kai-Chek Memorial Hall.

By the way, if you happen to visit them, at the shop they also sell what appears to be quality tea from Taiwan and China. I have never bought tea from them, but I have drunk a few times at the place and it was quite nice.

One of my favorite mid-tier potters sold there is 章格銘 （Zhang Ge Ming). He makes beautiful celadon. You can find his studio's teaware at various other shops in Taipei and Yinge.

Just my two cents (Needless to say, I have no relationship whatsoever to this gallery, I just bought a few pieces
in my collection there. I will post the sites of other galleries as soon as (and provided that) I remember their names)

[Haddemall]

Thank you for the inspiration, gentlemen!