Finally managed to register myself...spend 2 days to finished all 37 pages.
This is an amazing posts.

I like to drink tea as well, and drink all kinds of tea.
Basically oolong (yan cha) is my favorite, but I do like the puer as well.

Welcome here

Mind to share where do you usually buy your tea?

well, i'm friend of Chaossisxy...we did met before already, together with kuekwee....

I used to visit Wisma Selangor and Petaling street there.

I'm asking a friend to recommand some famous shops with "yan cha", I'm planning to visit these shops in one day, purely on "yan cha" study.

Ah... now i know who you are

Next time if you got see anything interesting from the other forum, do share it here...

Btw, you guys should go to www.teachat.com too. I hang around there also. A english tea forum, quite a lot of content

2010 Menghai "Lao Cha Tou" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Brick * 250 grams x 10





2009 Menghai "Hong Yun" Ripe Pu-erh Mini tea cake 100 grams x 10





This post has been edited by auhckw: Mar 5 2011, 07:21 PM

hi nice meeting you...we should arrange another outing

---

Added on March 6, 2011, 12:55 amwow go hunt tea alone again arr...

This post has been edited by kuekwee: Mar 6 2011, 12:55 AM

What is Tea eggs?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_egg



How to make Chinese tea eggs?
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/88849...inese_tea_eggs/

3:23pm Wednesday 2nd March 2011

Tea can impart some glorious flavours to basic foods. In her book Tea — A Global History (Reaktion Books £9.99) Helen Saberi includes several delicious recipes that call for tea as the main flavouring.

These include green tea ice cream, lemon and rose tea jelly and Chinese tea eggs with their attractive pattern of fine cracks normally reserved for ceramics.

YOU WILL NEED

* 12 free-range eggs
* 1 tspn salt 3 tbspn light or dark soy sauce
* Two star anise
* 1 tspn five-spice powder
* 3 tbspns black China tea leaves.

METHOD Hard boil the eggs for six to eight minutes.

Drain, and cool immediately by immersing in cold water. (This prevents the eggs developing discolouration around the yolk when cut open.)

Drain and then roll the eggs gently on a hard surface until the shell cracks finely all over, but do not peel.

Put the eggs back into the saucepan, cover with fresh water, add the salt, soy sauce, spices and tea leaves.

Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about one hour.

Allow the eggs to cool in the liquid.

Shell the eggs to reveal a beautiful marbled pattern and serve.

Or you could buy it at your local chinese tea shop for RM1

Should try this also. [attachmentid=2079572]

I like the "lao cha tou", not sure how much will it costs?

I have not come across that....

RM23. Good deal. It is 2010 version

For the 2009 version of lao cha tou, JDX selling RM60 (list price)

Kenya: 15,000 Sacked as Production of Tea Drops
http://allafrica.com/stories/201103090268.html
8 March 2011

More than 15,000 workers have been sacked as production of tea in parts of Rift Valley declines due to dry weather. About 14 tea companies owned by multi-nationals face closure due to shortage of tea leaves and some of the companies in the North and South Rift have began laying off their employees temporarily.

Tea companies in the region are operating at less than 30 percent of their capacity and three factories in South Rift have temporarily stopped operations until the situation improves.

Kenya Tea Plantation Workers Union official Joshua Oyuga said the drought has caused a serious crisis in the sector where many workers were sacked following the introduction of tea plucking machines.

Oyuga urged tea companies to avoid taking punitive measures against workers.

Jobs dry up as Kenya tea firms to reduce staff
http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Jobs...00/-/1185u8s/-/
Posted Sunday, March 6 2011 at 17:55

Over 18,000 tea workers in multi-national companies in Nandi District are likely to be send home this week due to the on-going drought which has cut down tea production by more than 80 per cent in parts of the country.

Some 14 tea factories under multi-national tea firms in the region are now threatened with being shut down due shortage of green leaf tea.

Top managers and officials from Kenya Plantation and Agriculture Workers Union resolved to have the staff laid off as the dry weather bites.

A tea workers’ union leader Mr Joshua Oyuga said tea factories in larger scale tea companies are operating below capacity.

He said staff are working for four days a week instead of six.

“Tea production has dropped by more than 80 per cent because of drought which is worsening by the day,” said Mr Oyuga.

He, at the same time, blamed tea companies for massive staff lay off saying use of tea plucking machines had made the situation worse.

Mr Oyuga said that tea estates which used to produce some 10,000 kilogrammes of tea per day were now plucking about 2,000 kilogrammes because of drought.

Last year, tea pluckers from Tindiret Tea Company burnt down about 15 tea machines protesting that the machines had taken up their jobs.

Multi-national tea companies workers in Nandi, Kericho and Sotik and Limuru went on strike last year leaving companies with huge loses during the two weeks period.

Still using the machines

The strike was called off after Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli intervened to pave way for talks between union and managers in the larger scale tea companies.

But yesterday Mr Oyuga claimed that most tea companies in Nandi among them Kapchorwa, Williamson, Tindiret and Kaimosi tea companies were still using tea plucking machines after sending more than 10,000 tea workers since January last year.

The Kapchorwa and Kaimosi have each 40 tea machines, Tindiret 45 machines and Boit tea company had 30 machines.

Layoffs loom as tea factories close over prolonged drought
http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Layo...618/-/j8h6ta/-/
Posted Thursday, March 3 2011 at 18:11

The drought currently ravaging the country is punishing factories in tea growing areas, forcing two to close operations over the past week, as more cut capacity due to shortage of green leaf.

Farmers and factories are staring at huge losses while massive layoffs are looming for thousands of workers.

South Rift region, the country’s main tea producing area with the highest concentration of factories, is feeling much of the heat where, besides the two that have closed, a good number are operating at half capacity.

The current drought has reduced green tea production in the multinational tea estates and the Kenya Tea Development Agency’s catchment areas.

The factories closed are Kimugu and Kimari, which belong to the Unilever Tea Company.

January’s production fell to 35.9 million kilos from 37.7 million recorded in January 2010, due to hot and dry weather, according to the Kenya Tea Board.

The current situation is likely to dampen tea earnings for this year, which hit a record Sh97 billion last year from Sh69 billion in 2009.

Other factories under Kaisugu and James Finlays are operating below capacity and managements have been forced to launch cost-cutting measures.

Unilever technical director in charge of corporate affairs, Francis Kaptich, said the factory is operating below half the capacity.

He added that they were forced to close down Kimugu and Kimari factories because the tea farms cannot produce enough leaves.

“The facility was operating at a loss because the supply of green leaf from our estates has tremendously gone down due to the biting drought,” he said.

“We have never seen anything like this in the South West Mau region.”

Kaisugu general manager and chairman of the Kenya Tea Growers Association, Charles Kipngok, said the company is adversely affected and is operating below capacity.

“We are receiving less and less crop from our farms and also from our farmer suppliers,” he said. “We are adjusting downwards in operations.”

He added that they had reduced plucking days to give the crop time to grow.

More factories are lined up for closure due to decreasing green leaves.

Chagaik, which crashes 110,000 kilogrammes daily, is receiving slightly less than 50,000kilos.

Kericho Factory, with the same capacity, is operating at 40,000kilos, while Tagabi was receiving 60,000 kilos.

Sources said Chamji was the only factory operating at higher level as it still processed 130,000 kilos of green leaf down from 150,000 kilos.

At James Finlays, over half the factories are operating at less than half capacity.

This post has been edited by auhckw: Mar 10 2011, 08:58 AM

I actually really enjoy oolong and mate tea as my favorite!! I don't really like green teas very much though.

Tonight drinking...

2003 – Dayi 7212 – Menghai Raw Pu-er



Been quite a while since i drink it... Seems like it has improved in Taste and Colour of tea getting darker... Overall satisfied. My only comment is that this tea is those dry kind, meaning after drinking throat feels dry / thirsty...



Picture: The colour of 4th infusion. The same colour as the 2nd. New cup btw

smooth?

Yes Just I don't like the dry aftertaste

nice cup

long time no taste good raw tea jor...... next week who free? we plan some outing?

how about 19th saturday? 20th i cant, got work to do.

19th Sat I am ok.

But tomorrow (Sat) I think I will be going to the tea shop to buy more of the cup above (currently have 1). I liked the hold and feel from it.

Tea prices rose 30% in short supply
2011-01-25 08:08

http://china.nfdaily.cn/content/2011-01/25...nt_19561157.htm

Google Translation:-

Chinese New Year spending spree has come, in the pursuit of the concept of health promotion, tea has become a hot election people stocking up purchasing things. 记者昨天从广州部分茶市批发商、专卖店获悉，普洱茶礼盒的年货团购市场在本月已启动，很多机团单位以及散客团购都前来采购。 Reporter yesterday from the Guangzhou part Chashi wholesalers, store was informed that the New Year tea buy gift market has started this month, many local groups have come to buy individual units as well as procurement. 广州荔湾区一家连锁茶叶专卖店负责人日前告诉记者，“根据这三年的经验来看，每年春节消费旺季，普洱茶销售都会比平时激增，而且同比也出现递增20%— 30%。”不过，多家品牌普洱茶商表示，由于今年生产成本大幅上涨，且去年干旱造成普洱茶原材料大幅减产，今年春节期间普洱茶售价同比去年上涨至少三成。 Guangzhou Liwan District, head of a chain of tea shops recently told reporters, "according to the experience of three years, the annual Spring Festival shopping season, tea sales will surge than usual, and the year also increased 20% -30% there." But , a number of brand tea manufacturers, as production costs rose sharply this year and last year's drought cut sharply raw tea, tea prices during the Spring Festival this year, last year up at least three. 有茶商预计，春节后新茶上市价格还会涨。 There tea is expected listing price of new tea after the Spring Festival will rise.

普洱茶成年货新主角网购数量也激增 New characters into the New Year tea online shopping surge in the number of

昨天，广州荔湾区一家名为“茶艺乐园”专卖店负责人告诉记者，本月起，该公司的茶叶年货团购业务开始启动，今年接到很多机团单位的礼盒装订单，而订单最热销的是普洱茶和铁观音。 Yesterday, the Guangzhou Liwan District, a company called "Tea House" store official told reporters this month, buy the company's tea business started stocking this year, received many units of local groups Gift Box orders, and orders the hottest off the tea and the Iron Goddess of Mercy. 记者从该店看到，今年该店推出两款专为今年春节设计的普洱茶礼盒，一款售价为880元，采用云南景迈古树茶制作而成，一款售价为4000元，内含一饼2000年老熟饼。 Reporter from the shop to see, this year introduced two store designed specifically for the Chinese New Year tea gift box, a price of 880 yuan, the use of tea trees in Yunnan step is made King, a price of 4,000 yuan , containing an old cooked cake cake 2000.

该店负责人告诉记者，近年来前来购买普洱茶作为新春礼品送人的客人增多，因此该公司每年都会专门为春节设计推出系列礼品装产品。 The store official told reporters that come to buy tea in recent years as more Chinese New Year gifts to give as gifts the guests, so every year the company launched a series designed specifically for the Chinese New Year gifts products. 据透露，今年由于生产成本大幅上涨，零售终端的普洱茶价格也同步上扬，以“茶艺乐园”今年的春节礼品装普洱茶为例，其中旧茶价格今年比去年同期上涨30%，而2010年产新茶则比2009年产的新茶上涨100%。 According to reports, this year due to soaring production costs, the retail terminal tea prices rose simultaneously, as "Tea House" This year's Chinese New Year gifts tea, for example, where the old tea prices this year than last year rose 30% in 2010 production of new annual output of tea is the new tea than 2009 rose 100%. 上述人士同时也坦承，由于今年普洱茶礼盒价格升幅较大，不少消费者也降低了消费标准，转而选购500—600元/盒的礼品装。 The source also admits that, due to larger price increases this year, tea gift box, many consumers have reduced consumption standards in favor of purchasing 500-600 RMB / box of gifts.

广州东山百货公司昨天在接受记者采访时也表示，目前年货销售已进入热销期，在茶叶商品类中，普洱与铁观音都是消费者的热门选择，而普洱茶因具有消滞功能似乎更受青睐。 Guangzhou Dongshan Department Store yesterday in an interview with reporters, also said that the current has entered the hot New Year sales period, the class of goods in the tea, Pu'er and the Iron Goddess of Mercy are a popular choice for consumers, while tea appears to be more functional because of a Xiaozhi popular. 据该公司介绍，今年茶叶礼盒的团购中100—150元的标准最受欢迎。 According to the company, buy the gift box of tea this year, 100-150 million in the most popular standards. 网上最大商场淘宝网也告诉记者，在过去一周，该网购市场普洱茶销售额达成165万元，其中买家最多的来自广东，其次是上海、浙江、江苏、北京等。 Taobao's largest online shopping malls also told reporters that in the past week, the online shopping market reached 1.65 million sales of tea, of which the largest buyers from Guangdong, followed by Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Beijing.

中高端普洱茶货源缺价格上扬20%—30% Supply shortage in the high-end tea prices up 20% -30%

此前，曾有消息称，最近普洱茶行情有所下跌。 Earlier, news that tea prices have dropped recently. 然而记者从市场中获悉，近三年的行情看，普洱茶价格正在慢慢攀升，尤其是2010年，西南大旱导致普洱茶原料大幅减产，去年多个品牌普洱茶价格都上调了30%以上，在岁末年初的消费旺季，由于人工、运输、天气等物价上涨和天气变化因素推动，普洱茶价格再度上扬。 However, reporters learned from the market, nearly three years of market watching, tea prices are slowly rising, especially in 2010, the Southwest drought led to a substantial cut raw tea, Pu'er tea brands last year, prices have increased more than 30% In turn of the year's shopping season, due to labor, transportation, weather and other factors that rising prices and climate change push tea prices to rise again.

“整体普洱茶市场来看，今年普洱茶基本没有下跌，部分商品还微有上调。”日前，普洱茶行业龙头企业大益茶业集团华南区域经理张永福告诉记者，2007年普洱茶狂升的行情属于非理性，不能以2007年的普洱茶价格作为升跌的参照物，“实际上，撇开2007年来说，大益2008年以前的普洱茶产品，今年价格都有上升，原因是消费群体、中长期收藏者增多。” "The overall tea market, tea little down this year, some of the goods is also a slight increase." Recently, the tea industry leaders of the Great Benefits Tea Group South Regional Manager Zhang Yongfu told reporters that spiraling of tea in 2007 Quotes are non-rational, not the price of tea in 2007 as the rise and fall of the reference, "In fact, aside in 2007, the big benefits of tea products before 2008, this year prices have increased due to consumer groups, increase in long-term collectors. "

在广州芳村一家品牌普洱茶专卖店，记者见到该店普洱集团出品的2010年柏木林古树茶，批发价为100多元/饼，比2009年出品的上涨50%，“批发价是指拿一箱的价，外面百货商场零售价都卖到300多元一饼。” A brand of tea in Guangzhou Fangcun store, the reporter saw the store in 2010 produced Puer Group cedar forest tea trees, the wholesale price of 100 yuan / cake, produced more than 2009 rose 50%, "to get the wholesale price is The price of a box, outside the department stores have sold the retail price of 300 yuan for a cake. "

“2010 年产的普洱茶价格年初与年尾相比，中高端产品价格平均有20%—30%的升幅。”该店负责人官女士称，2010年普洱茶价格不可能大跌，一是因为这一年云南干旱，普洱茶原料减产，毛料价格上涨了至少30%，普洱茶集团出口的产品2010年就上调了30%；二是因为物价上涨，包括人工、运输、流通等成本都在上涨。 "In early 2010, with an annual output of tea prices and the end of the year compared to average prices in the high 20% -30% increase." Shop head of government President said tea prices can not drop in 2010, one Yunnan this year because of drought, tea raw materials cut, wool prices rose by at least 30%, tea export product groups increased in 2010 to 30%; Second, because of rising prices, including labor, transportation, distribution and other costs are rise.

该人士还告诉记者，目前正进入春节消费旺季，该公司代理的某品牌普洱茶，多款中高端的茶品均出现找货难、货源缺现象，“最近，外省来拿货的客人很多，一个客人拿几十万元的不少。” The source also told reporters that the Spring Festival is now entering the peak season consumption, the company's agent of a brand tea, a variety of tea in the high-end goods are difficult to find there, the phenomenon of supply shortage, "Recently, many guests from other provinces to getting goods, a Many of the guests to take several hundred thousand dollars. "

普洱茶行业风向标之一的大益品牌普洱茶，行情也看涨。 Tea industry leader, one of the largest tea brand benefits, and the prices are also bullish. 大益茶业集团华南区域经理张永福在接受记者采访时指出，该公司2010年出品的茶品，价格保持平稳，部分品种有上调。 Tai Yi Tea Group South Regional Manager Zhang Yongfu said in an interview, pointed out that in 2010 the company produced tea products, prices remain stable, some species have increased.

广州芳村另一家茶商告诉记者，2010年普洱茶整体行情平稳，阶段性波动很正常，比如4—5月份因干旱题材，普洱茶有过一波上涨行情，但随后6月又回调下来，年底消费旺季，因供求关系价格又再上扬20%—30%。 Guangzhou Fangcun another tea told reporters that the overall tea market stable in 2010, periodic fluctuations in normal subjects because of the drought such as 4-5 months, Pu'er tea has been a wave of rising prices, but then call back in June and down, end shopping season, due to supply and demand prices rose 20% -30% again.

人工、运输等成本都上升预计今年价格至少再涨20% Labor, transportation and other costs are rising at least the price is expected to rise about 20% this year

此前有消息称，在去年底的广州茶博会上，看到一众普洱茶“大甩卖”，有的低至10元一饼。 After the news, at the end of the Tea Bo, see all the tea a "big sale", some as low as 10 per cake. 据媒体报道称，记者在茶博会上了解到，2006年下关甲级沱茶由最高400元/公斤跌至约160元/公斤，跌幅超过70%。 According to media reports, the reporter learned that Bo was in the tea, Tuo latter half of 2006 off from the highest grade 400 yuan / kg fell to around 160 yuan / kg, or more than 70%. 在连日来的采访中，多位普洱茶业内人士指出，2006年、2007年对于普洱茶行业来说是一个特殊的年份，“非理性爆炒”时代，不应以当年的价格行情作为普洱茶行情的参照物。 In interviews in recent days, many people pointed out that the tea industry, in 2006, 2007, for the tea industry is a special year, "irrational stir" era, then price should not be used as tea market Quotes of the reference.

广州百福茶业有限公司负责人陈国璋表示，2006年、2007年，由于普洱茶被爆炒到“天价”，很多生产者为了赶行情，生产了众多劣质普洱茶推出市场。 Pak Tea Limited in Guangzhou responsible Chenguo Zhang said that in 2006, 2007, to stir the tea is "high price", many producers in order to catch the market, producing a large number of low-quality tea market. 但当爆炒风过后，行情大跌，普洱茶滞销，那些囤积在跟风炒作者手中的劣质茶只好低价倾销。 But when the wind stir after the market crash, slow-moving tea, those who follow the trend of accumulation in the hands of speculators dumping poor-quality tea had.

该人士认为，以广州茶博会上的“大甩卖”来判断普洱茶市场大跌，有失偏颇。 The source believes that the Tea Bo to the "big sale" to determine the tea market crash, is biased. 据悉，该公司2010年生产制作的普洱茶共有80吨，比去年增加十多吨，价格也比2009年生产的茶上涨15%，但到现在，所有茶均已销售一空。 It is reported that in 2010 the company produced a total of 80 tons of tea produced, more than ten tons more than last year, the price of tea than the 2009 production up 15%, but up to now, all teas are sold out.

普洱茶集团华南经销商官小姐也指出，“以前在云南请一个茶工800元/月，现在包社保还要1500—1600元/月，聘请茶工费用就比以前贵1/3—2/3；柴油、汽油连连上涨，上边还出现柴油荒，各项成本都上涨，普洱茶不可能下跌。” Puer Cha Group, the official distributor of South China Xiaojie also pointed out that "before you a tea workers in Yunnan 800 yuan / month, and now social security package would also like to 1500-1600 yuan / month, tea workers hired before your expensive than 1/3-2 / 3; diesel, petrol prices again and again, on top of diesel shortage have emerged, the costs are rising, tea can not be dropped. "

云南普洱茶集团董事长郑炳基告诉南方日报记者，从2010年全年来看，普洱茶出厂价是在上涨的，因为它是属于恢复性上升。 Yunnan Pu'er Tea Group Chairman Zhengbing Ji told the Southern Daily reporter, from 2010 full year, tea ex-factory price is rising because it is part of restorative rise. “如果价格再低，生产厂商就没法做了；云南还有几百万的茶农，也没办法生存了。” "If the price were lower, manufacturers can not do a; and several million farmers in Yunnan, there is no way to survive."

业内估计，从汽油等物价发展态势来看，2011年春季普洱茶品价格至少再上涨20%。 Industry estimates, from the development trend of the price of gasoline and other point of view, the spring of 2011 at least another tea goods prices rose 20%.

“目前我们一公斤的茶叶卖到三四十元钱，一饼茶只卖十几元。我们目前的出厂价可以说还是在缓慢上扬的。明年预计上涨10%—20%。”在接受南方日报记者数次采访时，郑炳基一直认为，今年一些大厂肯定都是只涨不跌。 "We sold a kilogram of tea three to four dollars, ten dollars for a cake sell tea. We can say that the current ex-factory price was rising slowly. Next year is expected to rise 10% -20%." In an interview with the South Daily News interview several times, Zheng Bingji has been that this year a number of manufacturers are sure to only rise and not fall.

广东茶叶行业协会有关人士表示，游资仍会青睐普洱茶，不过与过往炒作手段不一样，现在的投资者更多通过控制产业链上游——— 茶山，从源头控制茶叶，进而操纵市场，利润更大，风险系数也更低。 Tea Industry Association, Guangdong concerned that hot money will continue to favor tea, but not the same as with the previous means of speculation, investors are now more upstream by controlling the industry --- Dasan, tea from the source control and then manipulate the market and profit more large, the risk coefficient is lower.

南方日报记者欧志葵黄应来 Nanfang Daily Press in Europe should come to Chi Kwai Wong

Chaossisxy, try the method below for ur oolong. Some people goes the extreme as in they will compress tea until the max capacity of the teapot.

Chao Zhou Brewing Style
http://tea-obsession.blogspot.com/2008/02/...wing-style.html

Chao Zhou Kung Fu Tea is the oldest tea culture even in China. Tea wares are some what different as well. Most of the modern day Kung Fu tea wares (except YiXing) are more or less derived from the Chao Zhou style. Pictured below is a typical setting of traditional Chao Zhou style, minus the mat.



Components:
1 deep flat bottom dish for tea pot
1 half an inch thick loofah - place under neath tea pot
1 Chao Zhou Zhu Ni teapot
1 deep flat bottom dish for tea cups
3-4 tea tasting cups (should hold the same volume of tea as tea pot)
1 water well
1 clay stove
1 Sha Diao (water boiler)
Charcoal
Don't forget tea leaves and water.

Procedures:
-Light up charcoal to boil water
-Roast tea (optional)
-preheat pot
-empty water into cups
-place tea leaves in teapot
-fill hot water to top
-scrape foam off and close lid
-pour hot water over lid
-hold bottom dish with one hand, hold cups down with another hand (fingers spread out), empty water in cups into water well
-pour tea into hot empty cups at low height, circle around cups fast and evenly, shake off as much tea drops as possible
-same drill for subsequent brews

This is the traditional method, and still practice by many locals. However water drops everywhere, number of cups are fixed no mater how many people are there in the party, which isn't as practical as other tea trays and tea sets on the market.

Phoenix teas are more aromatic than most teas, hence temperature is extremely important, especially for 1st brews. That's why the preheat water is only emptied right before tea is ready to be poured, also Cha Hai is not part of this method. Rinsing is not recommended for high end Dan Congs. Oolong teas go through series of rolling process, hence much of the juice is on the surface of the leaves, rinsing is throwing away the essence.

Traditional CZ tea wares can be made of CZ zhu ni, ceramic or porcelain. You can mix and match any dishes to create a set which is what I did in the picture, as long as the size is right, functional and pretty.

Enjoy your Dan Cong tea!