Introduction to Puerh Tea

With much general information on puerh tea already available on the Internet it does not motivate me to provide more repetitive content. However seeing that my humble blog attracts newcomers as well as the seasoned drinker, I realized that a short introduction is in order. At the very least my dear readers who have started to look upon a puerh teacake with new eyes whilst licking their lips deserve to know what they are getting themselves into. >> Introduction

Natural Fermentation – Amla in a Tea Brine Solution Part I

Embarking on a new adventure can bring new thrills and excitement. This is how I feel about this particular fermentation project. It is the first time that I will be attempting to use freshly brewed tea to naturally ferment food and perhaps create a healthy probiotic tonic as a bonus. Unlike kombucha I will be attempting to ferment freshly brewed tea with only salt combined with a vegetable or fruit. If you have done something similar I would dearly love to hear from you. It is not only to share in the experience but to have the comfort of knowing that there are others perfectly sane, normal and intuitive people who commonly carry out this activity :)

Amla packs a strong punch in taste. The fruit is jarringly sour, bitter and astringent to the point of bringing puckered faces to the newly initiated.

Chinese Dim Sum w/ 2011 Jingmai Maocha

In my opinion Chefman is one of the top dim sum restaurants in Bangkok. They use quality ingredients, provide great service (although this can sometimes be inconsistent) and are most accommodating towards customers who wish to bring their own stash of dry leaves for enjoyment.

Chinese dim sum (or yum cha in Cantonese) consists of small dishes of mainly bite size steamed dumplings and buns, bake pastries and deep fried snacks made with an assortment of savory meats, seafood and sweet fillings. It is a delightful and creative presentation of food that focuses the enjoyment on both the taste and texture of food. A traditional dim sum meal cannot be complete without a steaming pot of Chinese tea. It is a classic match.

Revisiting the 2007 Puerh Market Crash

 

2007 was a turbulent year for those involved in puerh tea, especially tea businesses that were heavily invested. After a decade of escalating prices the momentum driving the value of puerh tea would peak during the spring of 2007. However the high prices could not hold and as the price for puerh tea tumbled, the first crash of the modern day puerh market was at hand. Fueled by heavy speculation and in part the wave of euphoria generated by the Chinese national media the price of puerh tea was at an all time high and was no longer sustainable without a significant correction. Furthermore the realization that the quality of puerh tea was increasingly being compromised for bigger profits by producers had begun to greatly dampen the euphoria of puerh tea leading up to 2007. A lack of confidence in new products whereby quality was sacrificed for quantity increasingly deterred buyers and investments. By mid-2007 the puerh tea market had crashed. As prices plunged to deeper depths for the reminder of the year many tea businesses that had gambled on escalating prices would be forced to close their doors.

Bomb Blast in Bangkok, Thailand

Front page, Thai newspaper Daily News

A sad beginning to the week as a bomb exploded late Monday evening at 1900pm (local time) on 17 August 2015 in front of the Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection. The blast left at least 20 dead and more than 125 injured.

Natural Fermentation – The Pickled Cucumber

For many people I know including myself at times “maintaining health” is one of the most overlooked aspects in everyday life. We live in a fast paced world, the demands are many and the distractions are endless. We are simply too busy that good health is habitually taken for granted and undervalued. It is only when under painful or extreme adversity caused by terrible illness that the true value of good health emerges. It is during those dark days that all the wealth in the world will appear insignificant by comparison to simply alleviating relief and regaining the freedom of our physical and mental normalcy. Good health allows us to better appreciate all the things around us including the tea we drink. Good health provides us with the capacity to live a fuller life adding color and joy to our journey through life. With more research pointing to the importance of maintaining a healthy gut flora (Ref 80% of our immune system is in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract), this is where I will begin with the humble pickled cucumber.

In my books what you see before you is a superfood awaiting transformation (... think Clark Kent and Superman). The above picture show freshly prepared cucumbers  (w/ dill and red peppers) immersed in a salt brine solution awaiting natural fermentation to take place. By selecting the most natural ingredients available, you create an environment for natural bacteria and beneficial microbes to thrive. Natural fermentation does not require heating or pasteurization and is kept free from artificial preservatives in order to maximize the benefits. In this case only salt, water and fresh cucumbers make up the essential ingredients.

Food Pairings – Stewed Duck w/ 2000 Xiaguan Toucha

 

Don Wai riverside market offers great food and a wonderful ambiance. One of the oldest and most popular raft restaurant situated by the river is Ped Palo Nai Nub which translates to "Mr Nub's Stewed Duck with Chinese Blended Spices".

I love the uniqueness and energy to be found at a local Thai market. Each market has its own personality that becomes all the more lively during peak hours when the buzz of activity from the interactions of excited shoppers, sellers and other market forces drum up to a crescendo. For diversity, excitement, unforeseen happenings and sheer entertainment the local market beats the standard uniformity of walking the straight and tidy aisles of a supermarket hands down.