Cheers, Ralf, Lew & Livio,
Unfortunately, the documentary didn't actually show any of the preparation of the tea - they just talked briefly about it, and there was a brief shot at the close of the segment of pouring hot water into the 2 cup pot, which itself was pretty much stuffed with leaves. (As y' know, I'm a committed jar drinker, my knowledge of Gong Fu limited to jumping on my opponent's leg and clobbering 'em on the head).
I kind of assume they smoke a lower grade woody oolong - I can't imagine anyone smoking the delicate floral Taiwan oolongs ... but I might be wrong. And Lew and Livio, could either of you guide me to the written form of the words "Tampei" and "beilong" (tones or radical or meaning)? I assume the latter is pinyin, tampei could be mandarin or colloquial?
And finally Livio, "used for drying tea, as well for the finishing or "re-fining" of many oolong tea." Such as which ones? Might it have been fairly common years ago to buy "fresher/unfinished" leaves and finishing the preparation of oolong teas oneself?
I'll try to get to watch the doc again (the film, A CITY OF SADNESS, meanwhile has no tea scenes in it as far as I recall, but it's very good if you get the chance to see it as are most of his films - the non-costume epics in my opinion) ... if it says the name of the town, or the cafe owner, etc, I'll let folks know.
Thanks all, J