Mr. Wei, a more talented young tea maker I never saw. I have known him for just around 5-6 years now, and he was great to begin with, but reaching new levels every year. When I told him the Ya Sai plagiarism story, he chuckled and said maybe because there are tons of Ya Sai in the market in his town now, courtesy of the neighbors. By tons, he meant, like a few hundred low mountain lbs. He himself is partially guilty- he loves the Ya Sai so much his offspring clippings of the mother tree can now produce nearly a hundred lbs or more, if the weather was normal this year. The reverse marketing did not work out- Duck Poop tea is now a fashionable tea in his town at Phoenix Mountain because he made such a sensation! But sadly, I told him, the Forbes article was not about…
Stepped into a watery day at Phoenix Mountain, probably the…
Stepped into a watery day at Phoenix Mountain, probably the oldest oolong culture in the world. The trees are the oldest anyway. Incessant rains after the snow is delaying the harvesting. Blinding fog makes the 70 degree slopes, on moss filled rocky soil, impossibly dangerous. Slippery slope, indeed.
At Phoenix Mountain. An unprecedented snow killed most early…
At Phoenix Mountain. An unprecedented snow killed most early buds, and after 2 short harvest days, it is interrupted again by downpours.
At Xiping, home of Tieguanyin. The village was so much quieter,…
At Xiping, home of Tieguanyin. The village was so much quieter, and at peak harvest season, hardly anyone was around. The reason is that many tea bushes died from the recent subzero temperature, and recent decline in demand with over production caused prices to not rise. And since most teas have more than doubled in price in recent years, Tieguanyin and surrounding oolongs like Yellow Gold, Hairy Crab, and Benshan have all fallen out of favor with the producers.
Duck Poop and its sensationalism
Off to Phoenix Mountain in a week or so, and hoping that the rain gods have mercy on the harvest this year, I am hoping to be able to procure another batch of that sublime Phoenix Ya Sai oolong, which literally means Duck Poop in the local dialect. The fact that the family who owns the tree complained that neighbors have been stealing clippings to plant in their own gardens for decades, if not…
Oolong Scented Sticky Rice
Recipe courtesy Melanie Franks: INGREDIENTS: 200g Glutinous Rice, soaked overnight 400ml Wood Dragon Oolong Tea 2 cloves, minced 2 shallots, minced 50g Wood Dragon Oolong Tea in a sachet Salt to taste 1. Sauté shallots and garlic in olive oil until soft and tender. 2. Add strained rice to the aromatics. 3. Add the Oolong Tea and Sachet and bring to a boil. 4. Once the tea comes to a boil reduce heat to a simmer and stir occasionally until rice is cooked. 5. Discard tea sachet and season rice. 6. Pour rice into non-stick pan to cool. (alternatively rice can be served right away) 7. Once rice is cool, cut the rice into squares or circles and sear on both side. 8. Heat rice cake through in oven. 9. Serve rice with sautéed vegetable and a fried egg.