2011 TOST - Visit King Tai Tea Factory (10/22/2011)

Kuanshi, Hsinchu is a small town, population here is about 28,000, shrunk from 60,000 half century ago. This town is famous for the Longevity of its residents. (Partially because of great environment, but many young people moved out due less jobs opportunities.) Yet this town used to be an important place for Taiwan's tea industry back in 1930-1970. King Tai Tea Factory is one of those big tea manufacturers is reserved and displayed as it was since old days. We appreciate the owner - Lo family's generosity and kindness for willing to convert this big old tea factory to be a museum for visit.

2011 TOST - Visit FORTEACO (10/22/2011)

FORTEACO (Formosa Black Tea Co) is a must visit place of our TOST program. We have returned to this place for the fourth time, and every time, Mr. Lou and his team always present us something new on their display. In addition to a briefing along the guided tour, plus a great film about the company's history...our members are actually having a session of "History of Taiwan Tea Industry". This year we even arranged a Taiwan Tea Forum at the conference room of FORTEACO.

2011 TOST - Taipei Old Tea District (10/23/2011)

On 10/23/2011, the last day of our 2011 TOST program... all members were having a walking tour around Taipei's old tea district. Dong Wu Hotel actually is right in this district. We have stopped by some sites of old tea refineries...old exporters warehouses...big wholesalers corners...the famous Dihua Street, Quede Street, Harbor Dadaochen... Lee Chun-Shen memorial chapel...

2011 TOST - Certificates Ceremony (10/23/2011)

How fast..it is coming to an end of 2011 Taiwan Oolongs Study Tour already.
We don't know how much our members have learned from this program... Yet, we are sure that we do enjoy this group very much from the viewpoint of organizer. Taiwan Tea Manufacturers Association has made a change on its role in conducting this TOST program. Josephine and I actually have to take the full responsibility of managing the whole event...so many people that we are grateful for their supports and assistance...and it seems that the weather this year is extremely good to us. We are truly blessed.
This year, we decided to have the certificates to be presented by our members, one to another. As we feel this is truly a group learning experience, and it is the best way to do so.
Please enjoy these good moments of ours.

2011WTE - TOST Members Reunion

During the 2011 World Tea Expo - we are glad to have our good friends stopped by TTMA booth to say hi. Here is the list: Nez and Donna, Newman, Icy Bob and Spicy Bob, Michele, Bill, Ken, Yoon-Hee, Hoda, Melissa, Aaron, Devan, James Norwood and Carolina. Very nice of them and good to see every one being cool and well.
Special thanks to Aaron, Hoda & Melissa, Icy and Spicy Bob, Devan and James Norwood, for being able to step on TTMA's stage to help out on some sessions.

2010 TOST - Opening Ceremony

This is the 3rd year of our Taiwan Oolongs Study Tour program.
10/17/2010 evening, we gathered all of our members and walked over to TTMA's office. Not only the Board Directors there to greet us, also the World's most famous tea cultivars - are potted and displayed to say hi to all of our members. This is where we start our study.
Besides the photos, I got a few video clips to record our members' expectation about this trip. I will then have more video clips to reflect their thoughts after the program.

2010 TOST - Wenshan Tea Farm on 10/18/2010

This is our first stop of the TOST 2010 -
Wenshan Tea Farm is a jewel of Taiwan tea's history. We were having our hands on Pouchong making in 2009 at TRES/Wenshan Branch. This year, I feel like to lead our members to see this s place that established in 1937 as Taiwan's Pouchong Tea Research and experiment Center, which later moved to the current facility in 1987. Apparently, not much R&D is done here any more, yet the tea gardens and all facilities still remain well, becomes a new attraction for tea lovers' DIY experience and also a beautiful natural garden for tourists. Farmers in the area, still send in their Pouchong for the refinery here.
I enjoy visiting this place not any less than the current TRES / Wenshan Branch, because the view, the historical traces... Walk along the roads and check among those experiment tea gardens...you might happen to encounter with some treasure and historical marks. We are lucky that we got Mr. Yen to explain to our members during our visit.

2010 TOST - Tse-Xin Organic Farm in Wenshan

We were told about the story of 淨源茶, and Josephine and I both agreed to include this farm in our TOST 2010 schedule after our visit to Wenshan Pouchong Tea Farm.
淨源 means to make sure the water reservoir not to be poluted. This is the mission of this Tse-Xin group to work on. Tea is the main agriculture product in Wenshan area, and they were taking one farmer at a time to join their co-op to have organic practice.
Our group members are greeted and treated like true VIP on 10/18/2010 visit. My college classmate, Glendy Lee is a long time volunteer in Tse-Xin, and with her arrangement...a great vegetarian buffet lunch is served. After the presentation and tea tasting, we are in tour to see their new tea plant. Good to learn that more and more tea farmers are willing to adopt the program and to have Organic tea not only to meet and quench tea lovers' thirsty...also to help make sure the residents of Taipei City can enjoy good water resource. City by city, one tea district at a time, this truly a beautiful story. I hope we can work with this group closely.