德：国无德不兴，人无德不立 （A nation can’t advance without virtue, a man can’t establish without morals），这是我们老祖宗传给后世的教训。没有国，哪有家? 没有家，何来个人? 个人修身齐家都必须严谨遵守生活中四维八德的社会行为规范
According to the latest Chinese botanic encyclopedia， there are 76 different tea tree cultivars have been identified as ‘suitable’ tea tree cultivar to produce Oolong tea, and MeiZhan is one of it.
Mei Zhan tea tree is also known as Gaojiao oolong tea tree, asecual growing and normally is bush type of mid-sized leaves tea tree. According to the legend in Fujian, Mei Zhan tea tree was found in about 1821. It’s named as Mei Zhan because of floral aroma which is very similar to wintersweet plum flowers.
Mei Zhan tea tree is same as Shui Xian , a small tree spices, which is suitable to make Oolong tea because of its unique aroma profile and flavors and richness in the taste, but it can only be made in black tea or even stir-fried green tea.
KP is one very special friend who I know for nearly 30 years he devotes his life to ‘clear and natural organic’ quality Oolong and share the same compassion as I on following the traditional production to ensure the quality in flavors and taste and engages in nature education.
The Mei Zhan Oolong that we recommend is an ECO quality traditional Oolong from KP Natural farming at LongYan in FuJian. When KP first took over the tea garden, there were TieGuanYin and MeiZhan tea trees have already left abandoned without care for 7-8 years in 2009 and it took him two years to clean the ground and started to plant more tea trees in 2011; at the first he made his own composes and then adapts the natural farming principles completely.
Tea trees are great survivor with very delicated requirements for the growing conditions and the nature farming environment can be in mass; the forestry beauty exists in the surrounding. According to the botanic encyclopedia, Mei Zhan tea tree is a early sprout variety and can grow upto 1.6M, but in the KP’s natural tea farm, the height of some Mei Zhan has reached >2.0m and one time picking normally happened in the early May.
According to KP, tea trees need to have sufficient rest after picking, so he only manages the picking once a year that limits the yearly harvest quantity. For him, protecting the harmony in Nature and ensuring the traditional quality are more important than the quantity he can sell.
After the mid-fermentation (25%-50%) process, KP’s Mei Zhan Oolong will be further roasted repeatedly by a Fire Master
What can attract you from the traditional ECO Oolong is not just its profound fragrance and refined taste but also the strength in flavors and taste.
Often when we speak about health, our thought would automatically link with what and how to shape the physical conditions or diet without knowing; as matter fact there are more perspectives should be considered in the subject of ‘Health’.
The body, mental well-being, morals, behaviors, energy and social skills are critical elements in the circle of life. While rational analysis, data and structure inform our conscious decisions, howeer, th1 –+
e dialogue between our consciousness and subconsciousness is equally, if not, more important. Embracing the ease in mind and sustain harmony not only in mind but also can reflect in spantenous behaviors can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Not only ancient Chinese knowledge has mentioned the health benefits of tea, various modern medical research literatures outside of China have also provided scientific data to support ancient Chinese knowledge to health
It does not matter how many ups and downs I have been through from people, situations or professional achievements in life, there is no more important learning than to manage each step with universal equality and tolerance in mind.
What should come, would come which I delightfully to accept and welcome; I also would delightfully and fearless to confront for what is not expected in case of happening.
I don’t ask and have no desire to hope for faith or chama connection based on will, just follow the flow of chama in life with ease. I am able to remain calm simply because deep in my heart I know that I have tried and done my best and none of ups and downs can surprise or bring me pain any more.
The fragrance of tea needless to be high sharp or sexy, I simply take a moment to appreciate its purity and refinement; the taste of tea needless to be strong or intense, my heart is joyful enough with its gentle taste and sweetness in the after taste.
What is slow? When I am willing to take time and let the heart to embrace the purity in each 60 seconds, then each slow moment completes its fullness in each interiority.
What is tea? It’s Life ! What Is zen? It’s the way of living ! What is zen in tea? Living each moment in life through a cup of tea!
In life we can not deny all 7 various emotions that we have in mind, i.e. Joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hatred and desire; and we can not deny that we all will have 6 various desires driven by eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind whether we like to admit it or not. There is one thing we will all agree with is that we all appreciate the sweetness at the beginning and to end with refined sweetness too. That is what we can experience by tasting a cup of profound quality tea; likewise with astringency or bitterness in case of careless or thoughtless in the process of selecting quality and managing the brewing processes.
Therefore the critical learning in life is as learning in tea:
Equally appreciate respectful variances without preconceived judgement. Enhance the learning by willing to value the basics with diligences. Mind own steps and take own responsibilities.
Mei Lan Hsiao, Belgium Chinese Tea Centre, 15/05/2025, Antwerp, Belgium
It seems a rather simple question, but it is a question that hardly can get a perfect answer.
To make it short, there are 3 to drink and the primary key words will be
The Taste
Again, there are 3 tastes to explore by individual preferences which is subject to respective willingness and capabilities:
The taste of various chemical or mineral substances in tea
The taste of culture and values behind tea leaves
The taste of truth deep in the soul
So which level do you want to reach when drinking a cup of tea?
The joy
Drinking tea is a pleasant and joyful experience not only to body but also provide satisfactory feeling that everyone can enjoy. You do, however, need to learn the importance of taking time out to enjoy it and are able to listen and respect the choice of own body. Therefore right attitude to understand what and how to maintain balance in body and mind is important for health.
The enlightenment
There is no other alternative than tea that turns a small leaf to become a great civilization culture. Without recognizing the nature in tea, morals represented in tea would be hard to comprehend; without embracing the moral values represented in tea, how can we be enlightened in the learning of Cha Dao 茶道? The essence of Cha Dao in Chinese tea culture emphasize the harmony and balance between heaven, earth and mankind. simply because we are part of the Nature, same as tea trees. Collective existence because of harmony linkaging, that’s the nature in tea and that’s what we hope to perused in life when we enjoy a cup of tea.
The verticle thinking urges us to distinguish high or low in between material vs. spsiritual world. But can we really divide these two in our life? Can we say which is more important than the others? How to prioritize and can we judge which is the right answer? The answer is not far but right in our heart.
Drinking a simple cup of tea,
embracing a moment to be enlightened by the extraordinary wisdom in life.
Probably you will laugh with this question, but it’s a real question from a young man who would like to purchase tea for her girl friend as Valentine’s gift. I first encouraged him for his nice intention, and told him honestly that he has looked for wrong solutions from tea.
Yes, in the market, we do can find tea with the label on tea box as ‘Relaxation tea’, ‘Immunity tea’ or even ‘stress free tea’, suggest to check the description of ingredients used in the tea; if it contains tea from Camellia sinensis v. sinensis (or O. Kuntze), regardless which type of tea , because tea leaves from Camellia sinensis tea trees all contain caffeine; either caffeine or theine these are the same substance, and tea caffeine often used the term as theine. Right amount of caffeine actually is good for our health. (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-reasons-why-the-right-amount-of-coffee-is-good-for-you)
One must examine the cause of stress, anxiety or nervousness before searching for solutions from tea. Yes, tea has many health benefits, but tea shouldn’t considered as medicine to solve health or mental problems.
Intuitively speaking, the cause of stress mainly starts from unfulfill desire to satisfy the anxiety or desires that further affects the nervousness level in brain; while the direct of tea drink starts from mouth, to stomach and then disinterested further.
It is time and relaxation process one is willing to take and the calming in state of mind can link the body and mind in one.
So what’s my suggestions to that lovely young man?
” Enjoy a walk with your girl friend by holding hands together, or give her a good hug, or to enjoy a lovely moment together, and don’t forget to tell her that you truly appreciate and love her”, of course, if you really have that much money, can also try with “A diamond jewelry, 99 roses and 66 money bills”.
Indeed movements in tea ceremony, either from Gongfu Cha (功夫茶艺 gongfu cha yi) from China, Tea Art (茶艺 cha yi) from Taiwan or Chadao (茶道）from Japan, looks very Zen, somes even are pretty facy, however, it is nothing but a way of presentation of tea. Even though fancy movements are very attracting and eye catching，particularly to those who participate the tea setting; it, however, still is nothing but a way of tea presentation for us to explore the flavors and tastes in tea.
Often many people thought since the Japanese named it as ‘chadao （茶道）’, so it is same as what Cha Dao （茶道） is, well, the answer will be “Yes and Not quite exact”, and each step does have scientific rationality in the seemed philosophical movement.
Actually Cha Dao is much simplier; it does not emphasize the fancy movements, even though each step still has specific scientific and philosphical meaning but it guides you further into the learning path with tea by disciplining self with ease and calming energy and state of mind.
Movements in Cha Dao are slow, simple and gentle, the essence of tea preparing process focuses on the inner dialogue through tea when enjoy a tea moment.
When your body and mind are in the Chan (禅 Zen) state, the time stands still, the aroma and taste are no longer for appealing but for comforting.
The learning of tea opens a door of life time learning, there are different side doors to enter the path. It does not matter which door you choose to open, it all goes back to the root of tea in your heart.
Mei Lan Hsiao, Chinese Tea Master, started to promote Chinese authentic and fine quality tea based in Belgium since 1995. Based on nearly 30 years diligent efforts, Mei Lan deeply recognized the efforts have to go beyond tea and Chinese tea culture, it is necessary to understand what and how to satisfy the needs for humanistic and civilization development for a more peaceful society and a world.
A cup of fine, pure and authentic quality tea can in- and directly encourage civilization dialogues:
～ Dialogue between tea trees with ecological Mother Nature;
～ Encourage dialogue between people with Nature through tea trees and ECO environment;
～ Stimulate dialogue between people with civilization traditions while enjoying a cup of tea;
～ Encourage indepth appreciation to the efforts of sustaining culture heritages and nameless heros behind tea leaves while enjoying a cup of tea;
～ Encourage non-violent dialogues with inner self and others when sensing the fine flavors and tastes;
～ Stimulate the civilization dialogue through the joy of sharing and respects in the process of preparing, serving and sharing a cup of tea.
Therefore, Tea Is tea, not tea; is living. Is not you, not I; is humanity.
copyright of Mei Lan Hsiao, Belgium Chinese Tea Centre, info@chinesetea.be 31/10/2024
Like drinking tea is the basic step to learn tea and the first step is to learn what and how to distinguish different profiles and unique characters in flavors and tastes from the pure and authentic quality tea. Therefore willingness in submitting learning to accurate Information and knowledge to the ecological Nature, Chinese traditional tea cultures and tea is necessary. Because when we learn tea, We learn more about how to enjoy tea to sustain a healthy lifestyle, but most importantly is we learn how to become a better person and to enjoy a healthy daily living with ease、 calm and tranquility in life.
