It's easy being green

Yesterday was busy and I didn't have a chance to blog - my apologies! I can't even remember what oolongs I drank except for a bottled Leng Pao Cha - Oolong Tea (Sugar Free) from Kuang Chuan Dairy in Taiwan. I had it with me when I saw my doctor and told him how it seems to have cured my nummular eczema. He was fascinated and asked me to send him the links. (Take two tea leaves and call me in the morning?)

I had a delightful experience after my doctor's appointment at a new (for me) tea shop, Born Green Tea & Beyond, in Mesa. Operated for a year by a friendly Korean couple (not Japanese or Chinese as some reviewers assume) they offer several teas (ceremoniously prepared) as well as Asian tea treats. What shocked me was they only had one oolong! ONE! When I asked about others they seemed surprised. Thankfully, the one oolong they had was very tasty. It's from the Korean Hankook Tea Company in California, although the online photo looks very different from the tea I was served and purchased (repackaged) to take home.

She prepared a tea tray and brought it to my table where she performed a modified Taiwanese Gongfu tea ceremony with a delightful (if cracked) yellow Yixing dragon teapot. She then withdrew to the kitchen area so I could enjoy my tea in peace. Part of the presentation was a small dish with two slices of candied ginger (Yum!) and a slice of what looked like a dried apricot stuffed with a walnut.

The biggest surprise came as I was finishing my oolong. I watched as she blended and brewed a tea, prepared two small trays, and poured the tea. She poured cups on both trays, tasted one, nodded with satisfaction, then brought me the other! It was a blend of black and Hydrangea teas. The aroma was heavenly and it was slightly (sugary) sweet. She insisted the sweetness was natural to the hydrangea and not added, but maybe we weren't communicating well. I'm still not sure if it was dried leaves (pictured), stems, or blossoms.

I bought some of the Oolong and took it home to share with my family. Mom and I think it smells similar to a Ti Kuan Yin. However, I think I shall go back to get some of the Hydrangea tea to blend with some oolong - probably Formosan.

To start my morning I had some of Souvia's Orange Oolong. I usually don't care for flavored teas in the morning but make an exception for citrus-based teas. The tanginess helps wake me up and get me going.