Zhu Quan’s book <Tea Notes> had a profound impact on tea drinking in later generations. He regarded tea drinking as a way of manifesting his ambition and cultivating Taoism. He promoted tea drinking to the height of Tao, which not only improved the tea ceremony art since the Tang and Song Dynasties, but also laid a theoretical foundation for the development of tea drinking in the Ming Dynasty and later literati.
The oldest known ceramic article in the world is a Venus figurine in Czech Republic, the Venus of Dolní Věstonice (Czech: Věstonická venuše), a ceramic statuette of a nude female figure dated to 29,000–25,000 BCE (Gravettian industry). It was found at the Paleolithic site Dolní Věstonice in the Moravian basin south of Brno, in the base of Děvín Mountain, 549 meters. In such a country, under the over decade influence of different oriental tea cultures, how the pottery teawares could look like nowadays?!
Good news for Chinese readers: this article has been published in the February 2020 <Tea Times 茶博览> tea magazine in Chinese, “Tschanara 一对韩德夫妇的“梦想茶园” page 42-45.
The northernmost producing area in China had used to be Rongcheng Shandong (37° north latitude), since the “Introduction of South Tea to the North 南茶北引” movement had been succeeded in the 1960s. In recent years, the trial planting has been successful experimentally in Chifeng Neimenggu 41° N, it has changes the Chinese tea history again. On the other side of the earth, the inland city, Odenthal is located at 51° N in Germany, Tschanara tea garden has planted tea trees outdoor since 1999 there, is it a miracle or Camellia sinensis has more potentials to be developed? […]
Recycable, Environmentally-friendly or Creative
It is common to use a plastic propagation tray to germinate a large number of seeds and repot seedlings afterwards, since tea is a tree kind of plant which needs a longer space to develop a deep root system, we use the plate pots here in Germany. But are there some other options, on more recycable, environmentally-friendly or creative ways?
Chen Tuan, one of the most famous daoists had lived in secluded Wudang mountains to cultivate himself, <History of Song 宋史> recorded that Chen Tuan liked to drink tea, the Zhou Shi Zong emperor had rewarded him 30 Jin tea according to <History of Song · Chen Tuan Biography 宋史·陈抟传>. Chen Tuan had written <Memorial of thanks for emperor’s autograph edict, Tea and Medicine 谢手诏并赐茶药表> to Song Tai Zong emperor, which was included in <Whole History of Song 全宋史>.
Chinese family has a tradition of serve tea to guests, regarding to the Daoist Scriptures, this tradition is from Daoism. In the Spring and Autumn period, when Laozi (Lao-tzu) left Hangu strategic pass, he asked the pass guard Yin Xi to welcome him at home and could serve him tea firstly “首献茗”, Laozi said, people who appreciate tea after eating, you are all on the same way, they should be all disciples of Daoism “食是茶者，皆汝之道徒也”. ——《道经·天皇至道太清玉册》
The oldest Zisha teapot, the loop handle teapot was excavated from the Wujing tomb, which has been considered made before 1533.
Fu Brick 茯砖 [fú zhuān] tea is a very special dark tea, people call it, the mystery tea of ancient Chinese Silk Road. Fu Brick has been made firstly in 1860s, dark tea crude materials were pressed into big bamboo baskets and transported from Hunan province to Shanxi province to make further processes at that time. Fu Brick was also called Hu Tea “湖茶” as it from Hunan province, Fu Tea “伏茶” as the tea process during hottest days- Fu Tian 伏天 in Summer, and Jingyang Brick “泾阳砖” as bricks formed in Jingyang.
Teagarden – Tschanara has been the very first tea garden since 1999 in Germany, Odenthal-Scheuren at an altitude of 200m, there are many different varieties from all around the world, China, South-Korea, Japan, Nepal, India, Vietnam, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands and England etc..
Mandarin Peel Pu’er 柑普 [gān pǔ] Tea is made of tangerine peel (Citrus reticulata Blanco) from Xinhui of Guangdong Province and ripe Pu’er tea from Yunnan Province, through special producing processes. It combines the fruit flavor of Xinhui tangerine and the taste of Yunnan Pu‘er tea, which makes peel and tea absorb each other’s essence, forming a unique flavor and a unique taste. Its health care effect naturally has both advantages. My husband went to Sardinia Italy on a working trip. He mentioned to me that there was a citrus orchard near his residence. Unfortunately, the fruits did not ripen yet, they were still green. I was inspired and asked him to bring some back for me. I then made the green mandarin Pu’er tea by myself, after tasting it, I found it was quite fresh and tasty. Recently, my friend gave me the ripe mandarins from her orchard in Sicily. I can’t miss such good materials, so I started to process again, and take photos to share with you.