tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16115542.post5936667191089095635..comments2024-03-16T11:51:28.412-04:00Comments on CHA DAO: China’s Great Teas: A View from the U.S.coraxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03645573592247798140noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16115542.post-71455144942061517332008-09-10T22:44:00.000-04:002008-09-10T22:44:00.000-04:00I enjoyed reading this comprehensive overview of t...I enjoyed reading this comprehensive overview of tea. The trends were accurately represented and the history and future were appropriately contextualized. Fascinating. I had no idea Kenya and Nepal were gaining so much ground in the tea business. <BR/><BR/>I've been drinking some black Kenyan tea recently and find it quite palatable. I'm also experimenting with Guranse estate oolong from Nepal, which is like a Darjeeling crossed with Oriental Beauty.<BR/><BR/>"The first English newspaper advertisement, 500 years ago, claimed it would cure any ailment."<BR/><BR/>This cracked me up though, as this struck me as 500 year old marketing hype to increase profits for the English tea trade. Even today, evidence is suggestive of health benefits, but not proven, and we see massive marketing hype.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing this!Ecclenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506682567743202714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16115542.post-6391122770617594322007-05-01T13:01:00.000-04:002007-05-01T13:01:00.000-04:00I just realized that my last comment was a bit mor...I just realized that my last comment was a bit more negative than I meant it to be. I feel that Keen made a lot of good points, despite the mixed message, and I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for the post!Brenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07624029379597567958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16115542.post-48437054795916520552007-05-01T12:53:00.000-04:002007-05-01T12:53:00.000-04:00I have similar feelings as Hobbes. Keen seems to ...I have similar feelings as Hobbes. Keen seems to switch gears completely when he starts talking about boosting production, though he had already commented on the wonders of careful hand-picking and high standards in production.<BR/><BR/>It is only a matter of time before a cooperative group of farmers forms a company, which inevitably leads to various combinations and blends, and diminishes the uniqueness of each grower's product. Though economically this makes sense, I feel that it is in conflict with the author's appreciation for "great teas."Brenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07624029379597567958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16115542.post-30064997686856039272007-05-01T04:48:00.000-04:002007-05-01T04:48:00.000-04:00Fascinating, thank you for posting it.Prof. Keen's...Fascinating, thank you for posting it.<BR/><BR/>Prof. Keen's stance in favour of Fair Trade and Organic produce is praiseworthy, though I sense this is as much for its marketing potential ("differentiation") as its potential social and ethical benefits.<BR/><BR/>This was somewhat underlined by his comparison of hectare yields between Darjeeling and typical Mainland plantations. After stating how Darjeeling plantations were losing market credibility through use of artificial means to boost production, he then directly compares them to Chinese yields, suggesting greater exploitation.<BR/><BR/>Higher yields and "clonal bushes" are not necessarily consistent with fine product and "product differentiation" (in fact, perhaps the opposite). The professor might try asking a Margeaux vineyard to double its output in favour of making "better" product; it would laugh him all the way to the local wine exchange.<BR/><BR/>A mixed message, methinks.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Thanks again for the posting, and toodlepip,<BR/><BR/>HobbesHobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.com