Cardew Club News » 2007 » March

The University of Kentucky Department of Art will welcome ceramic artist Fong Choo to campus this Friday as its next artist/speaker in this year’s Visiting Artists and Scholars Series. During his residence, Choo will visit and work with UK art students, faculty and staff, and address the public and art department majors at a free lecture scheduled for noon Friday, March 23, in Room 118 of the Whitehall Classroom Building.

Chinese tea is an acquired taste, like most teas. It normally comes from the South of China or Taiwan and there are different Chinese teas depending on the region of the country they come from.

The tea leaves are collected and left to dry under the sun – the time varies for this depending on the temperature and type of leaves.

The next step involves roasting the leaves but once again, the time depends on the type of leaf and for the level of roasting. There are three roasting levels including raw, half-roast and full roast. Leaves are normally kept whole throughout the process.

Tea tasting requires similar skills to wine tasting – sight, smell, taste and touch.

First of all, have a look at the dry leaf. How does it feel? An old tea leaf is likely to crumble in your fingers and have a dull appearance. A new tea leaf should be less likely to crumble and have a shiny, fresh look to it.

Next, place a teaspoon of leaves into a white cup and fill with hot water. How does the tea smell? Also have a look at the colour – all teas will be a different colour depending on the leaves. Look at the infused leaves – how is the colour and is the colour of the leaves even?

Harrods will be holding a rare Tea Auction in their store restaurant on the 25th April from 6pm-8pm.
The London Tea Auction occurred annually from 1679 until 1998 but since then has stopped. This year will see the revival of the traditional auction, with all money raised going to charity.

The evening will start with distinguished guests from around the world tasting three of the rare teas which will be sold at auction. At the same time, there will be music playing from Roland Perrin whilst champagne and canapés will be available to guests.

Recently I reported on how green tea can help to prevent skin cancer. New research suggests that green tea may also help to prevent lung cancer.

Scientists in America placed a sample of human lung into a green tea extract for three days. The extract remodeled a protein that was in the cells of the lung. The remodeled protein meant that the cells were less likely to stick together and move which may reduce the speed at which the cancer spreads through the lung.

On March the 11th was the Victoria Tea Festival in America. At the festival you can sample all different types of tea from all over the world.

Some of the teas that could be tried included:
- Macca tea – chlorophyll aroma drink
- Sencha tea – similar to green tea
- Temple flowers – floral tasting tea
- Chamomile tea
- Jasmine tea

There was also someone who gave a lecture on tea and the health properties of different types of tea, including green, black and pu’er tea. The lecturer also discussed different ways in which tea can be made and how to ensure that you get the goodness from the tea.

Hi Everyone

It seems that a lot of people have decided to have a spring clean and I have been contacted by several people who are looking to sell their teapots.

These are the latest teapots for sale. One of these is a Robot teapot. This teapot is one of a very limited number that were produced for one of Paul’s Signing Days held at the teapottery in Bovey Tracey. It is a spectacular teapot, a brilliant bluein colour, in perfect condition and has been sitting on the shelf ever since its purchase.