http://www.sevencups.com/forum/ Seven Cups Tea Forum Topic: Formosa: China or not? en Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:47:38 +0000 http://www.sevencups.com/forum/topic/15#post-54 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:01:51 +0000 admin 54@http://www.sevencups.com/forum/ <p>Thanks Tom </p> http://www.sevencups.com/forum/topic/15#post-53 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 07:56:05 +0000 tmaynard 53@http://www.sevencups.com/forum/ <p>Austin,</p> <p>I'm already excited to see what new teas you'll offer this coming season -- and glad that at least some of them may come from Taiwan. I enjoyed several infusions of a very nice pouchong just last night.</p> <p>As you said, it's a beautiful place. Its former name 'Formosa' is indeed the Portuguese word for beautiful.</p> <p>Have a wonderful trip!<br /> Tom. </p> http://www.sevencups.com/forum/topic/15#post-52 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:08:44 +0000 admin 52@http://www.sevencups.com/forum/ <p>Hi Tom<br /> Whether or not Taiwan is part of China is a political issue. It was part of Fujian province before the Japanese took it away in the early part of the 20th century. China lays claim to it now, but in Taiwan is independent. When Mao won the civil war the losers took Taiwan, and the American government at the time was it's protector. In the last couple of years things have opened up more between China and Taiwan. They have very strong financial ties. Chances are that it will be absorbed in a similar way as Hong Kong.</p> <p>I chose to focus on the mainland in the beginning, because it was much easier to get Taiwanese tea on the open market, and because I was interested in rural China. I do love Taiwanese oolongs and I am going there this summer so we will be offering some this year. This year, one of the areas I am focusing on extending is Taiwan oolongs. I won't buy any of the 'Taiwanese' green tea, the bulk of which is being grown in Sichuan, where the Taiwanese have leased vast gardens. Even some of the oolongs are being grown on the mainland are exported to Taiwan and sold as Taiwanese oolongs. There is no shortage of deception in the tea business, and tea can be produced cheaper on the mainland. Good Taiwanese tea, like all good tea, is expensive. The new teas I will be adding are on the high end. I will also be adding more Danchong oolongs from the Chaozhou area. I haven't made it there for a couple of years because I have been in China earlier in the season.</p> <p>I try to make it a policy to get the know the producers myself, and you are right, there is a lot of ground to cover. I'll be in China and Taiwan for a couple of months this year making the rounds, in rthe spring and again in the summer. I'm excited about going to Taiwan this year. It's a beautiful place.<br /> Austin </p> http://www.sevencups.com/forum/topic/15#post-51 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:55:35 +0000 Colin 51@http://www.sevencups.com/forum/ <p>Tom,</p> <p>They do have one Dong Ding Baozhong on offer... I know Taiwan is still underrepresented, but that one is very good. I haven't had many cups of the 2006 yet (I just recently finished off some of the '05), but the '05 was one of my favorite teas in the Seven Cups catalog.</p> <p>For what it's worth. </p> http://www.sevencups.com/forum/topic/15#post-50 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:18:33 +0000 tmaynard 50@http://www.sevencups.com/forum/ <p>Austin,</p> <p>Is Formosa (Taiwan) part of China or not?</p> <p>I ask because there are a number of Formoasn (Taiwanese) teas that I enjoy that are not offered/carried by Seven Cups.</p> <p>Do you plan to offer Formosa teas in the future? (And, if not, why not?) Some of their Dung Ding teas (oolong) are truly excellent -- even their Long Jing, Bi Luo Chun (if "muted" by comparison), and some other teas are worthy of consideration -- perhaps as lower cost alternatives to mainland China teas.</p> <p>I'm wondering why Taiwan teas are noticeably absent from your catalog. I realize that one man (and one woman!) can only do so much field research but this seems a reasonable extension of your territory ... and an opportunity to offer teas of exceptional quality at reasonable costs.</p> <p>Just curious,<br /> Tom. </p>