2011 TOST - Visit Kuan Chun PonFonCha Museum (10/22/2011)

We are heading for Hsinchu County today with a busy schedule of visiting a few old tea factories that have been converted to tea museums. Our first stop is to the home town of PonFonCha (Oriental Beauty) - Beipu and Omei.
At Kuan Chun PonFonCha Museum, we are guided to see how the Oriental Beaauty and many other teas used to be processed with array of old machines on display. Amazingly, those antiques are actually still can move with power on... The owner Mr. Peng's family used to work very closely with Jackson Huang while Formosa Oolong was busy shipping out to Europe and North America. Apparently, now they have done marvelous job to make this place a tourists' favorite. At least 50 big buses there while we checked out the place. Our members got chance to hands on working on Leicha and also enjoyed Hakka mochi. Tommy took many good shots for every one while we are having fun there... I feel sorry and disappointed that the museum seem to lose the focus, and we did not get chance to cup Oriental Beauty with proper infusion.

2011 TOST - Visit Sha Keng Tea Manufactory (10/22/2011)

Sha Keng Tea Manufactory locates in a small village named Sha Keng in Henshan, Hsinchu. This factory was one of the biggest refinery factories in Taiwan back in 70's till early 80's, when Taiwan exports tons of pan-fired green tea, Chun-Mee and Gunpowder to North Africa., then followed by steam-fired green tea Sencha to Japan. Most equipments had been dismantled yet still plenty of tea stocked for blending. Indeed very hard for our members to imagine how busy this place used to be. My father is there to greet all of us and we were treated with a very special veges-meal prepared by my sisters.

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.

2011World Tea Expo - 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.