Tea houses define Taichung identity

A general view of Taichung

It would be a pity to visit Taichung without a trip to a tea house. For local residents, tea drinking has become a way of life.

Taiwan may have a long tradition of drinking tea at home or at public gatherings, alone or with friends, but Taichung residents have taken the tradition to another level.

Traveling through the city of 1 million residents, visitors will notice tea houses of various styles and sizes scattered almost everywhere.

Many kinds of teas are served, including traditional Chinese standbys like oolong tea as well as modern variants such as “bubble red tea” or “pearl milk tea” — milk tea mixed with tapioca balls — and coffee.

“Starting when I was in high school, I think I must have gone to tea houses hundreds of times, whether to study or have a casual chat with friends,” said 36-year old Trevor Huang, adding that it was “trendy” at the time and remains so today.

Steve Wang, 24, said that whenever friends visit from out of town, the first place he takes them is a tea house because it is “a natural thing to do.”

Click here to read the rest

Is a bike mug holder your cup of tea?

A hot beverage holder on the handlebars is a dream concept, but there are problems with the execution of the design.

Helen Pidd with the Soma Morning Rush Coffee Holder for cyclists. Photograph: Graham Turner

Is there anything more smug than someone riding a bicycle while drinking a cup of tea?

Every time I lifted the cup from its handlebar-holder while waiting at traffic lights, I swear I could hear the drivers behind muttering in disapproval. As if it wasn't bad enough that I had plonked myself in front of them, delaying their acceleration out of the lights by, oooh, at least a second or two, I had the nerve to quench my thirst while I waited for green.

Click here to read the rest

Want your "Certified Tea Sommelier Certificate"?

For the first time in North AMerica, there now exists a Certified Tea Sommelier Certificate program, offered by GEORGE BROWN UNIVERSITY of Canada.

Created in partnership with the Tea Association of Canada, this certificate has been designed for those professionals wishing to enter the distinguished world of a tea sommelier or for those so committed to the consumption of tea that they wish to become tea sommeliers themselves.

Learn how to cup, taste, blend and consume teas from all around the world. Take a global tour of countries that grow and produce tea from the comfort of the classroom.

Once you have completed the certificate and a final competency exam, you will be certified as a Tea Sommelier by the Tea Association of Canada.

For more information, call 416-415-5000, ext. 2517, or e-mail cehospitality@georgebrown.ca. You are also invited to attend an information session.

Certificate Completion: You must complete HOST 9119 (Tea – An Introduction) prior to taking the other courses in this certificate. You must complete the courses in section A prior to taking the courses in section B or the stage experience.
Compulsory Courses (Eight)
Section A
HOST 9119 Tea – An Introduction
HOST 9122 Tea – China and the Far East
HOST 9121 Tea – India, Africa and Beyond
HOST 9120 Tea – Preparation and Consumption

Section B
HOSF 9261 Tea – Menu Design and Food Pairing
HOSF 9262 Tea – Sensory Development and Evaluation
HOSF 9260 Tea – Service Training
HOSF 9263 Tea – Tea Garden Management

plus
Stage experience
Also see: Promoting tea with a Canadian twist. (Tea Association of Canada and Tea Council of Canada continue to promote tea to the Canadian market with focus on ... An article from: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

Indian Police Stations to Serve Tea

In an effort to modernize public service, police stations in Gujarat, India will soon start to serve tea and coffee to those who are waiting to appear in court.

Citizen Facilitations Centres (CFC) will have tea and coffee vending machines in all 500 police stations in the state of Gujarat.

Here is the rest of the story...