It seems only fair that this first tea entry begins where the ‘green’ begins – tea’s humid and understated roots. Here, where tea has been nurtured virtually unchanged in all of the patient centuries and where still today the green leaf is treated with a reverence that speaks to a long and gentle union with both man and soil. Here it is a food, a friend and an essential. Asia’s great ‘commodity’ here, still retains its primary roles as unifier, cure-all, and simple beverage – though in a typical bit of tea-irony, these teas are prized above all others by the private buyers and purists, who will happily part with enormous amounts of life’s other ‘green’ (cash) to quietly add a few kg’s to their private stock.
In Yunnan province’s indigenous southern stronghold, where mists hold sway and heat pervades everything, tea trees have been allowed to evolve unencumbered, reaching metres into the heavy air. Rich soil, undulating terrain and a tea pedigree in its veins makes the area a ‘tea mecca’.
While the pace of life slows here, there is an increase in smiles. The wiry and tough Pulang, Dai and Wa peoples – tea’s ancient harvesters and care-givers, the Hani (Akha) and Lahu, (who have had the tea knowledge passed down to them), produce teas of stunning simplicity. Tea’s here are consumed green and potent with no insulting additions made. This is the dwelling place of Puer (Pu’erh) tea – big leafed, sun dried – and as this tea reaches ever-widening ‘sippers’ it is impossible to overstate how important the views of the indigenous growers are.
About JeffFuchs
Having lived for a decade in Yunnan, Fuchs’ work has centred on indigenous mountain cultures, oral histories along with an obsessive interest in tea.
Fuchs is the author of 'The Ancient Tea Horse Road' (Viking-Penguin) and he was the subject of 'The Tea Explorer' documentary based on his exploration of the Tea Horse Road.
His photos and stories have appeared on three continents in publications such as Kyoto Journal, TRVL, and Outpost Magazine, as well as The Spanish Expedition Society, The Earth, Silkroad Foundation, The China Post Newspaper, The Toronto Star, The South China Morning Post, and UNESCO amongst others. Various pieces of his work are part of private collections in Europe, North America, and Asia. Fuchs served as Asian Editor at Large for five years at award-winning Outpost magazine.
Jeff has worked with schools and universities, giving talks on both the importance of oral traditions, tea and mountain cultures.
His recently released book ‘The Ancient Tea Horse Road’ (Penguin-Viking Publishers) details his 8-month groundbreaking journey traveling and chronicling one of the world’s great trade routes, The Tea Horse Road. Fuchs is the first westerner to have completed the entire route stretching almost six thousand kilometers through the Himalayas a dozen cultures.
Fuchs partnered with Wild China to create a journey along the Tea Horse Road which National Geographic Traveler called one of the "50 Trips of a Lifetime".
He is co-founder of Akahiao Nature Institute on the island of Hawai'i along with his wife, Julie Rogers.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ITO_EN and Brandon, Deb H.. Deb H. said: One of my favourite #tea and #travel photographers and writes, Jeff Fuchs, has a new tea blog http://goo.gl/L7PM4 […]
A few days after sharing a small pot of tea in your drafty loft in Shangri La’s old town, gazing across the wood slat rooftops at the temple on turtle hill blazing in the November afternoon sun, the academy’s gurgling water tank and Jon Jon’s inventions to be – the topics of the day, Dakpa dropped two chunky discs wrapped in fine paper into my lap. “Puer – very good…..” with a winking smile and a few weeks later we are haggling hard for as much as we can carry in the tea markets of Kunming…. hooked!
Today, we are sat in Luang Prabang planning our next border crossing on our trans-siberian overland excursion from Singapore to London. Lao to China…. Yunnan… and of course, Puer… With the wife and kids grumbling at this troublesome diversion, for me – it’s the highlight of our trip and I’m not to be swayed.
I have no doubt that your passion for this ancient, mystical yet most practical of commodities will be as inspirational to others as it has been to me. I for one will be a regular visitor to this site and am looking forward to the next installment, cup in hand. Keep blogging!
Good to hear of your journeying and of your vice. Travel and tea go together…each supporting the other. Looking forward to more slurps in my drafty loft. Travel safe, happily and ‘well-tead’ up.
Hi Jeff! Lovely blog you have here and of course lovely lovely photos. I got referred from FB. I have joined your FB page as well. Just great!
Glad you can join in some green leaf travel – always better to share these sips with others. Welcome
Jeff