Fukien Teashop Tie Kuan Yin - Thailand Blend

This Tie Kuan Yin is produced by Fukien Teashop in Hong Kong primarily for their Thailand customers.

This oolong is very high roasted and this tea is specially hand wrapped in small packets. Each packet contains 1 liang of tea. This is an old Chinese weight measurement where 1 liang is approx 37.5g of tea.

I was told that Thai businessmen had been patronising Fukien tea shop since the 70s when Hong Kong was the place to purchase Chinese goods and commodities. Oversea Chinese businessmen from South East Asia would go to Hong Kong and purchase Chinese goods and foodstuffs and had it shipped back to their countries. The elder Mr Yeo of Fujian Teashop told me that the Thai businessmen liked a particular version of the shop's oolong and would regularly purchase this tea whenever they are in Hong Kong. Mr Yeo realised that this tea was a favourite of the Thai community that the 2nd and 3rd generations of these businessmen would continue buying the tea to this day. Though the demand of this tea is not big, Fujian teashop continues to pack and sell this tea.

This oolong is high roasted and very aromatic. There is a dried floral component in the aftertaste and a caramel sweet finish in the tea.

This tea is nice.  A little history in every cup.

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year 2019.

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year.  This will be the year of the pig.  Pigs were pretty important in the olden days where pigs serve as a source of income and food for the Chinese communities.  The Chinese word, Jia, for home is 家 is actually a pictorial of a pig in a home.  The year of the pig symbolises great abundance and happiness.  If you are born in the year of the pig, you are a happy and possibly rich person.

Looking back, there had been recently many economic uncertainties - Brexit and US/Sino trade disputes are some the highlights or main causes of these uncertainties in the world today.  However, this bodes well for us, the Chinese tea drinkers.  I do not see any significant price increases in the Chinese tea market.  There is a also a possibility of 'big time' collectors selling their tea to generate cash in these wild economic times.  I will be making my Guangzhou trip after April this year and I should get a clearer picture of the tea prices In China when I am there.  

Have a Happy Chinese New Year.  I wish all my readers happiness and good health.