Froh Weihnachten! Merry Christmas!

Wish you have a wonderful Christmas

and

great coming New Year!

EAST X WEST -- a good combination: Fancy Black Tea v.s. Stollen

Except for Glühwein and Weihnachtstee,

maybe try to taste tea without sugar with Stollen together

will be a nice choice for the coming Christmas! 

 ** The tea in the photo is Fancy Black Tea.

Antique Chinese Teapot Exhibition in Tainan

There is a great exhibition you shouldn't miss if you are interested in old Chinese tea wares and currently you are in Taiwan.

In Tainan Municipal Cultural Center, now you can see many Chinese antique tea wares gathering in an exhibition room, those belongs to some private collectors. Most of these tea wares were made in Ching Dynasty.

Exhibition duration: 3 -25 December 2011 (closed on every Mo...nday and Tuesday)
Location: Tainan Municipal Cultural Center (Tainan City, Taiwan)

** This Zi-Sha teapot in the photo was made in end of Ming Dynasty, early of Ching Dynasty.

EAST X WEST -- a good combination : Fancy Black Tea v.s. Scone

Tea for desert, or dessert for tea? To find an appropriate dessert for a certain... tea would be interesting sometimes, when they match nicely.

We had some homemade scones from a private backery/kitchen in Changhua county. And tea, here we adopted Fancy Black Tea which had natural honey fragrance. As usual, we didn't use milk or sugar in tea.

 Bon Appétit!

Salted olives v.s. Li Shan (High Mountain) Oolong Tea

Many of tea lovers are interested in finding out what dessert to match well with tea. Since long time, in China, where produces hundreds of tea has a slang and mentions about this issue. It said that the sweets match green tea, the sour ones match black tea and the salted dessert match Oolong tea.

The slang possibly could come from the old time when people didn't have so many choices for their tea time. Nowadays, people seem not following this "rule" and still make the tea time perfectly.

We have some great seasonal olives from the forest in Nantou, Taiwan. They were made with a very simple and natural way. By this good chance, we would like to taste it by following the old slang -- salted olives v.s. Li Shan (High Mountain) Oolong Tea.

The Li Shan Oolong Tea came from the altitude 2,200 to 2,500 meters in Taiwan. The quality of this tea was premium. It had a refreshing fragrance and tasted so smooth in the mouth. The salted olives also brought a light fragrance and there was no conflict between olives and tea -- they matched well. It seemed that the slang made sense.

However, for us, we still prefer having tea and dessert separately, instead of having dessert in between. Which means, to have the dessert after finishing tea. To concentrate on each brewing tea is important so that we can find out and taste the differences in tea.

EAST X WEST - a good combination : Ruby Black Tea v.s. Kaiserschmarrn

The "Kaiserschmarrn" we made was according to the recipe on the pack of "Dr. Oetker". The only difference should be the "powdered sugar" on the top. We used honey to replace it. It still tasted great!!!
 
The tea we matched with Kaiserschmarrn was "Ruby Black Tea", without milk and sugar in tea. "Ruby Black Tea" has its natural and original aroma of honey, mint and a little bit of cinnemon, in different levels while tasting tea. Both "Ruby Black Tea" and "Kaiserschmarrn" kept their own characters and not conflict to each other. Would you like to try it too? Bon appetit!

Find us in a simple way!

Find us in a simple way: by searching "Formosa T-house".

There are 2 websites for you to find us too!

www.formosa-teahouse.com

www.formosa-t-house.com

EAST X WEST - a good combination : Oriental Beauty Tea v.s. Napoleon Pie

This pie is called "Napoleon Pie" in Taiwan, it sounds full of stories inside the pie.

Of course, there are still many people just call it as "Mille Feuille".

The tea on the photo is the famous one in Taiwan,

Grand Reopened!

Formosa T-house webshop has moved and uploaded successfully,

it already reopened!
We are always here for you! Let’s enjoy drinking tea!

Please link to www.formosa-teahouse.com

or direct to

www.shop.formosa-teahouse.com

Nature-farming tea plantation

How was your summer? Although we have processed our website re-construction until now (the work will be finished soon, thank you for your waiting!), we still enjoyed our summer time very much especially visited some tea plantations. For the ones in center and south of Taiwan, you could see the photos here and on our Facebook. And now, we are posting a few shots from visiting the nature-farming tea plantations in the suburban of Taipei.

This tea farmer owns several tea plantations in his family. He has stopped using the chemistry and fertilizer for a very long time. In other words, the tea plantations have been desolated for many years. Therefore, seeing many bugs, spiders and other things you can imagine (for example, snakes) will be very possible! :)

As mentioned, the tea plantations have been desolated for a long time, we also could see the Awn Grass as tall as a man. These Awn Grass can be the good organic fertilizer to the plantations. The tea trees are old, and many of them are older than 60 years old!

How was the tea? That was tasted soooo great!!!

Everyone has the great things from our mother land, it seems that we don't need other artificial materials to make our world better!

↑ Beautiful? It was smelled and tasted so great!

↑ We need tea farmers to insist on making good tea! Their hands are probably rough, but as long as they have a good heart to their tea trees, then having good tea won't be so difficult.

Schöner Betriebsurlaub -- Teegarten besuchen

Betriebsurlaub / Summer off

Betriebsurlaub, von 1 Aug bis 7 Aug 2011.

Bitte erreichen Sie uns wieder ab 8 August

oder Sie kontaktieren uns auch unter E-mail oder Fax.

Schöner Sommerstage!

Summer off, from 1 Aug to 7 Aug 2011.

Please contact us via E-mail or Fax, or reach us till 8 August.

Have a nice summer time!

Frozen Tea -- A good choice in summer time

[Sorry for the typo error "Forzen", we have corrected to be "Frozen Tea". Thanks for the notice from our fan on Facebook. ]

For many of professional tea lovers, "Frozen Tea" is not a new thing.

We have been through the heat waves lately and it seems that drinking iced tea won't be a good idea for our budies by the medical reports. "Frozen Tea" is actually a good choice. This tea keeps the fresh fragrance as it used to be withered indoor. Amazing!

"Frozen Tea" is produced in a normal way of making tea, but without "compressing/shaping" and "roasting". Which means, it waives the last 2 steps when making Oolong tea. The tea maker will have to store the tea in the freezer and keeps the tea leaves under -15℃. Normally the water-content in the dried tea should be kept under 5% that is an important part for making tea. Otherwise, the tea liquid gets turbid as long as the water-content in the dried tea is more than 5%.

Therefore, that is why "Frozen Tea" can not be widely expanded. To keep the tea leaves under -15℃ all the time is not possible to be done perfectly for delivery. So that we can not easily find this tea than usual or at other places except in tea factories. So, please do taste it whenever you have chance in Taiwan.

Assisting a TV program shooting for Tieguanyin Tea

We were invited to assist a TV program shooting for Tieguanyin Tea at Muzha, Taipei.  It will be a program to tell tourists where to go and Muzha (Mao-Kong) definitely is a good area to visit for tea lovers. Here is the original place for tourists to find Tieguanyin Tea in Taiwan. There are many local tea houses tourists can stop by. Besides, the wonderful night views tourists will have from Mao-Kong toward Taipei city.

Let's Draw! -- The 2nd activity of Anniversary Celebration

QUESTION:
Please write down ONE name of tea you know about. (you may write it in English, Chinese, German OR French.)
Only answer it on Facebook


PRIZE:
The exclusive hand-made soaps are giving away!

2 Oolong Tea soaps & 2 Black Tea soaps

*Oolong Tea soap was made of Four-season Oolong

*Black Tea soap was made of Four-season Black Tea

*These soaps contain no artificial preservatives and essential oil.


CONDITIONS:

1. This activity is only for the fans of Formosa T-house.

2. The duration is from now until 00:00, 30th June. (Time zone: GMT +08:00)

3. The 4 winners will be drawed by www.random.org, on 30th and announced on Facebook.

4. No matter the fans live in Greenland or Newzland, the prizes will be delivered to the mailing address provided by the winners. No delivery fee will be charged.

5. Each winner has 1 prize (1 soap).

Tea of Today: Harbour Tea [for your vacation]

Today, we introduce the tea from the south of Taiwan which is also the only one close to harbour. We chosed this just because it's summer time and everyone feels to have a vacation!

In Taiwan, from the north to south, you can find tea! (Don't believe it?! Please refer to this map and introduction.) Harbour Tea comes from Pingdong county, the tea plantations exist since long time ago, but due to the trend and market needs, Harbour Tea is not popular in Taiwan now. So that, the tea plantations are less than before and not so many tea makers for it any more.

If you like the fresh and the style with light roasting from High Mountain Oolong Tea, you will be surprised that Harbour Tea brings you more traditional and local taste of Taiwan. Every time when we drink Harbour Tea, the memory of childhood back. That is what we say about "traditional taste" (Gu Tzao Wei; 古早味).

The outlook of this dried tea is not so green as Green Tea we introduced or High Mountain Oolong Tea. It looks a little bit grey outside, and balled shape. The grey color is nature as the tea grow on the flatland and close to ocean, there is no mist or drizzle like on the high mountains. Instead, there is often windy and the drought. You probably will taste it a little bit salty, but there is no salt in the tea certainly.

We appreciate and cherish every different tea from the mother nature. Every tea has its cheracters. If you are interested in Harbour Tea, please feel free to contact us, it's pleasant to share more infomation with you.

Anniversary Celebration 15.06 - 30.06.2011!

Anniversary Celebration

15.06 - 30.06.2011

The mini Gaiwan will be sent as s present during the time above.

Conditions:

1. the order amount equals/over 60 Euro (US$85 or NT$2,400);

2. the delivery fee is not included;

3. one mini Gaiwan is random sent out.


Shop on: Formosa T-house

Contact us: support@formosa-teahouse.com

Also view our Facebook: Formosa T-house

** size of mini Gaiwan: 6x6x6.5 cm / 50 c.c.

Tea of Today: Green Tea [nature farming plantation]

There are always reasons for us to choose which tea we would like to brew for the day, for example the mood, the weather or the participants of tea party. Most of time we posted here were because of weather, same like today -- it is hot, humid and rainy.

For such a day and you would like to brew a cup of tea for yourself, green tea would be a very good choice more than others. Green Tea is an unfermented tea and keeps a lot of anti-oxidant effects. The tea makes people feeling refreshing and energetic. Is it too hot to drink hot tea for you? From the traditional Chinese medical science, it's good to drink hot tea when it's hot, so that will keep the physical balance.

This tea came from a nature farming plantation with the low altitude which belongs to a religion group. It was harvested in April this year and we tasted it 2 months later. (We never suggest our customers to taste the really new tea which is just left roasting machine and produced.)

Before brewing, we smelled the fresh and nature fragrance of flower and bean from the dried tea leaves, which is typical for green tea. After brewing, we smelled the passionfruit from the inside of tea pot's lid, same for every first sip of each brewing. That was amazing! This tea pot never been used with any fruit! And it was very productive, we repeatedly brewed it for 6 times!

This tea is a personal collection and offering limited, we are sorry that you won't be able to find it on our on-line shop. However, we could provide you more information if you are interested in this tea!

Have a nice cup of tea for youself too!

Tea of Today: Fancy Black Tea (Fancy Schwarztee mit natürlichem Honingaroma)

How's the weather in the city you live? In Taiwan, we have rained every day since last week that would be good as in southern Taiwan and many parts of Taiwan need water urgently.

The weather now does not like the normal May we used to have, the temperature is low, just like autumn. In such weather and temperature, it will be good for having "Fancy Black Tea" (Fancy Schwarztee mit natürlichem Honingaroma). The nature honey aroma and mild tea liquid make the rich flavor in the mouth stronger and warm up the body.

What is "Fancy Black Tea"?

The Fancy Black Tea is one of the local specialties, renowned for its honey-scented aroma. The Fancy Black Tea and the Oriental Beauty Tea have one thing in common, though: that is, both of them go through a "spitting-on process" by Jacobiasca Formosana, the bug once thought harmful and yet found to trigger this transformation in the fresh leaves exposed to high temperature that accompanies the tea-making process. This biting by the bug brings about a unique, honey-like aroma. This Jacobiasca Formosana has its natural habitat only in a pollution-free environment and is not adaptable to frigid climate, all the more reason why this Fancy Black Tea is superb and to be valued.

T-Shopping here!

Die Teegarten (bei Öko-Landbau)

Spring Teas will be launched soon.

Dear Customers,

Due to the spring teas will come up a few weeks late, please check our website (www.formosa-teahouse.com) from time to time as we will have the new teas launched there. Indeed the teas from lower altitude have been launched on the market as you can see, however, we are looking forward the teas from the certain and the higher altitute areas, especially High Mountain Oolong Tea, and these teas are still on the ground in the tea plantations now. Thank you for your patience and please contact us if any query.

Love & Peace,
Formosa T-house

About Spring High Mountain Oolong Tea 2011

Last month was the coldest March in the past 41 years in Taiwan. Spring comes late, so that the buds of tea trees coming out late. Here we are still waiting for the spring thunder which means spring comes. The tea plantations located at lower altitudes have already some teas harvested. On average, this year, the spring teas come out about 2 to 3 weeks late.

Our High Mountain Oolong Teas, on the tea plantations at high altitude will be starting the harvest until end of April to May. Due to climate change, the agriculture products are affected more or less in different ways. For teas, the harvest probably will be smaller in volume than usual.

Therefore, we apologize that we are NOT opening the “pre-order” to our individual customers at the moment for our upcoming High Mountain Oolong Teas, because our standpoints are selecting and evaluating the good teas for our customers. Good teas doesn't need to be rushed. We understand that many of you are waiting for the spring teas, however, quality is more important than quantity.

Little by little, we are going to launch the 2011 spring Oolong teas, black teas and Tieguanyin teas etc. at the right time on our official website, Blog and Facebook. If any query, you are welcome to contact us via email. Thank you for your understanding!

The donation for Japan

Dear Fans / Customers of Formosa T-house,

The fund raising program for Japan which was hold by Formosa T-house was ended yesterday. We are grateful to have the great support from you! The disaster like the earthquake happened in Japan could happen in other countries as well. We live on the same global, we are brothers and sisters and should help eath other.

Taiwan has the lower GDP than Japan (actually "a lot of lower GDP" -- said by one friend of us), but we were/are willing to help because of human nature. After the earthquake, there were a lot of donations from Taiwanese sending to the related organizations in Taiwan and then passed the donations/goods to Japan. And we, Formosa T-house, also gave our donation to the Red Cross in Taipei today. We donated it by cash and brought to the Red Cross in person just because we hoped that the Red Cross could receive the donation with a whole number. (The donations will be deducted the transfer fee or service charges by finance organizations for always.)

↑ (The donation is under the Chinese company title of Formosa T-house and designated the usage to Japan. The total amount is NT 10,000.)

During the time of this progam we processed, a few of customers ordered "gift packages" which were not on the list of this fund raising program, but we decided to donate it equally. At the end, we made the whole number and donated NT10,000 (about 250 Euro) to the Red Cross in Taipei this afternoon, on Mar. 31, as we promised!

May God takes care of all the people died in the disaster in Japan and bless all the people alive!

Love & Peace

Formosa T-house Co. Ltd.

** Check the original post on Facebook

The tea ceremmony in spring

The tea ceremony was hold by an old and popular tea house/restaurant in Taipei. The total guests were about 30-35 persons from Taiwan, Japan and Swissland, and there were 7 tea masters who presented and served tea.

Drinking Tea with Your Love - Fund raising program for Japan

Taiwan has a long historical connection with Japan. Many of aged Taiwanese can still speak Japanese now. For tea, it's same. During the time when Japan governed Taiwan, the tea business has been developed to the worldwide successfully with a beautiful name: Formosa Oolong Tea.

12 years ago, here we had a horrible earthquake 921 and had a lot of help from all over the world. The Japanese rescue team members and their dogs arrived to Nantou County in Taiwan, the most damaged area, in 2 days! It made Nantou County to be different and flourishing nowadays.

The earthquake happened last week in Japan was too disastrous and it made the people whom alive heartbreaking. As a business having the strong rescources from Nantou County and even from the whole Taiwan island, we Formosa T-house would also like to do something for Japan.

↑ This old tea company used to be one of major tea companies during the period when Japan governed Taiwan.

We are having the sole fund rasing program for Japan by providing teas. From 15 to 30 March 2011, we will donate 10% from the list price of each sold product. We offer free delivery in Taiwan and charge one price for sending to other countries, no matter how many you order. Please note that the deadline for this program is March 30, 2011. The donation will be made on March 31, 2011.

For more information, please link and download the form below, or contact us through phone, fax or email: support@formosa-teahouse.com

→ → Drinking Tea with Your Love - Fund Raising Program for Japan [in English]

Thank you in advance!

Tea of Today: Ruby Black Tea

In Taiwan, we had a long weekend until today, the most important was that the weather was so great! Many people went out with the whole family and to somewhere could appreciate Cherry Trees blooming.

With a nice temperature and sunshine, no matter we were sitting under Cherry Trees or in the front of TV at home, having a nice cup of black tea and cookies/cakes would be a nice ending for this hoilday -- Ruby Black Tea could be the tea for a moment like this.

For the days are not so hot, just like the early spring now, Ruby Black Tea can bring you the warming and relax feeling. It won't be tasted very strong like Pu-Er and won't be tasted too light as Green Tea. It will be full of light and clear fruity flavour in the mouth. Serving it with cheese cakes or fruit cakes will be the good match.


T-Shopping here!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I cannot sit and chat with you,

the way I'd like to do.

So brew yourself a cup of tea,

I'll think of you, you think of me.

(Author unknown)

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! 

Where did our High Mountain Tea come from

We will not only select the products but its "hometown" (tea plantation) and "owner" (tea farmer) and we will keep doing this on all of our products and make sure what we offer will be the good quality for always!

T-Shopping here!

Back to work!

Back to Work!

Wish you have a Double-luck and successful year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year! Wish you have a joyful and successful new year!

Gifts to our customers for Chinese New Year!

We have many different Chinese expressions on the gift bags to you, everyone means great!

They are the little gifts sending to our wonderful customers before Chinese New Year, we are grateful for your support! Hope you will like them, please enjoy it and Happy Chinese New Year!

How to brew a nice cup of Camellia Tea

Camellia Tea was made of the fresh and dried Camellia without tea leaves inside, it can be treated like herbal tea but more precious than normal herbal tea.

Here is a simple example to share with you how to brew a nice cup of Camellia Tea without bitter and keeping the Camellia beautifully after several brews.

1. to choose an apprepriate teaware for Camellia Tea is an important step, we suggest you to choose the glass pot or cup, even the mug will be better than Zhisha Pot (gongfucha).

2. here we are having the example by a glass pot/cup.

3. the temperature of hot water should be lower than 100 C. degrees, such as 90 C. degrees will be fine.

4. to warm up the pot and cup is also important before brewing tea, you can clear the left smell from the previous tea by the chance as well.

5. here we don't suggest you to cover the glass pot/cup so that you can keep the Camellia in a good condition in the hot water and the better following brews, or just cover it as a short time as possible.

6. separate the Camellia and tea liquid after 2 minutes; the tea liquid will be bitter if brewing Camellia and putting it in the hot water for a longer time.

7. by following the steps above, the brewing can be repeated for 3-4 times at least.

8. to serve the tea liquid in the glass cup, mug or porcelain.

9. ↑  after brewing 3 times without covering the pot/cup, the Camellia still looked fabulous.

Biotee von Taiwan / Organic Tea from Taiwan

For more products' info, please link to our T-house.

T-Shopping here!

"Teacher Appreciation Thanksgiving Festival" Gentleman Tea Ceremony

There is an interesting event at the Confucius Temple in Taipei which is called "Revitalizing Confucianism – A Journey through the Confucius Temple Display, Presentation, and Experience - Ancient Sacrificial Rites to Confucius". There are several activities from October 2010 to July 2011. For more information, please check the website of Revitalizing Confucianism.


Last year was the 2560th anniversary of Confucius’ birthday. Every Taiwanese was taught about Confucius' theories since in school and even in kindergarten. Confucius mostly taught his disciples on the manners, behavior, attitude and how to be a "Junzi" -- gentleman. That is the "Confucian thoughts" and confucianism and they are also related with tea.  For many of tea lovers, they are not only enjoying on "drinking" tea but "appreciating" and seeking for the value and meaning of life.  By the tea ceremony, that could be a good way to express how we respect Confucius. ... ...




"Teacher Appreciation Thanksgiving Festival" Gentleman Tea Ceremony
Date:  2010.10.12 ~ 2011.01.12
Time: Tuesday to Friday, 3:00 ~ 3:30 pm
          Saturday, 10:00 ~ 10:30 am
          Sunday, 9:00 ~ 9:30 am / 3:00 ~ 3:30 pm


On the 28th of September, 2010, we celebrated the 2560th anniversary of Confucius’ birthday with the Gentleman’s Tea Ceremony to show our gratitude towards all teachers. The Gentleman’s Tea Ceremony is performed in the “Thanking Ritual for Teachers” to show the tea culture in Taiwan as well as to express gratefulness towards teachers.


Confucius: “With righteousness as his substance, the gentleman acts in accordance with the rites, expresses himself with humility, and is complete with trustworthiness. He is a gentleman indeed!”


The Gentleman’s Tea Ceremony event step by step:


1. Registration. Please arrive at the information counter thirty minutes before the event starts and remember to take a questionnaire sheet with you.
2. Join the tea ceremony. Please follow our guides to your seat.
3. Please stand up before the ceremony starts.
4. Offering of tea to the Great Sage. Display and presentation of the tea arts. Offering our toast to Confucius with Gentleman’s tea.
5. Praising with hymns. Read to Confucius, hymns and eulogy. Take the bow three times.
6. Please be seated again.
7. The first infusion. Getting to know the Gentleman’s Tea Ceremony. Follow the tea master’s instruction to toast your neighbors.
8. The second infusion. Get to know Pouchong tea. The tea master will invite the participating guests to taste the tea.
9. The third infusion. Get to know Taiwan tea arts.
10. Finishing up of the ceremony. Stand up and bow three times to Confucius and bow to your neighbors in a gesture of respect and appreciation.
11. Picture time. You can have a group picture taken with the tea master and friends.
12. Return your questionnaire. Please fill in the questionnaire and return it to the information counter in exchange for a gift.

Produktneuheit: Muzha Tieguanyin Tee

Neue Tee-Rarität Muzha Tieguanyin Tee.
Pure Tee, ohne Zusatz und Aromastoffe.


Die Entwicklung des Tieguanyin aus Taiwan nahm ihren Anfang mit Mr. Nai-Miao Chang, der die taiwanische Handelskammer einführte und im Jahr 1916 die erste Evaluierung des gerösteten Baozhong Tees abhielt. Er erhielt dafür den Speziellen „Gute Medaille”- Preis und wurde zum umherwandernden Teemeister der Präfektur Taipei ernannt. 

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Tea of Today: Oriental Beauty Tea

A good friend of Formosa T-house is married on the same day with Taiwan's birthday. Oriental Beauty Tea and Ruby Black Tea will be very suitable for the ceremony of Tea Appreciation on the wedding.

On your Wedding day

and

a lifetime of wonderful dreams come true,

wishing you both every happiness.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Today is the birthday of Taiwan of 100 years old. It means something on politics as well as on Taiwan Tea. In the past few days, there were some tea masters mentioned how to celebrate this sepcial day with teas, perhaps brewing the tea also is 100 years old?! That idea appealed to all the tea lovers, it's not easy to find an Aged Tea with 100 years old after all, is it? Anyway tea lovers would love to taste it if any chance.


Aside from the Aged Tea, there should be one kind of tea can be a good representative for today -- Oriental Beauty Tea.

The history of producing teas on Formosa Taiwan since a long time ago and the tea played a very important role to gain the foreign exchange for this island at the time, people said, "Tea up north, sugar down south." which already stated the situation clearly.


Around 60's in the 20th century, the Oriental Beauty Tea which is also called "Pomfeng Tea" and so on, won its fame from the competitions in the world. Until now, it still has a high position in the tea. Therefore, to celebrate this unique day with tea, Oriental Beauty Day could also be a nice choice and no matter how old it is. Enjoy it!