Chinese tea drinking a new fad in Medan<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
Medan folks in North Sumatra have taken great delight in
\nconsuming various kinds of Chinese tea, as indicated by the
\npresence of at least five Chinese-style tea houses that help
\ndrinkers appreciate the origins of this delicacy.<\/p>\n
Tea buffs in the city can now enjoy their own style of tea
\nparties and have affiliated themselves with the Medan Tea Club
\n(MTC). Irwanto, Agus Sanjaya and five other peers, who were fond
\nof gathering tea a decade ago, set up the club in 1999 to promote
\nthis pastime.<\/p>\n
Starting off with 60 businessmen, bankers and attorneys, the
\nclub now has 150 members from Medan and its surrounding area.
\nSome others from Jakarta and Surabaya, mostly Chinese-
\nIndonesians, have applied for membership. Dozens of honorary
\nmembers come from Singapore and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Drinking tea together at tea houses with relatives and
\nfriends is also good for the health. Tea is good to ward off
\nvarious diseases,\" assured MTC chairman Irwanto.<\/p>\n
Irwanto, aged 58, said it takes a relatively long time to
\nlearn the art, philosophy and health benefits of tea drinking.
\nHis club has invited tea experts from China to share their
\nknowledge and preparing skills.<\/p>\n
MTC vice chairman Agus Sujana said the club had also imported
\ntea from China and Taiwan to comply with its members' requests.
\nThe types now available are Oolong tea from Taiwan, green tea
\nfrom China and black tea from Indonesia. With a monthly
\nmembership fee of Rp 100,000, MTC members get a discount of
\nbetween 10 and 20 percent for the tea.<\/p>\n
The highest quality imported tea costs between Rp 1 million
\nand Rp 1.5 million per kilo, while Indonesia's black tea is sold
\nat an export price of only between US$1.3 and $1.5 per kilo. PTPN
\nVIII (a state estate company) in Sidamanik district,
\nPematangsiantar, North Sumatra, is one of the country's major
\nproducers of black tea.<\/p>\n
The town of Sidikalang is also known as an Oolong tea
\nproducer. \"A hundred hectares of its plantations belong to one
\nMTC member,\" Agus said, adding that Taiwanese and Japanese
\ninvestors were interested in developing this variety.<\/p>\n
Oolong comes in different types and is processed through
\nfermentation to produce a very mild taste and aroma. Prepared
\nusing an appropriate method, it is effective for eliminating
\nexcess fat and cholesterol, refreshing breath and lowering high
\nblood pressure.<\/p>\n
Green tea, also found in various sorts, is not fermented and
\nretains its original taste and natural color. Containing vitamins
\nA, C and E it is believed to be effective in warding off cancer,
\nliver ailments and removing black spots.<\/p>\n
Agus pointed out that the aroma of tea was determined by the
\nquality of the teapot used. Those with a sharp, clinking sound
\nare usually superior and more expensive. Teapot prices range from
\nRp 30,000 to tens of millions of rupiah. China's Che Sa kaolin
\npots are superb.<\/p>\n
The tea-drinking tradition dates back 4,700 years. Chen Lung
\nwas the first to study tea and its medicinal use. Discovered in
\nthe western plains of Yunnan, China, tea spread to several other
\nChinese provinces, and was soon traded with various countries.<\/p>\n
Europeans, especially the British, are a major consumer of
\nChinese tea. \"Britain's per capita consumption of this tea has
\ntopped the world by reaching around two kilos a year, compared to
\nonly 1.8 kilos per capita in Japan,\" added Agus.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-tea-drinking-a-new-fad-in-medan-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}