Post#8: Different kinds of Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is the most famous tea from Asia. In Tang Dynasty, Chinese had started to produce and drink Oolong tea. Then, through a lot of ambassadors and history transposition Oolong was brought into other countries such as Europe and the United States. In Nowadays, not only Taiwanese or Chinese drink Oolong tea, but also a myriad of occidentals love to drink this special tea from Asia. In virtue of different production methods, processes or various tea trees catalog, and they all have different smell and taste. Orientals always devote in development of Oolong tea; therefore, they created several kinds of Oolong tea such as High Mountain Tea, Dong Dong Tea, Tieguanyin and Dong Fang Mei Ren Tea.

High Mountain Tea

           

According to the name of this tea, we can immediately understand that should grow in a high Mountain. In Taiwan, tea farmers cultivate high mountain tea in the places where are higher than 1000m sea level. Since High Mountain's temperature is low and the sun usually has a short time to shine on the places. Therefore, it will reduce the bitter testes of theophylline, and make the tea smell more strong and sweet.

Taiwan has so many mountains, so it caused that Taiwan can have high production rate of High Mountain Tea. The most famous areas which produce most of High Mountain Tea are Chai-Yi County and Nantou County. Especially, in Chai-Yi county which is the Alishan located -also known as Mount Ali-. The High Mountain Tea are produced in Alishan also called Alishan Tea too. The tea farmers planted the tee trees on the hillsides which are 1200~1400m sea level. This high terrain make them produced the best quality of High Mountain Tea.

Dong Ding Tea

Dong Ding Oolong is the most famous kind of Oolong tea in Taiwan. The place of origin is Luku Town in Nantou County. The meaning of Dong Ding is actually a mountain which is located in Nantou County, and it named Dong Ding. This mountain produces the first Dong Ding Tea, so the inverter chose the toponym as the name of this tea. Dong Ding tea is half- fermented tea that is only 30% fermented. The most special part of this tea is that after tea factory bake and dry it, they will put the tee leaves into a cotton cloth and knead to many little tea balls. The best quality of Dong Ding tea should be golden color like amber after brewing. In addition to an impact which made Nantou County destroy and have reestablished for a long time. In September 21^st 1991, a terrible earthquake almost destroys the whole Nantou County. Tea trees had serious damage that was hard to redeem at the time. However, after the tea farmers went back to their tea yards, they discovered that there came a huge number of Jacobiasca formosana (Paoli). Due to those bugs, they make the tea produce a different smell that is elegant and sweet. Tea farmers figure out a new idea, they called this tea Dong Ding Queen Tea. The special smell lets a lot of customer looks forward to drink and buy it and makes the tea farmers turned the crisis to better.

Tieguanyin

Tieguanyin is originated from Fujian, China. In China, this is the most popular Oolong tea, and it has been invested for a long time. Before 18^th century, Chinese started drinking Tieguanyin. It has entirely complex production processes. Only the purebred Teiguanyin tee trees can be used to produce this tea. Moreover, Tieguanyin is really hard to plant successfully. Tea farmer must need to find the most appropriate place that has good temperature, weather and soil for Teiguanyin. Good skill of tee baking, purebred tee trees and good environment are the most important keys that will affect the quality of Teiguanyin. The best Tieguanyin should have gentle curl, beautiful green color and the surface looks like hoarfrost on the top of it.

Tung Fang Mei Ren Tea

Tung Fung Mei Ren Tea also known as Oriental Beauty Tea and White Tip Oolong Tea. Since the tea buds have many visible white tip on the surface. Don Fang Mei Ren Tea is also half- fermented tea. However, it the sort of half- fermented tea, this is the tea which are 70% fermented. Dong Fang Mei Ren Tea has rich fruit and honey tastes, and it said that it due to the tea bugs bite the tea leaves. Therefore, if tea farmers want to plant good quality Dong Fang Mei Ren Tea trees, they cannot spray any chemical pesticides at all.

Post#7: Revision— How to Make a Raspberry Cheesecake without an Oven?

According to most of cheesecake recipes, we need to put the cake in oven to bake of the last step. However, we can have different methods to make a cheesecake without an oven.  The tools are easy to get, and we do not have to worry about over baking or do something wrong.  This simple recipe can help you to make a cheesecake successfully,and failure will not happen again.  Get ready, and we are going to make your own raspberry cheesecake with some zipper bags, a stove, a rolling pin and a 6-inch springform pan.

Material

            First of all, we need to prepare materials for the cheesecake.  We can go to grocery stores such as QFC, Albertson or Safeway.  For a cheesecake, the main material will be cream cheese. We cannot make a cheesecake without cream cheese, so we must make sure whether we have a pack of cream cheese or not.  There is what we need for making this cake.  We have to prepare some crackers, 65% unsweetened chocolate, cream cheese, raspberry jam, lemon juice, a cup of strawberry flavor yogurt, milk, gelatin and strawberry flavor powder.  Please check complete material list in below.

Cookie bottom(crust) :

            Crackers 70g

            65 %unsweetened chocolate 35g

Main cheesecake:

Mixing part a.         Cream cheese 150g

                             Raspberry jam 100g

                             Lemon juice 1 tbsp.

                            Mike 50g

Mixing part b.         Mike 70g

                            Gelatin 9g

Jelly Top:

            Gelatin 3g

            Cold water 120g

            Raspberry jam 30g

            Strawberry flavor powder 1 tsp.

Tools and equipment

            Before we really start to make the cake, please make sure whether you have zipper bags, a rolling pin, big bowl for mixing, microwaveable containers or bowls, a pot, a strainer, spoons, a refrigerator, a microwave, a blender and springform pan.  Springform pan will be the most difficult tool to obtain.  If you don't have a springform pan, Amazon and Target will be a good place to get it.   I believe everyone should have other tools in their kitchen. 

Processes (Step by step)

            After we checked that we have all materials and tools that we need, we can start to make our own cheese cake.  Take out zipper bags, crackers and a rolling pin.  Then, put the crackers inside of bags.  This is the most interesting part; shiver the crackers with the rolling pin.  You must be careful that every cracker is crumbled as well.  After done this step, put chocolate inside a microwaveable bowl.  Put the chocolate in a microwave and set about 25 seconds to melt the chocolate.  Add the melted chocolate into the crumbled crackers and mix them evenly. Place them into the bottom of the springform pan and put it in the refrigerator.  

            As we complete the cookie bottom, let's begin to make the main cheesecake part.  We separated to Mixing part A and B part in this process.  For part A, must remember to take out cream cheese from refrigerator, and it will be softer in room temperature.  After it became softer, put all A part material into the blender to mix them thoroughly.  Use the stove and place a pot.  Put the B material milk 70g into the pot, and add the gelatin inside to heat them up.  However, be sure do not over heat the milk (do not boil it).  Next, put the “gelatin milk” into “part A”, and use the blender to mix them again.  Then, we can use the strainer to percolate the mixing liquid about two times, and it would make the cake tastes smooth and soft.  Last but not least, pour the cheesecake liquid into springform pan and place them in the refrigerator again.  After two or three hours, it will become solid.

            We are almost finished with this cheesecake at this point, but we may want this cake to look additionally beautiful and cute.  The last part, we are going to use jelly as decoration to make this cheesecake looks fancy and more delicious.  Pour cold water into the pot, and place them on the stove to heat them up.  The caution here is also doing not boil them.  Add gelatin, strawberry flavor powder and raspberry jam into the water.  Turn off stove, and wait until it cools.  Take out the cheesecake that we put in the refrigerator previously.  Make sure it is solid that we can use a spoon to put the jelly liquid on its top.  Carefully, pour the jelly liquid into the top of the cheesecake. Otherwise, it will destroy the cheesecake that we made.  Next, put the cake into the refrigerator again.  This will be the last time we put the cake inside.

            After those processes, we can read some magazines or watch television to wait the jelly top solidify.  It might be taking above one hour, and then it became solid.  That means we make this cake completely.  You can start to eat it or give this cheesecake as a present to you friends. Making a cake by ourselves will be interesting and funny.   

picture form: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/White_chocolate_and_raspberry_cheesecake_tart.jpg

Post#6: How to Make a Raspberry Cheesecake without an Oven?

According most of cheesecake recipes, we need to put the cake in oven to bake of the last step.  However, we can have different methods to make a cheesecake without an oven.  The tools are easy to get, and we do not have to worry about over baking or do something wrong.  This simple recipe can help you to make a cheesecake successfully.  Failure will not happen again through this way.  Therefore, we are going to make your own raspberry cheesecake with some zipper bags, a stove, a rolling pin and a 6-inch springform pan, etc.

Material

            First of all, we need to prepare materials for the cheesecake.  We can get to grocery stores such as QFC, Albertson or Safeway.  For a cheesecake, the main material will be cream cheese.  We cannot make a cheesecake without cream cheese, so we must make sure whether we have a pack of cream cheese or not.  There is what we need for making this cake.  We have to prepare some crackers, 65% unsweetened chocolate, cream cheese, raspberry jam, lemon juice, a cup of strawberry flavor yogurt, milk, gelatin and strawberry flavor powder.  Please check complete material list in below.

Cookie button:

            Cracker 70g

            65 %unsweetened chocolate 35g

Main cheesecake:

a.         Cream cheese 150g

            Raspberry jam 100g

            Lemon juice 1 tbsp.

            Mike 50g

b.         Mike 70g

            Gelatin 9g

Jelly Top:

            Gelatin 3g

            Cold water 120g

            Raspberry jam 30g

            Strawberry flavor powder 1 tsp.

Tools and equipment

            Before we really start to make the cake, please make sure whether you have zipper bags, a rolling pin, big bowl for mixing, microwaveable containers or bowls, a pot, a strainer, spoons, a refrigerator, a microwave, a blender and springform pan.  Springform pan will be the most difficult tool to obtain.  If you don't have a springform pan, Amazon and Target will be a good place to get it.   I believe everyone should have other tools in their kitchen. 

Processes (Step by step)

            After we checked that we have all materials and tools that we need, we can start to make our own cheese cake.  Take out zipper bags, crackers and a rolling pin previously.  Then, put the crackers inside of bags.  This is the funniest part; shiver the crackers with the rolling pin.  You must be careful that every cracker is crumbled as well.  After done this step, put chocolate inside a bowl which should be microwaveable.  Put the chocolate in a microwave and set about 25 seconds to melt the chocolate.  Add the melted chocolate into the crumbled crackers and mix them evenly.  Place them into the button of the springform pan and put it in the refrigerator.  We finish the cookie button at the point.

            As we complete the cookie button, let's begin to make the main cheesecake part.  We separate A and B part in this process.  For part A, must remember to take out cream cheese from refrigerator, and it will be softer in room temperature.  After it became softer, put all A part material into the blender to mix them thoroughly.  Use the stove and place a pot.  Put the B material milk 70g into the pot, and add the gelatin inside to heat them up.  However, please do not over heat the milk (do not boil it).  Next, Put the “gelatin milk” into “part A”, and use the blender to mix them again.  Then, we can use the strainer to percolate the mixing liquid about two times, and it would make the cake tastes smooth and soft.  Last but not least, pour the cheesecake liquid into springform pan and place them in the refrigerator again.  After two or three hours, it will become solid.

            We are almost complete this cheesecake at this point, but we might want this cake looks beautiful and cute.  The last part, we are going to use jelly as decoration to make this cheesecake looks fancy and more delicious.  Pour cold water into the pot, and place them on the stove to heat them up.  The caution here is also doing not boil them.  Add gelatin, strawberry flavor powder and raspberry jam into the water and raspberry jam.  Turn off stove fire, and wait it comes colder.  Take out the cheesecake that we put in the refrigerator previously.  Make sure it is solid that we can use a spoon to put the jelly liquid on its top.  Please be carefully and softly to pour the jelly liquid.  Otherwise, it will destroy the cheesecake that we made.  Next, put the cake into the refrigerator again.  This will be the last time we put the cake inside.

            After those processes, we can read some magazines or watch television to wait the jelly top solidify.  It might be taking above one hour, and when it became solid.  That means we make this cake completely.  You can start to eat it or give this cheesecake as a present to you friends.  Making a cake by ourselves will be interesting and funny.  

picture form:  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/White_chocolate_and_raspberry_cheesecake_tart.jpg

Post#5: What is Real Friendship?

In people's live, we will meet a myriad of other persons. Sometimes, lives will bring a person or a group of people who might be worthy and important for us. These people may become friends in our lives; however, everyone keeps asking “what is real friendship?”. People usually have myths about real friendship. In my opinion, friends are the people who are willing to share happiness, joy and vexation with you. Even when we feel depressed or sorrowful and want to cry, they will not leave but accompany with you until your mood turn to happy. We might have a lot of friends around us, but only a few person can become your “best friend” who makes you feel comfortable to share heart with.

According to Webster dictionary, it provide several definitions of the word “friend”. It says that friends is “ one attached to another by affection or esteem” and “a favored companion”. Nevertheless, these definitions are not enough to describe what is real friendship? A real friend is not only means “one attached to another by affection” or “a favored companion”, but it also can refers to an extended definition to explain.

When people meet each other at very first time, they will never realize they will become best friend at all. They might have the same mind like “I don't know this person before, but we can be a normal friend previously.” Gradually, you might realize he or she is easy-going and enthusiastic person for you to be with, and you have the same topic to discuss or you are crazy for the same thing. The most important thing is you are willing to share everything with each other. When he or she is sad and depressed, you will feel worry and care about his or her mind. The same as you, if you were sorrowful and felt everything is bad and unmeaning, they would stay with you and never leave.

A friend can tolerate your characteristic or habits, so you can show them your true characteristic and do not need to afraid them abandon you. When you did something wrong or incorrect, they will not judge you furtively. They will blame you and do what ever they could do to remind that is not good for you. Since they want to to transform for good, so they will tell you truth without any lie. Even though you are unconscious to hurt them, they will forgive you and tell you “Don't worry. We are still friends.” Real friends will tolerate and forgive you thousand times.

As real friends, They truly care about you, so they do not hope you get hurt. For example, If you were happy they will be joyful too. They will concern your mind every minute and never forget to help you when you run into a trouble. They will support at any costs, and what they want just a smile from you. So as you, they are convinced that you will sacrifice for them too. Sometimes, friends might be closer than family or lover since a real friend does not retain her or his love to help you.

Furthermore, in my country, we always say “a good friend is also a good teacher and a nice listener.” People usually have several vexations in their lives. They might not be comfortable to share these problems to their co-worker or family; however, they can ask help from friends. A real friend is willing to listen your difficulty patiently. Then, he or she may provide a lot of methods that you can consider to use to solve your difficulty. You are only a person, but when friends gather that can be a strong power, they will give you nice solutions to solve the trouble in a short time. They might also provide a lesson for you that you can learn more through this difficulty. They are not only your good advisers but also great teachers.

In sum up, a real friend might be hard to find since we cannot predict when will they come into our life. However, they will appear in our life and bring something to learn for us. A real friend will help you to grow up, share every feeling with you and support you without any costs. If you already have a friend or several friends like that, please cherish the friendship and never break it. Otherwise, you will regret for a long time. If you did not find the real friend, it is okay, you can still keep believing he or she will come into your life soon.