Hi,
I'm looking for the name of a "strange" tea I purchased in Shanghai
some years ago. I've searched the Internet but can't find a tea that
looks like this one.
It seems to be a single big leaf of green tea, rolled to make a
cilinder of 0,5 cm of diameter, which is then bended to form a
spiral approx. 5 cm long and 1,5 cm thick. I think it was a green
tea, although the two leaves I still own have turned brownish. I was
told that this tea is usually reused at least two times.
Any idea?

Thanks in advance

- Claudio

On Feb 3, 8:29*am, Claudio Telmon > wrote:
> Hi,
> I'm looking for the name of a "strange" tea I purchased in Shanghai
> some years ago. I've searched the Internet but can't find a tea that
> looks like this one.
> It seems to be a single big leaf of green tea, rolled to make a
> cilinder of 0,5 cm of diameter, which is then bended to form a
> spiral approx. 5 cm long and 1,5 cm thick. I think it was a green
> tea, although the two leaves I still own have turned brownish. I was
> told that this tea is usually reused at least two times.
> Any idea?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> - Claudio

It's most likely Bi Luo Chun. If it is a longer leaf, it could be Jin
Si Luo or rolled into a ring, Nu Er Huan.
You can usually infuse a good green several times.
Shen

Shen wrote:

> It's most likely Bi Luo Chun. If it is a longer leaf, it could be Jin
> Si Luo or rolled into a ring, Nu Er Huan.
> You can usually infuse a good green several times.
> Shen

Thank You!
I've seen this picture http://www.teaspring.com/Jin-Si-Luo.asp and
it almost looks like that one.

- Claudio

On Feb 3, 12:31*pm, Shen > wrote:
> On Feb 3, 8:29*am, Claudio Telmon > wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I'm looking for the name of a "strange" tea I purchased in Shanghai
> > some years ago. I've searched the Internet but can't find a tea that
> > looks like this one.
> > It seems to be a single big leaf of green tea, rolled to make a
> > cilinder of 0,5 cm of diameter, which is then bended to form a
> > spiral approx. 5 cm long and 1,5 cm thick. I think it was a green
> > tea, although the two leaves I still own have turned brownish. I was
> > told that this tea is usually reused at least two times.
> > Any idea?
>
> > Thanks in advance
>
> > - Claudio
>
> It's most likely Bi Luo Chun. If it is a longer leaf, it could be Jin
> Si Luo or rolled into a ring, Nu Er Huan.
> You can usually infuse a good green several times.
> Shen

You can also usually infuse a bad green several times, though you're
less likely to want to. Toci

On Feb 4, 2:26*am, Claudio Telmon > wrote:
> Shen wrote:
> > It's most likely Bi Luo Chun. If it is a longer leaf, it could be Jin
> > Si Luo or rolled into a ring, Nu Er Huan.
> > You can usually infuse a good green several times.
> > Shen
>
> Thank You!
> I've seen this picturehttp://www.teaspring.com/Jin-Si-Luo.aspand
> it almost looks like that one.
>
> - Claudio

If it's darker (nearly black), it could be Kudding ( a healing "tea")
- bitter.
Shen

Shen wrote:

> If it's darker (nearly black), it could be Kudding ( a healing "tea")
> - bitter.

Don't know, I've put a picture he
http://www.telmon.org/tea/IMG_1520.JPG
Remember it's an old leaf, I purchased it in 2001.

Thanks,

- Claudio

Claudio Telmon > writes:

> Shen wrote:
>
> > If it's darker (nearly black), it could be Kudding ( a healing "tea")
> > - bitter.
>
> Don't know, I've put a picture he
> http://www.telmon.org/tea/IMG_1520.JPG
> Remember it's an old leaf, I purchased it in 2001.

I understand why Shen suggested Kudingcha, but this picture doesn't
resemble it. Besides, Kudingcha (which isn't a Camellia sinensis true
tea but rather a member of the holly family) tastes extremely bitter.
Does that characterize your tea?

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

that looks like it is knotted like in a braid,

maybe its a sort of display tea...

On Feb 5, 6:31*am, Lewis Perin > wrote:
> Claudio Telmon > writes:
> > Shen wrote:
>
> > > If it's darker (nearly black), it could be Kudding ( a healing "tea")
> > > - bitter.
>
> > Don't know, I've put a picture he
> >http://www.telmon.org/tea/IMG_1520.JPG
> > Remember it's an old leaf, I purchased it in 2001.
>
> I understand why Shen suggested Kudingcha, but this picture doesn't
> resemble it. *Besides, Kudingcha (which isn't a Camellia sinensis true
> tea but rather a member of the holly family) tastes extremely bitter.
> Does that characterize your tea?
>
> /Lew
> ---
> Lew Perin /

Oh, yes. Lew, I suggested that before seeing a picture.
Not Kuding.
(I am surprised to hear it's of the holly family. I had always thought
holly toxic.)
Shen

On Feb 5, 6:41*am, SN > wrote:
> that looks like it is knotted like in a braid,
>
> maybe its a sort of displaytea...

Found this: http://en.restoran.ru/msk/detailed/r...nu/?half=72044

A few of these teas are described as "braided".
Is this tea from China, by way of somewhere else??

"
ShenCurious and curiouser."

Shen > writes:

> On Feb 5, 6:31*am, Lewis Perin > wrote:
> > [...]
> > I understand why Shen suggested Kudingcha, but this picture doesn't
> > resemble it. *Besides, Kudingcha (which isn't a Camellia sinensis true
> > tea but rather a member of the holly family) tastes extremely bitter.
> > Does that characterize your tea?
>
> Oh, yes. Lew, I suggested that before seeing a picture.
> Not Kuding.
> (I am surprised to hear it's of the holly family. I had always thought
> holly toxic.)

Holly (Ilex) is a big family. It includes maté, by the way.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

On 02/05/2008 09:31:32 Lewis Perin > wrote:

> Shen wrote:

>>> If it's darker (nearly black), it could be Kudding ( a healing "tea") -
>>> bitter.

>> Don't know, I've put a picture he
>> http://www.telmon.org/tea/IMG_1520.JPG Remember it's an old leaf, I
>> purchased it in 2001.

> I understand why Shen suggested Kudingcha, but this picture doesn't
> resemble it. Besides, Kudingcha (which isn't a Camellia sinensis true tea
> but rather a member of the holly family) tastes extremely bitter. Does
> that characterize your tea?


Lew, I have drunk kundingcha not rolled leaf as you would expect, but in a very Bi Lo Chun like small snaily twist. It was properly bitter. Whether this is another form of processing the same plant or a different plant entirely I know not, but the taste was nearly identical. Having said that, I'll go look at the picture as science requires.
Michael

Michael Plant > writes:

> On 02/05/2008 09:31:32 Lewis Perin > wrote:
>
> > Shen wrote:
>
> >>> If it's darker (nearly black), it could be Kudding ( a healing "tea") -
> >>> bitter.
>
> >> Don't know, I've put a picture he
> >> http://www.telmon.org/tea/IMG_1520.JPG Remember it's an old leaf, I
> >> purchased it in 2001.
>
> > I understand why Shen suggested Kudingcha, but this picture doesn't
> > resemble it. Besides, Kudingcha (which isn't a Camellia sinensis true tea
> > but rather a member of the holly family) tastes extremely bitter. Does
> > that characterize your tea?
>
>
> Lew, I have drunk kundingcha not rolled leaf as you would expect,
> but in a very Bi Lo Chun like small snaily twist. It was properly
> bitter. Whether this is another form of processing the same plant or
> a different plant entirely I know not, but the taste was nearly
> identical. Having said that, I'll go look at the picture as science
> requires. Michael

Right, I've had it in this form too. I find it puzzling that
kudingcha exists in two such radically different configurations. But
real tea has lots of puzzlements too, and I suppose I prefer to spend
my attention on good old C. sinensis.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

Shen wrote:
> On Feb 5, 6:41 am, SN > wrote:
>> that looks like it is knotted like in a braid,
>>
>> maybe its a sort of displaytea...
>
> Found this: http://en.restoran.ru/msk/detailed/r...nu/?half=72044
>
> A few of these teas are described as "braided".
> Is this tea from China, by way of somewhere else??

I've added some more picturese he
http://www.telmon.org/tea

As you can see, it's not a braid, the small piece is hollow. It is
as if the rolled leaf had been bended around a stick to form a
spiral, and then the stem is put in the hole that is left when the
stick is removed. No, the tea was not bitter at all, it tastes
like... well, like a good green tea, but I'm not an expert

I purchased the tea in Shanghai in 2001. I asked to my guide for a
place where I could see the "tea ceremony" (I knew about the
japanese tea ceremony, but I was told there was something "similar"
in China too), so we went to a tea shop, were I was shown how to
taste tea... you know better than me. There, I purchased this
strange tea and another one. I think I've found the original box,
I've put a picture of it too (the number on the box is 010-64295788).

Thanks again,

- Claudio

>> Lew, I have drunk kundingcha not rolled leaf as you would expect, but in
>> a very Bi Lo Chun like small snaily twist. It was properly bitter.
>> Whether this is another form of processing the same plant or a different
>> plant entirely I know not, but the taste was nearly identical. Having
>> said that, I'll go look at the picture as science requires. Michael

> Right, I've had it in this form too. I find it puzzling that kudingcha
> exists in two such radically different configurations. But real tea has
> lots of puzzlements too, and I suppose I prefer to spend my attention on
> good old C. sinensis.

Likwise. Agreed. I got it in a neighborhood teashop that didn't quite hit the mark, but deserved support nonetheless. Unfortunately, they quickly went out of business. Such is life in Brooklyn.
Michael

Michael Plant > wrote in
:

....
>> Right, I've had it in this form too. I find it puzzling that
>> kudingcha exists in two such radically different configurations. But
>> real tea has lots of puzzlements too, and I suppose I prefer to spend
>> my attention on good old C. sinensis.
>
> Likwise. Agreed. I got it in a neighborhood teashop that didn't quite
> hit the mark, but deserved support nonetheless. Unfortunately, they
> quickly went out of business. Such is life in Brooklyn. Michael

Brooklyn? (Applause from the '40s and '50s audience.) I live in the borough
of homes and churches too. I feel compelled to ask if there are any worthy
teashops still in business there?

Ozzy

On Feb 6, 5:05*pm, Ozzy <please.answer@NG> wrote:
> Michael Plant > wrote :
>
> ...
>
> >> Right, I've had it in this form too. *I find it puzzling that
> >> kudingcha exists in two such radically different configurations. *But
> >> real tea has lots of puzzlements too, and I suppose I prefer to spend
> >> my attention on good old C. *sinensis.
>
> > Likwise. Agreed. I got it in a neighborhood teashop that didn't quite
> > hit the mark, but deserved support nonetheless. Unfortunately, they
> > quickly went out of business. Such is life in Brooklyn. Michael
>
> Brooklyn? (Applause from the '40s and '50s audience.) I live in the borough
> of homes and churches too. *I feel compelled to ask if there are any worthy
> teashops still in business there?
>
> Ozzy

Grew up there (Williamsburg!) Love Brooklyn!
My husband's from Park Slope.
Shen

Ozzy <please.answer@NG> writes:

> Michael Plant > wrote in
> :
>
> ...
> >> Right, I've had it in this form too. I find it puzzling that
> >> kudingcha exists in two such radically different configurations. But
> >> real tea has lots of puzzlements too, and I suppose I prefer to spend
> >> my attention on good old C. sinensis.
> >
> > Likwise. Agreed. I got it in a neighborhood teashop that didn't quite
> > hit the mark, but deserved support nonetheless. Unfortunately, they
> > quickly went out of business. Such is life in Brooklyn. Michael
>
> Brooklyn? (Applause from the '40s and '50s audience.) I live in the borough
> of homes and churches too. I feel compelled to ask if there are any worthy
> teashops still in business there?

There's a semi-worthy one run by a Fujianese family around the corner
from the 8th Avenue Sunset Park Chinatown strip on - what? - 48th
Street? I'm not sure. They have, or had maybe a year ago,
vacuum-packed greenish oolongs, but also fairly cheap tea in bins,
including pretty good Dian Hong and Phoenix. They also have Chinese
herbs, but that would be off-topic...

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

In article >,
>Don't know, I've put a picture he
>http://www.telmon.org/tea/IMG_1520.JPG
>Remember it's an old leaf, I purchased it in 2001.

Although some have suggested that this is bilochun, it looks absolutely
nothing like any blc I have every seen; they are very small delicate
leaves with a natural curl. Others have mentioned kuding (not tea - a
very bitter tisane), which it might be. Given the discoloration, it might
also be an extra bold real tea. But it isn't bilochun.

Best,

Rick.

On Feb 7, 10:54*am, (Richard Chappell) wrote:
> In article >,
>
> >Don't know, I've put a picture he
> >http://www.telmon.org/tea/IMG_1520.JPG
> >Remember it's an old leaf, I purchased it in 2001.
>
> Although some have suggested that this is bilochun, it looks absolutely
> nothing like any blc I have every seen; they are very small delicate
> leaves with a natural curl. *Others have mentioned kuding (not tea - a
> very bitter tisane), which it might be. *Given the discoloration, it might
> also be an extra bold real tea. *But it isn't bilochun.
>
> Best,
>
> Rick.

I am pretty sure this is Jin Si Luo, after seeing the photos and
following the discussion.
Bi Luo Chun is more delicate and that suggestion was made prior to
seeing the pictures.
Shen

Shen wrote:

> I am pretty sure this is Jin Si Luo, after seeing the photos and
> following the discussion.
> Bi Luo Chun is more delicate and that suggestion was made prior to
> seeing the pictures.
> Shen

Yes, it looks like it. The silver part of the leaf may be the one
that is now the darkest.

Many thanks to everybody

- Claudio

Lewis Perin > wrote in
news

> There's a semi-worthy one run by a Fujianese family around the corner
> from the 8th Avenue Sunset Park Chinatown strip on - what? - 48th
> Street? I'm not sure. They have, or had maybe a year ago,
> vacuum-packed greenish oolongs, but also fairly cheap tea in bins,
> including pretty good Dian Hong and Phoenix. They also have Chinese
> herbs, but that would be off-topic...
>
> /Lew
> ---
> Lew Perin /
> http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

Thanks much Lew. I've been going to the Micro-Chinatown on Avenue U east
of Coney Island Avenue, and mostly their teas are disappointing. But off-
topic or no, I'm always on the lookout for a more convenient place to get
Chinese herbs than the original Chinatown or Flushing...

Ozzy

Shen > wrote in
:

> Grew up there (Williamsburg!) Love Brooklyn!
> My husband's from Park Slope.
> Shen


Both those neighborhoods are much changed (it's generally safe to say that
about nearly any neighborhod, as long as the persons have been absent more
than a decade or so. ). I grew up in Midwood myself in the '50s. The
latest area of development is Coney Island -- they're yuppifying fast and
furiously, with the independent amusement sleeze that has delighted so many
children for greater than a century slated to be one with Babylan and Troy
ASAP...

Ozzy

snip

...I got it in a neighborhood teashop that didn't quite
>> hit the mark, but deserved support nonetheless. Unfortunately, they
>> quickly went out of business. Such is life in Brooklyn. Michael

> Brooklyn? (Applause from the '40s and '50s audience.) I live in the
> borough of homes and churches too. I feel compelled to ask if there are
> any worthy teashops still in business there?

Hi Ozzy,
Unfortunately, I know of none. In addition to the shop Lew mentioned, there is a Ten Ren up close to 60th Street on Eighth Avenue in which two/three years ago I had an unusually positive experience -- unusual for Ten Ren, that is. I've heard rumors of a new place in Park Slope, but I haven't visited yet.
Michael

Michael Plant > wrote in
:

...
> Hi Ozzy,
> Unfortunately, I know of none. In addition to the shop Lew mentioned,
> there is a Ten Ren up close to 60th Street on Eighth Avenue in which
> two/three years ago I had an unusually positive experience -- unusual
> for Ten Ren, that is. I've heard rumors of a new place in Park Slope,
> but I haven't visited yet. Michael

Thanks Michael. I'm tempted to say any positive experience in a Ten Ren is
very unusual indeed, but that would be unfair, I suppose, and involve
overgeneralization

Ozzy