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 Come and visit us at the Real Food Festival at Earl's Court 8–10 May (www.realfoodfestival.co.uk). Book online with this code T2FLW for a 20% discount. Buying on the door is expensive. There will be special offers available only at this show. At RFF we are launching Master Wang's hand-made Phoenix Mountain Oolongs One is a world-class Mi Lan Xiang from Hong Hua Cun from old trees and is certified by IFOA. Marvellously fragrant. From Phoenix Mountain itself, there is also Emperor Jiaqing's Tribute tea. He ruled from 1796 to !820 and is said to have died after having been struck by lightning. Sweet and delicious tea. The Epoch Times' tea-column (Loose Leaf) continues see the links page if you want to read online. I've only put links to the first few. It's easy enough to find after that. It's also available in Hebrew on the Tel-Aviv website. The new Li-shan is here and is a Tie Guan Yin varietal, unroasted. The floral fragrance is less assertive than on our current TGY from Anxi but gives delicious fruit. There is still a little of the previous, exquisite Chin Shin varietal from Li-shan also at £10 for 20g. Thanks to Tim on his last trip, we also have some world-class Da Hong Pao grown just over 320m from the famous remaining few original plants, hundreds of years old, in Nine Dragon Gorge. Quite peachy, in every sense. It is entirely hand-made which is very rare today. Also entirely hand-made is a Shui Xian from "ancient trees", over 100 years old, which yield a mere 14 kilos each year. The result is a subtle tea, with less obvious fruit, but depth. Each of these masterpiecese teas costs £15 for 20g. Also from the same master maker, custodian of the few remaining original Da Hong Pao trees, in the Wuyi World Heritage Site, where no chemicals are allowed, is a Rou Gui (Cassia) Oolong which is being greatly enjoyed, even before the labels have been printed.£12 for 50g thanks to a special deal In addition we have a delicious new Pouchong Premium, Bao Zhong, which very lightly fermented, i.e. oxidised. Very special though only £10 for 50g. Also just being packed is a rare Woo Jun. These tiny leaves from the same plants as the Sparrow's Tongue have much higher levels of many ingredients that contribute to its taste and flavour being a picking before the first picking. Confused? It costs £14 for 20g. See a few notes regarding this at www.epoch-archive.com/a1/en/uk/nnn/2008/07-Jul/09/011_Life.pdf A smooth, creamy San Lin Xi which has been very well received @ 50g for £10. Only just arrive are a tiny quantity of Tie Guan Yin from Anxi (original terroir) but more is coming) and a new Chin Shin oolong, from the Fu Shou Shan farm surrounding the summer lodge of ex-leader Chiang Kai-Shek that, we are told, is served at state receptions. It reveals itself slowly but the wait is worthwhile. Still available are a marvellously buttery high-mountain, rolled green oolong grown on Ali Shan, another one of Taiwan’s most famous tea mountains (50g for £10) and another, more floral, from Ren-ai which we are calling Grasshopper Oolong. When Tim went to Mr Chun’s farm, certified as organic in Taiwan, these active little creatures were everywhere (50g for £11). We also have a superb, greener style of Long Jing, Long Jing Premium, very spring-like and with a definite asparagus character. Delicious. (50g for £12) east teas import special and unusual loose-leaf teas obtained directly from farmers, experts, and small local suppliers in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. east teas' selection of green and oolong teas offer a world of flavour and fragrance far removed from the blended black teas used to make "the traditional British cup of tea". east teas' teas also have a superb natural sweetness which means they can be drunk without adding sweeteners or milk. Recent scientific studies suggest further health benefits from drinking these types of traditional Asian teas which have long been believed to have particular medicinal qualities. east teas is pleased to be able to offer hand-made and hand-decorated tea utensils from China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as pieces made by skilled and sympathetic makers in the UK. Part of the joy of tea culture is in what you drink from. Ceramics have a long and rich history in Asia where hand-made objects are still widely used and appreciated. east teas sells both everyday and specialist teas from east Asia. We believe that all our teas represent excellent value in their superior flavour and in the way they can withstand multiple infusions. east teas' own retail outlet is in Borough Food Market where we will be delighted to introduce you to our teas and share our experience of making, and living with, them. Borough Food Market is very close to London Bridge Rail and Underground Stations in London SE1. east teas is there Friday 12-6 & Saturday 9-4. east teas also offers a full mail order service with payments securely handled via PayPal or by cheque. Please send your order to enquiries@eastteas.com. Mail order terms: minimum order of three packs. Post & packing: 3-5 packs: £1 per pack. 6 packs or more: free. Payment by cheque in advance please or via PayPal. Often teas are sent out within a day but please allow 28 days for delivery. Pictures of currently available utensils can be sent on request. |