At Andao Tea, we want to make sure our products meet your needs as far as the types of tea you like and teaware. We want to share the tea drinking culture of China with you while also becoming part of your own tea drinking world. We want to have a relationship with our customers, and at the same time, give you a voice in what Andao Tea provides.
So, to help us start to bridge that gap between “just a tea company” and “customers” and moving to something more in line with Andao Tea, Rob, Jake and you - we’re asking you to take a few minutes of your time and answer questions in a quick tea survey.
We really appreciate your time, and look forward to talking more, whether it be comments on the blog or through twitter.
You can follow us @andaotea on twitter. Please stop by and say hi.
And NEW this week, we’re going to moderate the first ever #teachat on twitter. It’s here where we want you to steep a cup of tea and meet with other tea drinkers and share recommedations on what you’re drinking and what you love about tea. To be part of the conversation, please make sure you use #teachat so everyone can follow along and participate.
Thanks!
See you Thursday!
And thanks for completing the survey!
Rob and Jake
In China, the Chinese New Year is the most important and most colorful holiday celebrated. Since 2000 B.C., the Chinese New Year has been celebrated to ward off evil spirits and to bring prosperity, good luck and abundance to all.
At Andao Tea, we’d like to pass on some of that abundance to our friends who follow us on Twitter (@AndaoTea). On Tuesday, January 27, we’re planning a Twitter Giveaway.
What does this mean? It means that if you follow us between 10:00 am and 6:00pm on Tuesday, January 27 – you will have the opportunity to win some great prizes, including some fantastic single origin loose-leaf teas and teaware and more. All you have to do is be registered in Twitter (which is free) and follow us @AndaoTea. No purchase required. It’s that simple.
Throughout the day, we’ll ask questions about the traditional Chinese tea drinking culture, the Chinese New Year or maybe a question or two about Andao Tea – the first person to “tweet” back the correct answer will receive a prize.
So, for all you tea-lovers out there, here’s your chance to win some great prizes from Andao Tea and to have the opportunity to learn more about the biggest celebration in China.
If you have questions, please comment below or send us an email at media@andaotea.com
We look forward to having a great time and getting to know our followers better!
Thanks!
Rob and Jake
The story behind the Twelve Gentlemen is simple and yet terribly complicated at the same time. They are a grand reflection of Chinese tea and of an historical society of perplexing dimensions.
The Twelve Gentlemen were first seen in a painting created by a famous artist of the Nan Song Dynasty (1269 A.D.) known as Shen An Lao Ren (审安老人). In an exquisitely detailed manner, Shen An Lao Ren drew up the names, the images and depictions of each. And yet, contrary to what our intuition would have, the Twelve Gentlemen were not people at all. Rather, the Twelve Gentlemen were twelve unique elements or tools for preparing tea. The elements were referred to as
‘Gentlemen’ as the term represented the highest echelons of society at the time (gentlemen were also the classical name for ‘teachers’ in Chinese). It’s said that the purpose of this painting was to reflect, through the preparation of tea, the intricacy and intimacy of society at the time.
The names of each of the twelve elements devised by Shen An Lao Ren were based on the names of Nan Song government officials. Hence, the artist intended to personify each element as the embodiment of current popular culture. Alas, the Twelve Gentlemen were in fact, not people at all.
The names of each the Twelve Gentlemen in Chinese are as follows (an English translation will follow soon):
韦鸿胪：指的是炙茶用的
烘茶炉木待制：指的是捣茶用的
茶臼金法曹：指的是碾茶用的
茶碾石转运：指的是磨茶用的
茶磨胡员外：指的是量水用的
水勺罗枢密：指的是筛茶用的
茶罗宗从事：指的是清茶用的
茶埽漆雕密阁：指的是盛茶末用的
盏托（漆雕是复姓）
陶宝文：指的是
茶盏汤提点：指的是注汤用的
汤瓶竺副司：指的是调沸茶汤用的
茶筅司职方：指的是清洁茶具用的
茶巾 In the meantime you can see some pics of the tea tools here:
http://www.charen.cn/html/chawenhua/chaju/20070206/11211.html
