Chinese tea drinking a new fad in Medan

Chinese tea drinking a new fad in Medan

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

Medan folks in North Sumatra have taken great delight in
consuming various kinds of Chinese tea, as indicated by the
presence of at least five Chinese-style tea houses that help
drinkers appreciate the origins of this delicacy.

Tea buffs in the city can now enjoy their own style of tea
parties and have affiliated themselves with the Medan Tea Club
(MTC). Irwanto, Agus Sanjaya and five other peers, who were fond
of gathering tea a decade ago, set up the club in 1999 to promote
this pastime.

Starting off with 60 businessmen, bankers and attorneys, the
club now has 150 members from Medan and its surrounding area.
Some others from Jakarta and Surabaya, mostly Chinese-
Indonesians, have applied for membership. Dozens of honorary
members come from Singapore and Malaysia.

"Drinking tea together at tea houses with relatives and
friends is also good for the health. Tea is good to ward off
various diseases," assured MTC chairman Irwanto.

Irwanto, aged 58, said it takes a relatively long time to
learn the art, philosophy and health benefits of tea drinking.
His club has invited tea experts from China to share their
knowledge and preparing skills.

MTC vice chairman Agus Sujana said the club had also imported
tea from China and Taiwan to comply with its members' requests.
The types now available are Oolong tea from Taiwan, green tea
from China and black tea from Indonesia. With a monthly
membership fee of Rp 100,000, MTC members get a discount of
between 10 and 20 percent for the tea.

The highest quality imported tea costs between Rp 1 million
and Rp 1.5 million per kilo, while Indonesia's black tea is sold
at an export price of only between US$1.3 and $1.5 per kilo. PTPN
VIII (a state estate company) in Sidamanik district,
Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, is one of the country's major
producers of black tea.

The town of Sidikalang is also known as an Oolong tea
producer. "A hundred hectares of its plantations belong to one
MTC member," Agus said, adding that Taiwanese and Japanese
investors were interested in developing this variety.

Oolong comes in different types and is processed through
fermentation to produce a very mild taste and aroma. Prepared
using an appropriate method, it is effective for eliminating
excess fat and cholesterol, refreshing breath and lowering high
blood pressure.

Green tea, also found in various sorts, is not fermented and
retains its original taste and natural color. Containing vitamins
A, C and E it is believed to be effective in warding off cancer,
liver ailments and removing black spots.

Agus pointed out that the aroma of tea was determined by the
quality of the teapot used. Those with a sharp, clinking sound
are usually superior and more expensive. Teapot prices range from
Rp 30,000 to tens of millions of rupiah. China's Che Sa kaolin
pots are superb.

The tea-drinking tradition dates back 4,700 years. Chen Lung
was the first to study tea and its medicinal use. Discovered in
the western plains of Yunnan, China, tea spread to several other
Chinese provinces, and was soon traded with various countries.

Europeans, especially the British, are a major consumer of
Chinese tea. "Britain's per capita consumption of this tea has
topped the world by reaching around two kilos a year, compared to
only 1.8 kilos per capita in Japan," added Agus.