Akira Hojo | HOJO Online Speciality Tea Shop- Part 25

[2013.04.04]

The warm welcoming by pu-erh tea farmer with home-cooked lunch

• Tea Column
• China
• Pu-erh Tea and Dark Tea
• Raw Pu-erh Tea
• Yunnan

Looking out the ideal tea in the minority’s village of Yunnan, we often have an honor to have lunch or dinner together with the farmer’s family. For them, the tea buyer is the most important guest in a year. They always serve us lunch as the highest welcome.     Very precious menus They cook …

[2013.04.03]

Close-up photo of pan-frying process for making pu-erh tea

• Tea Processing
• China
• Fermented Tea
• Pu-erh Tea and Dark Tea
• Raw Pu-erh Tea
• Raw Pu-erh Tea Processing
• Yunnan

I am now staying in a small village situated at high mountain area (about 1500m a.s.l) in Ling Cang. I visited one farmer’s house for selecting Mao Cha (i.e., the crude tea of raw pu-erh tea). When I reached the destination, they were conducting the pan-frying process.   Different styles of pan-frying process I visited …

[2013.04.01]

Visiting Rahu race pu-erh hunter in Da Xue Shan

• Origin of Tea
• China
• Pu-erh Tea and Dark Tea
• Raw Pu-erh Tea
• Yunnan

I arrived in the village located on the foot of Da Xue Shan. Today onwards, I am visiting various manufactures, farmers and pu-erh tea hunters. Firstly, I have visited a lady who is the Lahu race（拉祜族). She has a contract with several farmers. They are sending her the freshly produced tea on a daily basis. …

[2013.03.31]

Finding good green tea to produce quality jasmine pearl

• Types of Tea
• Chinese Green Tea Processing
• Fujian
• Green Tea
• Jasmine Tea
• Non Fermented Tea
• Scented Tea and Flavoured Tea

Jasmine tea is one of the very important teas in our lineup. Many people may think that Jasmine flower plays an important role in Jasmine tea. Nevertheless, the most important element in Jasmine tea is the base green tea. I have visited Fujian province to search for the ideal green tea In this early spring, …

[2013.03.30]

The secret of making quality white tea

• Tea Processing
• China
• Fermented Tea
• Fujian
• White Tea
• White Tea Processing

I have spent two days in the white tea factory located in Fuding city of Fujian province in China. The difference between white tea and green tea The main difference of white tea from green tea is that green tea will undergo either pan-frying process or steam-heating process in order to inactivate the enzyme. As for …

[2013.03.29]

Visiting tea garden in Fuding city of Fujian province in China

• Origin of Tea
• China
• Fermented Tea
• Fujian
• White Tea
• White Tea Processing

  I am now in Fuding city of Fujian province in China to buy some white teas and base green tea for making Jasmine pearl. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuding   The home town of Fuding Da Bai Hao Fuding city is the hometown of the very famous cultivar, called Fuding Da Bai Hao (福鼎大白毫). The bud of Fuding …

[2013.03.25]

Why is Zhuni/Shudei so famous?

• Teapot and Tea Equipment
• Chinese Teapot
• Japanese Teapot and Tea Equipment
• Mumyoi Clay Teapot
• Nosaka Clay Teapot
• Sado Red Clay Teapot
• Tokoname Clay Teapot
• Yi Xing Teapot

  Zhuni and red clay is of different meanings Zhuni is a famous name of clay. For teapot collectors in China and Japan, this name is very familiar. Both in Japanese and Chinese，it is written as 朱泥. Zhuni is the Chinese pronunciation, while it is called Shudei in Japanese. Both languages are referring to exactly …

[2013.03.24]

Organic tea is safe, but not sufficient

• Safety of Tea
• Health
• Mineral
• No Pesticide
• Pesticide
• Tea Constituents
• Tea Functionality
• Theanine

  It’s often claimed that the organic tea is good for health and it should be delicious. It’s generally said that organic tea is safer as it’s produced using methods of organic farming that do not uses chemical fertilizer and pesticides. Nonetheless, “safe” is not equalled to “good for health” and “delicious”.   Tea contains …

[2013.03.23]

Q: Can pregnant woman can drink tea?

• Tea constituents and functional effect
• FAQ
• Caffeine
• Pregnancy
• Tea Constituents
• Tea Functionality

  Answer:     You need to care about the caffeine intake If a pregnant woman drinks tea, the caffeine from tea will be also delivered to baby. The baby’s liver has low metabolic rate, the caffeine lingers longer. That is the point why it is said that pregnant woman has to refrain from intaking …

[2013.03.22]

Comparison is the best way to check the tea quality

• How to choose quality tea
• Factors that affects tea quality

Comparison is the key to inspect the quality of tea For tea quality aspects, it is quite difficult to put into quantitative perspective. If we could do so, our job becomes much easier, and one could find good tea regardless of one’s ability. However, this will make the tea becomes less interesting. In some way, …