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Survived, out of China. On Xiamen flight, I managed an emergency…

Tea Adventures

Survived, out of China. On Xiamen flight, I managed an emergency exit seat which meant I just increased my survival rate by 50%! One less Chinese person who would randomly open the emergency gate ‘to get some air’. I am as claustrophobic as needing institutional care, but never have I entertained opening the emergency escape on mid flight. Other spectacular actions: opening overhead compartments on descent and leaving it open so bags can become trajectiles. Bringing a whole Jasmine tree on the flight and obstructing the walkway. These I witnessed. Ones I have heard: throwing hot cup of noodles on the flight attendant’s face. Assaulting flight attendant because this guy wanted a different seat than he got and refused to give it up, and got upset at flight attendant trying to get him to move . How about smoking inside the bathrooms and setting the plane on fire?
Well, I win some and lose some. My mosquito bites were fewer than 20 this time so far, so a few life threatening actions by fellow passengers should provide other forms of entertainment.

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80% of the population depends on tea for a livelihood in one way…

Tea Adventures

80% of the population depends on tea for a livelihood in one way or another here in Anxi, the birthplace of Tieguanyin, world renown oolong. To be sure fads come and go every year and a Tieguanyin is not always the most fashionable tea every year. Since the mountain range is so huge, all this raw material has to go someplace. They can get sold to Wuyi to be made into Dahongpao, or Phoenix Mountain to make ‘Phoenix tea’, or even green teas. For most people, they are not going to taste the terroir difference. For Americans, forget terroir- there’s just green tea or black tea in a teabag. Actually, the best example ever- once I was in a restaurant in SOHO, NYC, billing itself as a tea house restaurant. On the menu was: Hot Tea. That’s it. The wine list was a book and coffees were a dozen choices, but this ‘tea house’ had only one option for tea. Phew, glad it was hot. Now, why did I just spend my whole life getting terroir specific tea from the indigenous varietals picked on the perfect day made by the best artisans in the villages, again?

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The Tea University of Anxi, a branch of Fujian Agriculture and…

Tea Adventures

The Tea University of Anxi, a branch of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry. This is a One Rated University, which means it’s top of the line and least expensive. You get in on merit and grades alone. And for such good grades, you get to pay a low tuition of 5000 RMB a year, almost $1000 USD. So there is an all around incentive for merit, including for those who could not afford education. Conversely, if your grades were terrible, you get to go to Third Rated and very expensive.
Glad to see the one and only, if not in the world, tea university, in existence. Brand new, this is only the third semester!

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The new high rises in the city about an hour below the mountain,…

Tea Adventures

The new high rises in the city about an hour below the mountain, is selling units for around 200,000 RMB per unit, but, you can pay your deposit in tea! 50,000 RMB worth in tea in exchange. Mr. Lin is considering it. He can give them his 100rmb teas they will purchase for 200rmb for and resell for 300rmb. Not a bad deal all around! I urged him to go for it. He can teach at the new Tea University across the street during downtime!

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Mr. Lin’s high mountain organic Tieguanyin, viewed from the…

Tea Adventures

Mr. Lin’s high mountain organic Tieguanyin, viewed from the tallest hillside, Treasure Mountain, Da Bao Shan. Here at around 1160 meters, it is not the highest mountain ever, but the incline is a formidable 60-70 degrees.

His favorites though are his Guanyin Red and Golden Robe, his hybrids that enjoy a strictly Ecological Agricultural standards, using no chemicals whatsoever, a standard that uses the best traditional (sheep manure!) as well as modern practices exceeding organic standards. On top of the chilly mountain with lots of wind circulating, his hills look like alien landing pads. If aliens had a taste for tea. If I were an alien tea would be a good reason to visit earth.

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