We are a new Western run/Asian based site dedicated to connoisseurs of
Chinese Tea that are already drinking tea with sincerity. We offer a
free online monthly newsletter that has 4 rare teas, 1 tea accessory
and some tea inspired art featured each month. We plan to help
Westerners by spreading Cha Dao and tea at Asian prices rather than the
crazy ones maintained by N. American shops. This isn't our job. We
are all fully employed- we do this with commitment, devotion and
service to The Way of Tea as a spiritual tool.

Our site has lots of photos and slideshows of each of the 4 teas, 1
accessory and a few paintings available each month. In the coming
months we plan to offer some of the exact same teas we see being
offered by Western vendors at a fraction of their prices and give you
the honest low down on the real costs of high-grade teas in Asia. We
have all meditated, drank tea, and lived in Asia more than 10 years. We
speak Chinese fluently and have much to offer the Westerner exploring
the deeper meditations/subtleties of tea. Come and look around, post on
our forums, and read about some amazing teas- many of which you
won't find anywhere else. Whether you buy anything or not isn't
important. Come ask a question, leave an intro or experience, etc. We
are here to serve Cha Dao.

www.aromaserene.com

I must be getting old, haha! For I'm too lazy to write more about
Aromaserene, instead, I'll just quote from a book:

"London is plagued with a great number of mock-sorcerers who trick the
people out of their money by promising them all sorts of unlikely
things. I wonder, have you seen Vinculus, who has a little booth
outside St Christopher Le Stocks? He is the worst of them. You are a
theoretical magician, I imagine?"

- Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr
Norrell

We are coming to the age of demystifying tea, not returning to the old
ways...and for someone to say they do not know the grade of an old 1965
Menghai Tea Factory brick, they certainly need a new spiritual
director.

PS & PS & PS...Menghai Tea Factory produced brick tea in 1965? Haha!
The chi of the tea ain't telling the truth.

Danny


Oahspe wrote:
We are a new Western run/Asian based site dedicated to connoisseurs of
Chinese Tea that are already drinking tea with sincerity. We offer a
free online monthly newsletter that has 4 rare teas, 1 tea accessory
and some tea inspired art featured each month. We plan to help
Westerners by spreading Cha Dao and tea at Asian prices rather than the
crazy ones maintained by N. American shops. This isn't our job. We
are all fully employed- we do this with commitment, devotion and
service to The Way of Tea as a spiritual tool.

Our site has lots of photos and slideshows of each of the 4 teas, 1
accessory and a few paintings available each month. In the coming
months we plan to offer some of the exact same teas we see being
offered by Western vendors at a fraction of their prices and give you
the honest low down on the real costs of high-grade teas in Asia. We
have all meditated, drank tea, and lived in Asia more than 10 years. We
speak Chinese fluently and have much to offer the Westerner exploring
the deeper meditations/subtleties of tea. Come and look around, post on
our forums, and read about some amazing teas- many of which you
won't find anywhere else. Whether you buy anything or not isn't
important. Come ask a question, leave an intro or experience, etc. We
are here to serve Cha Dao.

www.aromaserene.com

2/23/06


We are a new Western run/Asian based site dedicated to connoisseurs of
Chinese Tea that are already drinking tea with sincerity. We offer a
free online monthly newsletter that has 4 rare teas, 1 tea accessory
and some tea inspired art featured each month. We plan to help
Westerners by spreading Cha Dao and tea at Asian prices rather than the
crazy ones maintained by N. American shops. This isn't our job. We
are all fully employed- we do this with commitment, devotion and
service to The Way of Tea as a spiritual tool.

Wow. Very interesting indeed. Will you kindly elaborate on what you mean by
"sincerity" in this context? Also please explain how tea is used as a
"spiritual tool." Does that connect to the concept of "sincerity"?

Our site has lots of photos and slideshows of each of the 4 teas, 1
accessory and a few paintings available each month. In the coming
months we plan to offer some of the exact same teas we see being
offered by Western vendors at a fraction of their prices and give you
the honest low down on the real costs of high-grade teas in Asia. We
have all meditated, drank tea, and lived in Asia more than 10 years. We
speak Chinese fluently and have much to offer the Westerner exploring
the deeper meditations/subtleties of tea. Come and look around, post on
our forums, and read about some amazing teas- many of which you
won't find anywhere else. Whether you buy anything or not isn't
important. Come ask a question, leave an intro or experience, etc. We
are here to serve Cha Dao.

You have all meditated, drunk tea, and lived in Asia. Do you share a
particular meditation practice? I would like to hear more about the deeper
meditations and subtleties of tea as you experience them. After all, tea is
many things to many people, and I always try to respect the various ways
people engage tea, especially those ways that are not mine. Hence my
questions for you. Thank you. Please discuss this with us here, as I am
trying to defragment my participation, and not open yet more venues. (This
in answer to your kind invitation to join your forum.)

On a more mundane note, your site features an attractive and functional
goard strainer. What is the cost of that strainer?

Michael

I'm sorry. I had forgotten to ask what we should call you; unless you want
to be known as Oahspel, which is awkward if that is not your name.
Cordially,
Michael


Michael /27/06


2/23/06


We are a new Western run/Asian based site dedicated to connoisseurs of
Chinese Tea that are already drinking tea with sincerity. We offer a
free online monthly newsletter that has 4 rare teas, 1 tea accessory
and some tea inspired art featured each month. We plan to help
Westerners by spreading Cha Dao and tea at Asian prices rather than the
crazy ones maintained by N. American shops. This isn't our job. We
are all fully employed- we do this with commitment, devotion and
service to The Way of Tea as a spiritual tool.

Wow. Very interesting indeed. Will you kindly elaborate on what you mean by
"sincerity" in this context? Also please explain how tea is used as a
"spiritual tool." Does that connect to the concept of "sincerity"?

Our site has lots of photos and slideshows of each of the 4 teas, 1
accessory and a few paintings available each month. In the coming
months we plan to offer some of the exact same teas we see being
offered by Western vendors at a fraction of their prices and give you
the honest low down on the real costs of high-grade teas in Asia. We
have all meditated, drank tea, and lived in Asia more than 10 years. We
speak Chinese fluently and have much to offer the Westerner exploring
the deeper meditations/subtleties of tea. Come and look around, post on
our forums, and read about some amazing teas- many of which you
won't find anywhere else. Whether you buy anything or not isn't
important. Come ask a question, leave an intro or experience, etc. We
are here to serve Cha Dao.

You have all meditated, drunk tea, and lived in Asia. Do you share a
particular meditation practice? I would like to hear more about the deeper
meditations and subtleties of tea as you experience them. After all, tea is
many things to many people, and I always try to respect the various ways
people engage tea, especially those ways that are not mine. Hence my
questions for you. Thank you. Please discuss this with us here, as I am
trying to defragment my participation, and not open yet more venues. (This
in answer to your kind invitation to join your forum.)

On a more mundane note, your site features an attractive and functional
goard strainer. What is the cost of that strainer?

Michael

Michael Plant wrote:
On a more mundane note, your site features an attractive and functional
goard strainer. What is the cost of that strainer?

Michael


Methinks it was a certain canned-ham post, but in case it was legit...
I was interested in the gourd strainer too... and did anyone notice the
big tip about NEVER letting metal come in contact with your water or
tea? See I knew I wasn't totally insane. It must be a common thing, I
knew I had read it a few places.

- Dominic

Dominic 2/27/06



Michael Plant wrote:
On a more mundane note, your site features an attractive and functional
goard strainer. What is the cost of that strainer?

Michael


Methinks it was a certain canned-ham post, but in case it was legit...
I was interested in the gourd strainer too... and did anyone notice the
big tip about NEVER letting metal come in contact with your water or
tea? See I knew I wasn't totally insane. It must be a common thing, I
knew I had read it a few places.

- Dominic

Hi Dominic,

Not sure I know what a "canned-ham" post is. The strainer is a nice idea, I
think; organic and functional, and takes on a life of its own. No, you were
not insane. I use no metal except the aluminium rod of the thermometer, when
I use that. I am not however entirely convinced that the effect of a little
metal on the tea would be that detrimental. But, who knows.

Michael

"canned ham" would be spam....

Jason F in Los
2/27/06


"canned ham" would be spam....



Of course! Silly of me. Thanks, Jason.
No, not spam. Not on my end.
Michael

Michael Plant wrote:
Jason F in Los
2/27/06


"canned ham" would be spam....



Of course! Silly of me. Thanks, Jason.
No, not spam. Not on my end.
Michael

I am absolutely certain no post of yours is spam Michael, I was just
saying that I wouldn't hold my breath for a reply from the OP about
anything because most likely it was just a spam-and-run posting and the
person will never be back (if it was a person at all).

- Dominic

That "gourd" strainer is plastic. You
can pick them up here at market for less than a dollar apiece.

Hi Mydnight,

I've got a gourd strainer sitting right here on my desk 30 cm
from my hand, and it's *not* plastic. That doesn't mean that
the one in the web page picture isn't plastic, but just to say that
such things do exist. Mine does age gracefully, just as the OP
said it would. I got mine here in NYC.

Michael

I've got a gourd strainer sitting right here on my desk 30 cm
from my hand, and it's *not* plastic. That doesn't mean that
the one in the web page picture isn't plastic, but just to say that
such things do exist. Mine does age gracefully, just as the OP
said it would. I got mine here in NYC.

They indeed do exist, but the one on the website looks identical to the
ones I can get at market for pennies. His website looks like it was
contrived only for the purpose of cheating people into thinking tea is
a mysterious thing that us dumb foreigners would never be able to
understand. So, I doubt the authenticity of his "hand-made" gourd
strainers.

2/28/06


I've got a gourd strainer sitting right here on my desk 30 cm
from my hand, and it's *not* plastic. That doesn't mean that
the one in the web page picture isn't plastic, but just to say that
such things do exist. Mine does age gracefully, just as the OP
said it would. I got mine here in NYC.

They indeed do exist, but the one on the website looks identical to the
ones I can get at market for pennies. His website looks like it was
contrived only for the purpose of cheating people into thinking tea is
a mysterious thing that us dumb foreigners would never be able to
understand. So, I doubt the authenticity of his "hand-made" gourd
strainers.


Yes, I wasn't defending, just sharing what I know. Tea is decidedly not a
mystery; it's a pleasure to be taken in whatever way and with whatever
seriousness or whatever frivolity you want to bring to it. I know of no
insincere tea myself, although I do know styles I don't take for my own.
Humor aside, that's my view of it.

On the other hand, and there is another hand, we can train ourselves to
taste, smell, differenciate, and otherwise appreciate ever more subtle
nuances, no? So there could be a serious side, and that could easily be a
vehicle for spiritual development, if we had a mind to go there. Same could
be said for the frivolous side, since there is, I *sincerely* hope, room for
more than one way. So, there you go. Michael pontificates again.

Michael

Dear Friends,

You must understand that this is not our living. We created a site to
offer some of the amazing teas here at more affordable prices, for
barely a profit beyond our own expenses.

Your negativity and judgement of people for being spiritual about their
tea, your accusations of fraudulence and underestimation of how much
tea is available does not in any way demean our effort, practise or
commitment. On the contrary, such behaviour only demonstrates your own
prejudice, ego and lack of discrimination.

All of our teas are 100% authentic. We offer samples of all of the
loose leafs and some of the bricks/beenchas on a case by case basis.
There is only a limited amount of each tea even available for order
online. We don't blame you for doubting what you see. We have been to
tea houses in many countries and have yet to find one like this. Meng
Hai did indeed produce bricks in 1965, and they are listed in the Puerh
anthologies readily available here and in China. In fact, there are
bricks older than that even. There is also a Puerh museum here in
Taiwan. If you go to their site you can find even older bricks with
photos and descriptions: http://www.858tea.com/.

Having millions of dollars worth of tea is not far fetched at all. If
you can read Chinese and check the Puerh anthologies you will see that
there are hundreds of beenchas that exceed 25,000 U.S dollars in value.
Just 1 month ago a 1920 beencha was sold to a Chinese tea drinker for
more than 800,000 Taiwan dollars, which is almost 25,000 U.S.
Furthermore, anyone who has traveled in China during harvest time can
testify to the fact that the highest grades of many teas are often
auctioned off for incredible amounts of money. Last autumn's prize
winning An Xi Tie Guan Yin measured 2000grams and sold for more than
10,000 US dollars to a man from Hong Kong. Furthermore, the statement
was made as a reference to the fortune of teas that are here and our
desire to share them with others-- a sincere desire born out of love
for tea, not condescension; and definately not fraudulance. Again,
check out http://www.858tea.com/.

This tea shop has been open for more than 40 years and collecting,
storing puerh teas for that long. Besides the shop, there are two
warehouses-- one for older and one for newer puerhs. At one time the
owner was a valued tea taster for many factories in China. Through that
job he established connection throughout China, Hong Kong and Taiwan
and was able to gain access to purchasing rights over some rare teas,
some of which (like the Tibetan tea we have featured this month) only
make it to one or two destinations beyond their source.

As for the decision not to use metal. It is ours. Occasionally we also
bag our teas in aluminum lined bags. In some instances it can't be
helped. But we do our best. The alternative solution is a plastic
substitute that looks and feels like the aluminum counterpart. However,
these need to be specially ordered and are sometimes too expensive.
We can notice the difference between water boiled in a metal kettle and
that boiled in ceramic or glass. We might add that even the ancients
like Lu Yu proscribed using metal instruments. However, this is a
matter of taste. If you aren't appreciating the chi in your tea, if you
don't notice the difference, or if you don't mind, even if you like
metal-- go ahead and use it. We would never come here and insult you
for it. We are just relating our experiences, and there are over 50
memebers in our Cha Dao Research Society.

Your choice not to participate in tea as meditation is fine. It can be
refreshment too. It can mean anything to anyone. However, before your
view the world as composed solely of liars, before you cast judgement
on those who may be sincere, take the time to get to know them and
their motives. Perhaps you aren't so different, and your pedestal not
so high.

We wish you all truth and happiness
May peace shower your trails
And all those they cross

Aroma Serene

P.S. the gourd strainers are not plastic. They are made from real
gourds. We aren't selling them in this issue but may perhaps do so
later. They retail in this store for around 10 US dollars, though I
have seen them for cheaper around China/Taiwan/Hong Kong. And they
aren't secret mystical or magical tools. Actually they are quite
common. Again, your negativity and quick judgement betrays you.

My name is Erick and I too am with Aroma Serene. I must tell you that I
only recently started drinking teas, about 2 years ago. The founders of
this site are really what they say they are. I know this will look
strange coming from the same computer and account as their post above,
but I dnot have my own computer now. These guys are very serious about
tea. We regularly drink amazing teas for hours and hours in silence.
These guys have been amazing to me. They read, write and speak chinese
fluently and have so much to offer a Westerner like me learning about
tea. I feel fortunate to have found this place, and am glad to be a
part of trying to help spread some of its amazing teas. I agree that
sometimes they sound abit eccentric, but its just who they are. I also
agree with them that judging doesnt help anyone. If you like it
participate, If you dont that is cool too. No need to get rude and all.

Just my two cents
Erick

Inside this post, you can see the way many Chinese in China view
"Westerners"; Westerner being a term for non-Chinese, that is, people
from every country in the entire world besides China. Living here for
2 years now, and being able to speak semi-fluent Chinese, it's easy to
see that most people over here think that it's impossible for a
"Westerner" to understand anything about China and it's impossible for
those outsiders to learn. It's so passively condescending, it's
sickening.

Well, maybe you could say it's almost near-impossible. I mean, it would
take years or even decades to first learn to speak Chinese, and read
and write the language. And that's only modern Chinese. If you wanted
to read anything from the Ming dynasty or earlier, good luck trying.
Most Chinese dread 文言文。 And since they find it too difficult to
read, how then, could Westerners hope to understand it? And anyway,
Chinese culture is so deep and broad, it would take decades of serious,
dedicated study to understand much of anything. So in other words, a
casual learner of Chinese might understand the general meaning of
something, but be unable to grasp the deeper, inner meaning. You need
to understand the cultural context of a lot of written works or
anything else.

And besides, China is a big country, with weird customs and different
languages and dialects spoken in every part of the country. So most
Chinese don't know everything about Chinese culture - they're only
familiar with a small part of it. How then could Westerners hope to
learn it all?