I am Ting

Wen-Shang-Bao-Jong is My Favorite

“The tea was from last spring. It should not be too good. Try it. What do you think?”
“Hmm, you are right. It is not as fresh as the tea I used to have in the mountain at home.”

I did not tell Mr. Jim Labe that the tea he made was the best I had in years. And, the conversations we shared eased my homesickness in an unforgettable way. I came across Teahouse Kaun Yin when I was doing market research in the neighborhood. I took a peek in the store and decided to go in because the bulks of tea were whispering the loneliness at my ears.

Jim showed up behind the counter with a very easy smile and relax manner. It seemed like he was ready for a friend to come in asking for a tissue paper or something. “Do you have Chinese tea?” I asked. “Oh, Yes. What’s your favorite?” From Jim’s smile, I knew he probably had my love, Wen Shang Bao Jong from Taiwan. I felt my face was blushed when Jim took out a bag of my favorite from somewhere. After my brain turned back from the blank, I saw Jim was serving the tea with a set of white Chinese tea pot. From the way he made the tea, I could tell he knew the temperament of the tea and the philosophy of tea tasting.

“I believe tea tasting is more like a journey. You have to sit down with a friend, finish a pot, feel the whole process, and you can speak about the tea.” It was not a surprise to me that Jim has been in tea consulting business for years and he is probably the true tea expert currently in the United States. Once he was interviewed on MSNBC with a Yi-shing tea pot and a bag of tea from Nantao, Taiwan. “You probably need to know the tea is from a place where people are suffering from an earthquake.” This was what he said to the audience.

I guess it was 1999 when I visited Nantao last time. Compared to Jim, I traveled less to Taiwan and more in the United States these years. For Jim, Taiwan is a place embracing the great nature to cultivate fine teas. For me Taiwan is a place with my beloved families and a land only in the dream. When Jim asked, “Why cannot you go back to Taiwan often?” I remember I murmured through something I cannot even remember. Sometimes there is the homesickness hard to conquer especially when I realize I like Wen Shang Bao Jong more than English Breakfast.

Jim and I stood at the counter for an hour or so. We exchanged feeling of the teas and tea business ideas. Then, there was the subtleness of Wen Shang Bao Jong in the air. Seattle is still home. We made it here and nothing is more important than staying with people you love. The flavor of tea can be shared across nations as long as there is a sommelier like James (Jim) Labe.

Image: A gift from Mr. James Labe. Tea Sampler of Taiwanese Oolong. (I did not have a chance to taste it. Mushroom Tau had it all. )
Teahouse Choice: http://www.teahousechoice.com/

3 comments March 7th, 2006

Slam the door in your face!

I did not feel much when the arrogant store owner slammed the door in my face.

“Your products are not for our store. I am the owner and I made it quick.” I knew if I kept standing there I would get “Please leave” as a reward. So, I turned away quickly with an “Oh.” and the two boxes of my very first products. It was nothing to be embarrassed about, but something to be digested. When there are so many stores closing in town because of the downturn economy or bad business operations, the owner cannot be prouder of her long-standing presence in the community. But why is there the bad attitude?

Does the bad attitude do any good to the business or to the person who is trying to suggest a potential product to your store? I guess it is only good to personal feelings such as “triumphal” or “superior”. Suppliers, cooperators, and collaborators are not beggars. Unfortunately, in the personal and professional lives, I am usually the kind of person who supplies, cooperates, and collaborates. I saw lots of ugly faces and sometimes I dreamed about “It will be my turn to slam the door in your face next time.”

It is not a big deal to be excluded since I become more prepared each time. Frankly speaking, I enjoy seeing different kinds of faces and responses since I get the first hand information from whom I want to talk to. Direct and clear. Business games are everywhere. Over the internet, it is behind each screen. It is hard to imagine what customers look like or what they really want to say since you cannot feel the tones. In the physical world, you sense the reality. Feeling the connection (Man, I am not talking about the internet connection) and the reality is a big part of my life. It helped me realize that we are not alone and we cannot exist without others.

Mushroom Tau favors digging the numbers and digital data to tell the market and to calculate the next moves. Well, I think he is probably smarter, more effective, or anything you can use to describe the benefits of computer technologies. Calculation is important before a move. But putting yourself out there makes great points. I am definitely having more fun using my five senses just by being there physically.

Next time, when you feel like slamming the door in others’ faces, think of me grinning and having fun.

Add comment March 6th, 2006