Sweden is getting deeper into autumn, daylight gets shorter and night gets longer. For me it´s usually time for oolong teas, and this time I happily brewed the Da Hong Pao I bought from my latest visit to Hong Kong, and prepared my review of this wonderful tea to share with you.
Those who read my blog often may probably noticed that I digest more the spiritual part than any other attributes of teas and food that I review, but as Lin Yu Tang stated in one of his books, east asians rather admire the spriritual beauty of the nature than dissect it for theoretical study. In short: We rather enjoy life than investigate the meaning of it.
Anyway, I will compare this tea to the strength and gentleness of the water buffalo or ox. The photo above was taken by my daughter Naomi during a travel in India. Although a nature photographer Naomi also takes people´s portraits captured in their natural invironment, and many more of her photoes can be found on her facebook page. Thanks, Naomi, for allowing this powerful picture be featured in mom´s blog.
We probably do not noticed it always but we do seek to everything that symbolizes something meaningful to us. Since kid I have always been very fond of water buffalos. They have always given me some sort of strength and at the same time peace of mind.
I find this beautiful creature which sybolizes strength and gentleness very delightful to paint, and when still kid, I and some classmates would sometimes dispatch our ride to go without us, and walk instead, just to be able to pass those rice fields with buffalos covered with mud. I´d poke them and says " yak, pal, you´re so covered with mud" And they would look at me and says or do nothing.
Anyway, I find this Da Hong Pao as delightful to drink. It smells of plums once opened. However drinking it is another thing:
Brew 1: While its aroma is as gentle as plums, the taste is very reserved as if stating its strength through refraining.
Brew 2: the second brewing gave a contrary result . It gave out lesser aroma, and more taste, and so did the third brewing. It tasted unextravagant but sensational with a bit of salt and mineral like earth, and just a touch of sweetness like fruit and flower of a plum.
Many might probably wonder how can one appreciate such sensation that remind one of earth and mineral, but then the wonderment might probably actually lies as on which dimension does ones understanding of tastes and happiness lies.
Anyway, what´s another thing particular with this tea is the TIME to drink it. Only in one particular moment do I always find it blooms generously with taste that one might call heaven. It´s when you drink it at exactly as soon as it´s in a temperature bearable to drink. Cooler than that and you risk missing the best of it: the taste and sensation of strength and gentleness, which I thought only buffalos can radiate at the same time otherwise.
Happy tea drinking everyone!
... for Chadao ...
黄琼丝 /Celina Huang
Buffalo Photo: Naomi Images
Tea pictures: En Kopp Zen Teahouse
I love too this uncredible tea, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteMerci, Francine, Je suis heureux nous avons beaucoup de choses en commun. /Celina
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