Fukamushi-Cha

FooJoy is the quintessential Chinese commercial brand. The first step to understanding Chinese tea starts here. While a tisane I never go anywhere without their Dim Sum Herbal when seeking to eat likewise. I also recommend their Vintage Oolong as a precursor to pu-erh. Their Lichee is as good as any. You can't beat the selection and price. I can't say this about other similar HK companies.

Jim

You mean it's already aged? Or is it somehow especially suitable for aging?

/Lew

Thanks Jim, I did see the Vintage Oolong. I'll pick some up next time I'm there. I had my first pu-erh lately, and while it wasn't bad, I don't think I get it yet. I'll have to try some others and get a handle on the flavors.

Blues

Broken leaves are characteristic of fukamushi-cha, which is just sencha steamed-fixed for a longer period than typical sencha (fukamushi means "deep-steamed"). They are indeed a little more forgiving when it comes to brewing, tolerating higher temperatures. As for flavor, you could say fukamushi-cha are generally robust, while standard sencha are more delicate and aromatic.

--crymad

Vintage as in Premium quality not specifically aging. However since this is from the Wuyi Mountains it should be aged 6 months which is typical and ever so slightly the 'moldy' taste not found in other oolongs. You can buy Wuyi oolong which isn't aged but missing that characteristic note from aging. The most notable is Black Dragon which I can serve to guests and not get that puckered egads shocked surprised expresssion.

Jim

I understand that in the Indian Darjeeling region, "vintage" tea refers to tea made from the leaves of older, vintage plants (possibly from very old strains, or from the actual very old plants?). I wonder whether this is ever done in China?

N.

It's certainly *advertised* in China. I've read about tea from

800-year old plants.

/Lew

I think that is a Chinese pull-your-leg folklore for gullible Occidentals because from a little research the life of a plantation tea plant is about

65 years. Established plantations are maintained from graphing so how old is a clone?

Jim

I'm going to be going to the Asian markets tomorrow to pick up, among other things, some more Fukamushi-Cha and a Uri-Gyokuro I saw last time. Any other teas I should be on the look out for?

Thanks,

Blues

Buy something of everything and you'll still have change in your pocket. On your way if you past any Indian or Arabic stores stop there too.

Jim

Thanks,

Blues

Well I ended up with some more Fukamushi-Cha, some Uji-Gyokuro, and Aha-Cha New Crop Presorted Green Tea (a blend of first picked tea with Fukamushi-Cha, Kuki-Cha, and Kona-Cha). I really like the Aha-Cha, the Gyokuro is a little grassy for me. After reading a bit more about brewing Gyokuro on the internet I brewed a cup using 2 tablespoons of tea, 122 degree water for 2 minutes, and while I like the Gyokuro I got from Special Teas better, it's not a bad cup of tea. The aftertaste is better than the flavor while I'm drinking it.

The Fukamushi-Cha and Aha-Cha are both from the Yamama Masudeaen Co. and were $2.99 for 2 Oz. The Gyokuro was 9.99 for 8oz. At these prices I can afford to experiment, but most of the teas were in 8oz. packages, so if I don't like them there is a lot to waste. Fortunately I have some family who are not so particular about their teas, so they appreciate my discards.

Blues

[snip]

You may want to try the Gyokuro using 1 tablespoon and bumping up the temperature at bit, say 150. I wonder, though, whether this tea is in fact true Gyokuro, given that the price you mention is inconceivably cheap.

--crymad

I wondered that same thing myself.

I'd say it is not. I have some and have been able to get a taste reminiscent of Gyokuro but not quite Gyokuro. However, for the price (I paid a similiar price) it is a good tea. A 'poor mans Gyokuro' if you will.

J

Well, I have personally seen tea trees some three meters high and about 800 years old (planted in the Song dynasty, people say) on Fenghuang (Phoenix) mountain, near to Chaozhou. As soon as I can scan the slide, I will provide you with a picture. L

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I'll give you that for trees in the wild just because it is simply an evergreen. Here in the US our old world forrests are thousands of years old. I mentioned cultivated tea bushes on plantations and their usefull life. The locals might harvest an old tea tree but I don't think there is enough for commercial use. It is more probable these trees are picked by monkeys.

Jim

Occidentals

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Roy Fong on the Imperial Tea Court Oolong web page shows an "old bush oolong," which he claims has the most "pronounced honey-peachiness we have ever tasted," among other glowing comments. I'd be curious as to just how old these ten trees are. Web page URL:

Be it as it may, I have an ounce of it here and will give it a shot before long.

Picked by monkeys beyond a shadow of a doubt. We do after all train them to assist people who can't leave chair or bed. They can retrieve any number of things by name. You could use dogs I suppose, but they'd look so stupid climbing the trees.

Michael

Cats! But you'd have to convince them first, wouldn't you?

/Lew