茶緣

“Tea competitions” (斗茶), or “tea battles” (茶战), were a popular activity during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) among court members as well as the ordinary people. It was both a custom and a technique to critique a tea’s quality in this fashion.

Tea competitions first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618–907), and it is supposed to have begun in the renown tribute tea producer province of Jianzhou 建州 (present day northern Fujian 福建). Every Spring, after the new tea was produced, tea producers and tea aficionados alike would participate in this activity where they would order the tea according to their quality.

Garden of Tea 茶园风光

舞色茶 - 赤蘭生態茶

During the Qing dynasty (清朝) people believed that westerners needed to drink tea and rhubard in order to stay healthy. It was not just a matter of liking, chinese people believed it was an actual need.

An article published on the Huabei Jiebao (华北捷报) newspaper, on the 15th of March 1851, read as follow:

“来自西方的外国人都天然爱好牛奶和奶油，耽于这种奢侈嗜好的结果造成了结便的毛病，这毛病只有靠大黄和茶才可洗他们的肠胃，恢复他们的精神; 一旦把这些东西给予剥夺，他们便会马上病倒……如果我们停止了与夷人通商，他们的国家里边会发生骚扰和混乱; 这就是他们为什么必须要我们的货物的第一个理由。”

Gorreana Tea Factory, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal

The only tea plantation in Western Europe is found on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. No doubt the tea bushes feel at home at Gorreana on the humid north coast. The close-cropped tea bushes run in dense rows across the hills of the plantation. The old machines in the factory are mostly of English provenance. You can visit the factory and, before you leave, you can buy freshly fermented, green or black tea with its superb flowery flavour. You will only be able to watch all stages of tea processing from April through September, when the leaves are being picked.

难得一见的清朝制茶老照片 Rarely seen old photos of Qing Dynasty tea production

茶叶是中国古代和近代国际贸易中最重要的商品之一，然而反映茶叶生产及加工的老照片却十分少见，更不用说这方面的系列老照片。小编找到的这组19世纪玻璃正片，真实记录了清末中国茶叶生产加工的场景，对研究中国茶叶历史的意义不言而喻。也供广大茶友分享!

Tea is one of most important commodities for international trade in ancient China, as well as nowadays. But old photos depicting tea production and manufacture are still a rare sight, much less this series of photos. This set of 19th century glass photos recorded some scenes of the tea production industry during the final years of the Qing dinasty. It goes without saying how important they are to thestudy of chinese tea history. Thus we share it with all tea lovers.

Photos:

1. 当时的民居，也是茶农的家。Dwellings at that time, were also the houses for the tea farmers.

2. 茶叶作坊 Tea workshop

3. 茶叶筛选 Sifting the leaves

4. 茶叶挑拣 Selecting the leaves

5. 茶叶分级 Grading the tea

6. 制作茶砖 Making tea bricks

7. 包装定型 Finishing packing the tea

8. 封外包装 Sealing the packages

Majani Tea packaging

Ajiri Tea packaging

Women in the Kisii region of Kenya design and handcraft each label using dried bark from banana trees. Tea and bananas are the two biggest crops in this region of Kenya, and nearly every home has banana trees growing nearby. As the bark dries and falls off of the trees, the women collect it to create the labels for Ajiri Tea boxes. Using a razorblade, they cut out different designs from the bark. Each label is unique, and often features a scene from day-to-day life.

The paper used to make the boxes containing Ajiri Teabags is also handmade using water hyacinth, an invasive plant in Lake Victoria. Mike, the 29-year-old Kenyan who makes the paper, collects water hyacinth from the lake, and blends it with recycled office paper. The shade of each label can vary depending on the ratio of water hyacinth: office paper that he uses.

Inside of each box of tea is a twine made from banana tree bark and decorated with bright paper beads. The women hand cut, roll, and lacquer long, triangular strips of colored magazine paper to make the beads, and twist dried banana bark to make the twine.

In Kenya, it is especially difficult for women to find employment. But once employed, women tend to reinvest nearly all of their earnings back into their families and communities. Currently, five different women's groups, totaling over 60 women, are creating artwork for the Ajiri Tea Company.

text from Ajiri Tea website [X]

Chanoki

According to an acient legend, tea owes its origin to Bodhidarma (菩提达摩 pútídámó, in chinese), founder of Zen Buddhism (禅宗 chánzōng).

After meditating in front of a wall for nine years, he accidentally fell asleep. When he woke up he felt so repulsed by his own weakness that he cut off his eyelids and threw them away so they would never close again.

砂鉄の鉄瓶

Japanese cast iron pot (tetsubin 鉄瓶) texture.