My friend Eliza took me to this tea market, the Dabutong Tianshan Tea City. Fascinating place! Who knew that an entire three storey rabbit warren could be dedicated to and profitable in the sale of tea and tea brewing accoutrements? I learn something new every day....
The aforementioned tea market
At an angle
I don't why, but I find this perspective way more interesting.
Art teachers, help me out!
Intriguing street scene
Local with yoke carrying pictures.
I almost typed "local yokel"!
I almost typed "local yokel"!
Close up
Entrance into the market
View from the second floor
There were stores after stores after stores after...
you get the idea.
A particularly attractive shop
Lots of loose tea
If you don't like it loose, you can buy it in brick form.
The label proofreader was away the day they printed this wrapper.
A necessity if you are going to make tea and
at the tea market, it merits its own room.
You'll also need one of these.
Or if that's not your style, some of these.
I know. They're so cute and tiny, you'd probably need to fill them up
eighteen times just to get a decent serving of tea.
This adorable little tea scoop would help you do the job.
Thought that was adorable?
Check these out.
A close up would help.
What are these things? Good question.
All will be revealed later to those who read on further.
In the meantime, marvel at their cuteness.
Here I am, about to partake in the tea ceremony at
one of the little stores.
No, this other woman was not my friend, Eliza,
just a friendly, helpful local who was in the shot.
I was patting this little fellow.
Why is he here? What is his function in the tea ceremony?
Here's a whole collection of stuff involved in sampling a cup of tea.
A different angle of above stuff
Everything has tea poured on it!
Let me see if I can do an adequate job of explaining the whole affair.
The cups are so hot they needed to be picked up with tongs.
Note the stone underneath everything. It doesn't matter if it gets wet.
Some times they use a wooden tray with slats instead.
All in all, this was a very relaxing experience.
Now, where is the bathroom? All that tea...
View from the second floor
There were stores after stores after stores after...
you get the idea.
A particularly attractive shop
Lots of loose tea
If you don't like it loose, you can buy it in brick form.
The label proofreader was away the day they printed this wrapper.
A necessity if you are going to make tea and
at the tea market, it merits its own room.
You'll also need one of these.
Or if that's not your style, some of these.
I know. They're so cute and tiny, you'd probably need to fill them up
eighteen times just to get a decent serving of tea.
This adorable little tea scoop would help you do the job.
Thought that was adorable?
Check these out.
A close up would help.
What are these things? Good question.
All will be revealed later to those who read on further.
In the meantime, marvel at their cuteness.
Here I am, about to partake in the tea ceremony at
one of the little stores.
No, this other woman was not my friend, Eliza,
just a friendly, helpful local who was in the shot.
I was patting this little fellow.
Why is he here? What is his function in the tea ceremony?
I will tell you. It's considered good luck and respect to the gods to pour a little bit of tea over him before each new batch is served. You remember all the adorable little figurines we saw before? Same idea, different form.
Here's a whole collection of stuff involved in sampling a cup of tea.
A different angle of above stuff
Everything has tea poured on it!
Let me see if I can do an adequate job of explaining the whole affair.
These darling little handless tea cups are heated/sterilized in that big covered pot you see on the background. Meanwhile, the vendors have fetched water from the Boiled Water Room. They pour it over various types of tea leaves in little tea pots. Once the tea has steeped a while, the server pours it out, first on the animal/fruit/god/all of the above of their choice, then into the tiny tea cups for those sampling.
The cups are so hot they needed to be picked up with tongs.
Some times they use a wooden tray with slats instead.
All in all, this was a very relaxing experience.
Now, where is the bathroom? All that tea...
1 comment:
Loved this one. Like the auther of "A year in Provance" you could write a book about your years in Shanghai. Add the tea market on to my list of what to do next time.
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