Hou De Tea Blog

Enjoy the Spring Delight Amidst Summer Heat

June 21st, 2009

The Father Day’s gift I received is a quiet Sunday afternoon, all to myself, with just a string attached - “you gotta update something new for Hou De Blog!”. Hmmm.., why I cannot fully comprehend it as a gift? Anyway, happy Father’s Day! Keep working hard and stay healthy, just don’t expect too much on the gift … you know, it’s more a Mother’s Day thing.

Ok, back to tea. Last week we gladly received Tai-Tung green tea and black tea from the same producer we sourced last year. The green and black teas from him were really popular, and received many positive feedbacks.

Last month when we were on the phone chatting, he said something about the quality of green tea and black tea that is really fresh to me. He said, a really good green tea, except the usual quality criteria for green tea, should have the feeling of a premium black tea - the richness, the silkness, the complexity in fragrance. On the other hand, a really good black tea should also have the feeling of a premium green tea - the coolness, the refreshing sensation.

I was not completely after what he said. But the more I thought about it later, the more I felt, hmmm, it does make sense.

So today I have the chance to try the two teas from him together to see if his offerings practice what he preached!

The Hao Xian Bi Lu (Green) tea packs so much fragrance that the instance the hot water touched the dry leaves, I could smell the heavenly floral+honey+nutty scent. On the third cup I especially noticed a touch of fruity fragrance - like citrus. The taste is undoubtedly silky and smooth, and slight thicker feeling than other green teas.

The Hao Xian Black tea packs even more juice and fragrance! Every leaf is like a little powerhouse of scent. Richly fruity and honey. And there was a slight airy coolness - like a fresh mint. Strongly recommend enjoying it without sugar or milk, as it is smooth and rich enough to do without “make-up”.

Try them yourself to see if you find the same, that there is richness and silkness in the Bi Lu Green, and coolness in the Hao Xian Black!

Guang

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Thanks for attending Tasting Workshop @ WTE 2009

May 6th, 2009

The tasting workshop, Focused Tasting: Puerh, had been concluded on the morning of May 3rd @ WTE 2009. We were again excited by the number of people who attended this workshop, about 45, and the quality and quantity of questions/comments raised. The WTE staff worked very efficiently to make this a professional event. My sincere thanks go to you all who came to the workshop and the WTE staffs who helped make it a success.

Comparing to the presentation we did in WTE 2008, we had similar number of people - which is great, considering the current economy situation. But we had more questions and communications during this workshop than we did in 2008. I think the fact is tasting of teas encouraged communications and promoted idea exchanges - just like TEA always does!

It is also absolutely great to see many of familiar faces again!

I am not sure if we will want to do anything next year @ WTE. More and more we realize for Hou De to keep doing good and maintain a well balance with our family and budget, we should focus - if not “only focus” - on our customers. Business-to-business or wholesale is just not a game Hou De has the capability to play. We had turned down all new wholesale requests we received since last year.

Look forward to another great summer!

Guang

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Sounding Bowl “Xian Wen” by Master Shao Yi-Yan

December 3rd, 2008

Two of the most respected Tian Mu (Tenmoku) masters in Taiwan - people called “Bei (North) Shan Yi-Yan, Nan (South) Jian Yu-Ting”. Master Shao tends to like using porcelain-ware as bases to play his glaze magic, while Master Jian usually using earthenware as bases.

Among the two Masters, Mr. Shao has been troubled by deteriorated eyesight in recent years, and thus making fewer and fewer pieces. I was lucky to have the chance to visit his studio in my September trip to Taiwan. Here I would like to share with you one of my acquired babies: a large-sized Mu Yien Tian Mu “Sounding” bowl. Below is a clip showing me playing the bowl:

The clip on YouTube

This is not the best clips with the smoothest sound. But all other clips have my daughter’s talking or laughing in the background, so .. :rool:

The whole body is of a pure metallic black. In the center of the bowl, you can see a figure of complete, unbroken skeleton - very often the burning was not even enough that some part of the skeleton of the leaf was burned too quick to appear on the glaze, or the skeleton was broken. It required a master’s control skill, experience and very great luck. Hence, Mu Yieh Tian Mu is considered as one of the most challenged and rare Tian Mu.

In addition to the challenge of the Mu Yieh itself, this large bowl is actually a “sounding” bowl - in Chinese called Xian Wen. Rubbing your wet fingers against the rim of the bowl, you get a silky and high-pitched sound from it. This one is probably the largest sounding bowl I’ve ever encountered! Imagine the master skill required to try and form the body (quite thin for its size) by hand-thrown!

Although it did cost a little fortune to acquire, I knew I either have to have it or have sleepless nights! Enjoy.

Guang

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Sounding Bowl “Xian Wen” by Master Shao Yi-Yan

December 3rd, 2008

Two of the most respected Tian Mu (Tenmoku) masters in Taiwan - people called “Bei (North) Shan Yi-Yan, Nan (South) Jian Yu-Ting”. Master Shao tends to like using porcelain-ware as bases to play his glaze magic, while Master Jian usually using earthenware as bases.

Among the two Masters, Mr. Shao has been troubled by deteriorated eyesight in recent years, and thus making fewer and fewer pieces. I was lucky to have the chance to visit his studio in my September trip to Taiwan. Here I would like to share with you one of my acquired babies: a large-sized Mu Yien Tian Mu “Sounding” bowl. Below is a clip showing me playing the bowl:

The clip on YouTube

This is not the best clips with the smoothest sound. But all other clips have my daughter’s talking or laughing in the background, so .. :rool:

The whole body is of a pure metallic black. In the center of the bowl, you can see a figure of complete, unbroken skeleton - very often the burning was not even enough that some part of the skeleton of the leaf was burned too quick to appear on the glaze, or the skeleton was broken. It required a master’s control skill, experience and very great luck. Hence, Mu Yieh Tian Mu is considered as one of the most challenged and rare Tian Mu.

In addition to the challenge of the Mu Yieh itself, this large bowl is actually a “sounding” bowl - in Chinese called Xian Wen. Rubbing your wet fingers against the rim of the bowl, you get a silky and high-pitched sound from it. This one is probably the largest sounding bowl I’ve ever encountered! Imagine the master skill required to try and form the body (quite thin for its size) by hand-thrown!

Although it did cost a little fortune to acquire, I knew I either have to have it or have sleepless nights! Enjoy.

Guang

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Thanks for being with us in 2008!

November 30th, 2008

Sorry for being so inactive lately; the blog has not been updated for nearly two months … we have received emails and calls from dear customers asking if Hou De has been flooded by Hurricane Ike or the ongoing financial storm! Hou De and my family are all well and healthy.

Immediately after I returned from visiting Taiwan in September, I have started working for a new engineering job. As you can guess, it is quite an effort to try to fit into a new job asap. This is a switch I believe provide a safer “financial cushion” for my family amid the current global economic turmoil. And by having sure bread-and-butter on the table, we can continue let Hou De focus on connoisseur-oriented and high-end offerings of tea and teaware - and this is exactly what we enjoy doing the most. Those who constantly follow our new offerings should have noticed our intention.

Calling this the most crazy year I’ve experienced so far. Oil price surged to such a high price in summer that I felt guilty every time I pressed the brake. In September, A gigantic hurricane wreaked havoc the Houston and local business, and caused some damages to our house. A month later, the financial “trouble” turned rapidly into “turmoil” and then ” global disaster” very soon.

On the positive side, I congratulate Americans for finishing a historic presidential election. Not that I have the voting right to participate or political preference, but watching the progress of the election and the tears and joys at the Grand Park Chicago on the election night, I was assured this is still the land of opportunity.

Besides, the financial disaster does not only bring the negative things to us. Just like when you catch a flu and your body temperature raise, this economical turmoil “fever”, in some way, is healing the illed financial system. While our family dine out less to save money, we find the joy of healthier foods and more quality family time. I drive with more patience to save gas, and find there is really no need to rush, and I can always learn one or two things from the radio. One day on the radio I heard people talking the “Victory Garden” to produce homegrown vegetables. I will surely try next spring!

Especially in such a difficult and turbulent time, we sincerely feel blessed to have many of you, our dear customers and friends, still visiting and supporting us. We can assure you that we will keep improving Hou De and maintain focused.

Guang

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(not really) Live Report from Taiwan - Part II

September 29th, 2008

The original plan was to finish the Part II of the Live report from Taiwan immediately after visiting Nantou plantations. But I guess I spent too much time trying to say goodbye to all the great foods there … I am back in Houston today. So, here is my (not really) Live report Part II.

The road conditions of most high-mountain plantations in central part of Taiwan were so bad that my friends warned me not to risk visiting. So I changed my plan to visit LuGu - the birth place of the most famous Dong-Ding Oolong.
There is a friend, Mr. Su, whose family has been in YongLong village for generations as tea farmers and producers. YongLong village is one of the main Dong-Dong oolong plantations in LuGu. The bad weather gave me an excellent excuse to visit Mr. Su and recharged my knowledge and craving for great Dong-Ding. (The photo on the right is the old house of Mr. Su’s family).

While almost all of the tea plants on his farm are of Chin-Shin (green-centered) oolong cultivar, we did find several isolated Si Cha - the genuine Taiwan tea plant cultivar. The oldest one is more than 70 years old, as far as Mr. Su can remembered. The plant is not very tall, because they just deep trim (call “baldheading”) it two years ago to revitalize its growth.

Guang

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Live Report from Taiwan - Part I

September 21st, 2008

Almost the same time Houston was hit by Hurricane Ike, Taiwan was struck by Typhoon Sinlaku - a super slow-moving typhoon that brought extreme rainfall in most part of Taiwan. My original plan to visit and document several major high-mountain plantations had to be halted.

The latest news from our cooperative Hwa Gan plantation in Li Shan mountain range was pretty bad - as we heard from a rescue team who passed by the area, the plantation had probably been “moved” by flood or mudslide at least 50m away! We will not be able to know the overall damages unitl we can really visit the area, hopefully in a month.

So I had no choice but to stay in Taipei. This, on the other hand, gave me more time to visit ceramic artists for excellent teaware. Besides Mr. Xu De-Jia - whom I believe many of you have known his name and his Celadon craftsmanship, I visited Taiwan’s “Tian Mu (Tenmoku) Master” Shao Yi-Yian and Mr. Lee Lian-Chuan, who has devoted to develope highest-quality porcelain teaware.

Due to the problem with his eyesight, Mr. Shao has almost stop making any more tian mu tea bowls. I felt luckly to be able to acquire several of his works and share with our customers.

The porcelain teaware from Mr. Lee are also incredible (see the blue-and-white Cha Hai with calligraphy). He and his wife are responsible for the design, glaze and firing of each and every piece, and invite famous Taiwan artists to finish calligraphy or paintings on the body. The most famous series from them is the Calligraphy teaware, which have become “standard” in most tea lovers’ collections. The artist, Wen An, who does the calligraphy has been recognized by a National award.

So you can expect a lot of exciting new stuffs from Hou De in October!

Tomorrow (Monday) I will drive down to Nan Tou to see how far I can go and try my best to visit tea plantations and friends. Will do Live Report Part II soon.

Guang

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Hurricane Ike Preparation - and Aftermath

September 12th, 2008

Dear Friends,

As you know, we are anxiously waiting the big Hurricane Ike to make its final landfall towards Galveston/Houston on Saturday. I am in Taiwan, so Irene has to do all preparations herself. We will stop processing/sending all orders until … as soon as we can. Hopeful everybody will be safe through the Hurricane, and we will be spared the water shortage and blackout problems.

So, tighten your seatbelt, and be safe!
Guang from Taipei

Update after Ike:

Comparing to what many others in Galveston/Houston are experiencing, the damages to our family are pretty minor. The fence was blown apart, several major tree branches were downed (hope the roof was safe). Friends and neighbors had come to help Irene move the debris and partly bring up the fence. Electricity is ok, water is near normal.

Our hearts go to those who have suffered from Ike or may still waiting for rescue.

Update from Irene:

Dear All, Thank you all for all your warm supports and good wishes for us. It was indeed very stressful to face Ike alone here without Guang. But you made it easier for me to pass through it.

Thanks,
Irene

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Trip to Taiwan, 9/8 ~ 9/26

September 8th, 2008

Dear Friends,

I am leaving today to go visit my family in Taiwan; will be back on 9/26. Irene stays in Houston to keep serving you Hou De as usual. But I can guess she will have her hands pretty full most of the time just trying to run after our daughter and fulfill all orders you guys kindly send in So please be a bit more patient on the speed of order processing.

I surely will visit several plantations and ceramic artists, and bring back really interesting teas and teawares. Also I will bring back more treasures (yixings and aged pu-erhs) from my storage in Taiwan to Houston.

By the end of this month and October you will see a whole array of exciting new things on Hou De! So, good bye and good luck!

Guang

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