Chen Lianggu, a 58-year-old Tieguanyin tea expert, not only promotes the traditional brew but also strives to cultivate young talent in the industry. For Chen, tea is more than just a beverage – it’s a magical elixir with healing powers. This belief was instilled in him during his teenage years when he fell ill while reaping rice on the farm. His mother brewed him a cup of tea by roasting it with salt and adding it to boiling water. Within half an hour of drinking the tea, Chen felt fully recovered.
Chen’s deep appreciation for tea led him to pursue a career in the industry. Over the years, he has become an expert in Tieguanyin tea, a type of oolong tea that is highly prized in China. He not only shares his knowledge of the traditional brew but also encourages young people to join the business and improve their skills. Chen believes that by cultivating young talent, he can ensure that the art of tea-making is passed down to future generations.
Through his work, Chen hopes to preserve the traditional methods of Tieguanyin tea-making. He emphasizes the importance of using high-quality tea leaves and following the correct brewing techniques to produce a rich and flavorful cup of tea. By educating young people on these principles, Chen hopes to ensure that the art of Tieguanyin tea-making is not lost.
Chen’s passion for tea has also led him to explore the health benefits of the beverage. He believes that drinking tea can have a positive impact on both physical and mental health. As a result, he has conducted extensive research on the properties of Tieguanyin tea and shares his findings with others. Chen hopes that by promoting the health benefits of tea, he can encourage more people to adopt the beverage as a part of their daily routine.
Chen Lianggu’s love for Tieguanyin tea extends beyond just the beverage itself. He is dedicated to preserving the traditional methods of tea-making, cultivating young talent in the industry, and promoting the health benefits of the beverage. Through his work, he hopes to ensure that the art of tea-making is passed down to future generations and that more people can experience the magical powers of tea.
Although Chen Lianggu cannot be certain whether the cup of tea he drank as a teenager played a major role in his recovery from heatstroke, it was a pivotal moment that ignited his love for tea. As he grew older, Chen became more and more interested in tea-making, eventually becoming a provincial-level inheritor of Tieguanyin tea, a type of oolong tea that is half-fermented and highly prized in China.
For over two decades, Chen has been devoted to the craft of tea-making, using his knowledge and expertise to produce high-quality Tieguanyin tea. His skills as a craftsman have earned him numerous prizes, and his tea has won many awards at competitions both in China and overseas.
Chen’s dedication to the art of tea-making goes beyond just producing a good cup of tea. He is committed to preserving the traditional methods of Tieguanyin tea-making, which he believes are essential to maintaining the quality and flavor of the tea. By passing on his knowledge and skills to the next generation, Chen hopes to ensure that the art of Tieguanyin tea-making continues to thrive.
Chen’s success as a Tieguanyin tea-maker is a testament to his passion and hard work. His commitment to the craft has allowed him to produce tea that is not only delicious but also steeped in tradition. As he continues to share his knowledge and expertise, Chen’s legacy as a tea-maker will live on for generations to come.
Despite the ideal conditions for growing tea trees in Anxi, the locals were initially hesitant to get involved in tea production, as it did not seem any more profitable than farming. However, many locals still grew tea trees, including Chen Lianggu’s parents who were skilled in tea production. As farmers, they had a heavy workload all year round, but still found time to process tea in their free time.
Chen’s mother had a deep appreciation for the value of tea leaves, which she believed were precious and worth the effort to gather from the deep mountains. During the slack seasons, she would often hike into the mountains to pick tea leaves and make tea by herself. She would wrap up the tea she made in a cloth bag and hang it under a beam in the kitchen, taking some to drink or use as medicine when necessary.
Chen’s upbringing was deeply rooted in the traditions of tea-making, and his parents’ passion for tea left a lasting impression on him. Despite dropping out of middle school due to poverty, Chen worked as both a carpenter and farmer, with his carpentry skills earning him a favorable reputation among the locals.
While Chen initially pursued carpentry as a means of earning a living, his love for tea-making never waned. Eventually, he decided to devote himself entirely to the craft of tea-making, following in the footsteps of his parents and ancestors. Through hard work and dedication, Chen has become a renowned expert in the art of Tieguanyin tea-making, passing on his knowledge and skills to the next generation.
As the popularity of Tieguanyin tea began to rise in 2000, Anxi’s reputation as a major production area for the tea also grew. This encouraged Chen Lianggu to shift his focus to tea production full-time, leading him to establish his own tea garden and brand. He drew on the tea-making techniques passed down from his family elders while also honing his skills by learning from others.
Despite his passion for tea-making, Chen faced initial setbacks when his tea failed to attract buyers. Undeterred, he sought advice from other stall owners at the market. Their guidance on paying attention to weather and temperature when making tea proved invaluable to Chen, leading to a newfound appreciation for the role that nature plays in the tea-making process.
Chen’s dedication to his craft and willingness to learn has helped him become a highly skilled tea-maker. He recognizes that achieving mastery in tea-making requires not only honing one’s craft but also understanding and respecting nature’s role in the process.
Today, Chen’s Tieguanyin tea is highly sought after, having won numerous prizes at competitions and being sold in many places in China and overseas. He continues to promote the traditional brew and pass on his knowledge and skills to younger generations, ensuring that the art of Tieguanyin tea-making will be preserved for years to come.
Chen Lianggu emphasizes that the quality of Tieguanyin tea is heavily influenced by natural factors such as the altitude of the mountain tea trees, soil condition, and weather and climate during the process of picking and processing tea leaves. These factors all contribute to the taste and aroma of the final product.
Chen notes that adjusting the details of the tea-making process is essential when weather conditions are less than ideal. For instance, the speed at which yaoqing, or tossing tea leaves, is done must be altered. Chen stresses that the ability to make such adjustments comes from years of experience.
However, Chen also acknowledges that mastering the craft of Tieguanyin tea-making is a long and challenging process. It takes more than just a few years to become proficient in the art of tea-making. He believes that continuous learning is crucial to improving one’s skills and avoiding past mistakes.
Despite the difficulties involved, Chen remains dedicated to the tea-making craft. His passion for Tieguanyin tea and his unwavering commitment to preserving the tradition has earned him numerous awards and accolades, cementing his status as a leading expert in the field. He hopes to inspire and train younger generations to follow in his footsteps and carry on the art of Tieguanyin tea-making for generations to come.
Chen, a master oolong tea maker, has shared his insights into the complex process of making this tea. He highlights that oolong tea requires a dozen procedures, and even a small oversight can lead to failure. Attention to detail is crucial throughout the entire process. Without meticulous care, the tea will not have the desired taste or aroma. Therefore, the process of making oolong tea is complex and requires significant skill.
Over time, Chen has realized the importance of communication in his craft. He acknowledges that making good tea cannot be achieved through solitary learning alone. Collaborating and communicating with other tea makers is essential to improve and perfect the craft. Through discussions and sharing of ideas, new techniques and approaches can be developed, ultimately leading to a better quality of tea.
Chen’s approach highlights the significance of continuous learning and the value of embracing suggestions from others. By taking advice and tips from other tea makers, Chen has improved his own skills and has been able to perfect the process of making oolong tea. He notes that the craft of tea making is not static and is continually evolving. Therefore, it is essential to stay open-minded and to continue learning and adapting.
the process of making oolong tea requires great skill and attention to detail. It is a complex craft that involves many steps, each of which requires meticulous care. Collaboration and communication with other tea makers are vital for improving and perfecting the craft. Chen’s experience and insights highlight the importance of continuous learning, open-mindedness, and embracing suggestions from others to achieve excellence in tea making.
Chen’s philosophy of collaboration and continuous learning has led him to establish a master’s studio in Anxi in 2013. The studio provides an opportunity for those interested in making oolong tea to come together, communicate, and polish their skills. Chen believes that by working together and sharing their experiences, tea makers can improve their skills and ultimately produce better quality tea.
At the master’s studio, Chen and other well-versed tea makers impart their knowledge and skills to aspiring tea makers. They share their experiences and expertise, teaching their students the intricacies of the craft. Through this collaboration, the students gain a better understanding of the tea-making process and can improve their skills. This approach is in line with Chen’s philosophy that good tea cannot be made through solitary learning alone.
Chen Jinquan, a student of Chen Lianggu, is an example of the benefits of the master’s studio. He acknowledges that his skills have improved significantly since joining the studio. Before joining, the tea he made was of variable quality and sold for around 100 yuan per kilogram. However, after improving his skills at the studio, the quality of his tea is now consistent and sells for more than 200 yuan per kilogram.
Chen’s master’s studio has thus become a hub for tea makers, allowing them to collaborate and learn from each other. The studio has helped many aspiring tea makers improve their skills and produce better quality tea. Chen’s philosophy of collaboration and continuous learning has been the driving force behind the success of the studio, highlighting the importance of working together and sharing knowledge to achieve excellence.
Chen Lianggu’s master’s studio has become a demonstration center for the tea-making craft in Gande. The studio attracts visitors who want to watch how tea is made and experience the process for themselves. In its first year of establishment, nearly 5,000 people visited the studio. The growing interest in the craft has contributed to the success of the studio, which has become a hub for tea enthusiasts.
As more people in the local community began making tea, Chen established a tea cooperative in 2011. The cooperative aims to standardize tea production, build brands, and sell tea. Over 200 local households have joined the cooperative, helping to support and promote the local tea industry. By working together, the cooperative has been able to produce high-quality tea and promote the Gande region as a tea-making destination.
Chen has been devoted to making tea for many years and enjoys the process of tea-making. He believes that only through hard work and devotion can one produce good tea. The recognition of others is a testament to the quality of the product. For Chen, tea-making is not just a job, but a passion that he has pursued with great dedication.
Chen’s philosophy of collaboration and continuous learning has contributed to the success of the studio and the cooperative. By sharing his knowledge and skills, he has helped many aspiring tea makers improve their craft. The studio and cooperative have become a model for other tea-making communities, showcasing the benefits of collaboration and the potential of the tea industry to create economic opportunities.
In conclusion, Chen Lianggu’s master’s studio and tea cooperative have become important centers for the tea-making craft in Gande. They have helped promote the local tea industry, standardize tea production, and sell high-quality tea. Chen’s passion and devotion to tea-making, as well as his philosophy of collaboration and continuous learning, have been instrumental in the success of these endeavors. The studio and cooperative serve as a model for other tea-making communities, demonstrating the potential of collaboration and the value of pursuing one’s passions with dedication.