TEA in CHINA

Had a very interesting trip to a Tea House this week. When in China and all that..........

Some of you may not know but my husband works for Twinings, and therefore all things tea are of interest to him. So a tea tasting was right up his street. We had done it before, but this time my daughter and her husband were with us. It is always good to to do these things more than once as you don't always take everything in.

A delightful young lady performed the ceremony for us.

With an array of teapots, small cups and a selection of teas all promising wonderful health properties she set to work. Never boiling the water, leaving it to infuse for a long time, and swirling and pouring finally ending up in small cups for us to taste. Dark teas, green teas, jasmine, lapsang souchong, oolong black to name but a few. Most were delicious but some a bit too medicinal for my taste. 

One of the prettiest, but not not the tastiest came in the form of a tightly compressed flower and when covered in hot water it slowly unfurls into a beautiful flower before you eyes. This is a lovely thing to serve at a tea party, it will almost certainly entertain and wow your guests. Just have some heatproof glasses to hand.

One thing I found very interesting was that when making tea the first addition of the nearly boiling water is only to wash the leaves. It is poured over then away, and fresh water is then added to the leaves. After the infusion is complete it is then poured into tiny cups. The Chinese will always smell the tea before drinking. Much like we do with our wine. 

It was a surprise to learn that the tea leaves can be used up to eight times depending on the quality of the tea. Not something you can do with a teabag! So although the tea seems very expensive it is not really when you work out the number of times it can be used.

And if the health properties are to be believed, and I am hoping so, then when next year I am a skinny person with all my organs in great condition with beautiful skin  and the possibility of living to a very old age, then the cost will have been well worth it. Well one can hope!

So don't give up on the Twinings tea but do try some of the varieties you see on the shelves. I know we all tend to stick to our favourite, but as they say variety is the spice of life. You never know a cup of lapsang souchong or oolong might just become something you enjoy.

NAP of the WEEK

As the temperatures soared in Shanghai this week people were falling asleep with ease. It reached 40c but was feeling like 46c according to the weather forecast, it certainly felt extremely hot. It seemed people were nodding off anywhere,  even a bit of cardboard laid out on the pavement. This lady had just had enough and decided to check out.

If I had been out much longer I would have been joining her. Thank goodness for A/C. I cannot imagine living here without it. 

DISH of the WEEK

Assuming not just a bit on the side lol.

 I'm sure the translation was almost right and should have read "Spiced Donkey" not that it would have made any difference to me, as once again this was something I'd rather not let pass my lips.

I wonder if I will ever run out of these tasty morsels to bring to you. With 73,000 licensed eating establishments here in Shanghai, I somehow think not!

So another week, more searching to be done. Wish me luck.

BRITS IN SHANGHAI

As I sit watching Wimbledon it never amazes me that wherever you are in the world there are always things that draw you back home. I was however thankful Andy Murray did it in four sets, three would have been better, but as it was almost 1-00am when it finished I think I did well. Another set would have seen me asleep on the sofa! However if he does make it all the way I will sit up until whenever in the hope of seeing a Scot lift the title. Go on Andy.

Mostly it will be of a sporting nature that makes you think of home, what man won't sit up into the wee small hours, watching football, or be tempted to watch F1 as it runs well into the middle of the night. Of course the odd jubilee or Royal Wedding will also do the trick. Even, if when at home you wouldn't watch, there is something which draws you in. A bit of the familiar, a feeling of not being so far away I guess.

Last week I found myself celebrating Ladies Day at Ascot here in Shanghai. Not a horse in sight, but plenty of hats on show. I was lucky enough to win prize for best hat. I knew fascinators were a no no this year so went with the regulatory hat. It was cobbled together from a very old hat and some feather boas removed the night before from some lamps, and stuck on to the hat. Can't believe I've caught myself thinking about next year's hat. You get sucked in.

The day consisted of Champagne and lunch. It was held on a restaurant roof terrace, and looking back across the river I was able to see my apartment, well the building at least.

All the ladies looked amazing and we had a fun day in the beautiful sunshine. I believe the weather did not shine on Ascot itself, so maybe here was the better option. 

So the Olympics will be the next big sporting occasion when people will gather here to cheer on any Brits who can bring home a medal. Although there will be plenty of gatherings before then I'm sure. I'm not so sure the sport is the real reason for the get togethers, but it is a good excuse, if one is needed.

 To get together with people who are experiencing the same things as yourself, people who understand how life really is here is a real bonus. Most of the time it's amazing, exciting and challenging, and a lot of fun. But it is nice to have someone to call on for advice or information when despite all your best efforts   you can't solve the problem yourself. There is always someone to call on who knows the best tailor, hairdresser, bakery or whatever it is you need. Invaluable to an expat in a strange and faraway place. I like to think we are all there for each other. 

After three months I am no longer the newbie, there are lots who have arrived since me, and lots gone home, or moved on. I am living in a very changing society, people coming and going, so the support we offer each other is very important to all of us. It is easier for some than for others, fortunately I am finding it easier than had imagined it would be, let's hope that continues.

SHANGHAI ASLEEP

In the heat of the  Shanghai summer it is not unusual to find people asleep in the street all over the city. It seems to me that when the heat of the day gets to much for them they think nothing of closing their eyes for a few minutes, or longer, and catching up on their sleep. When the good people of Shanghai want to sleep, they sleep, wherever they are. Ikea is a good place to catch them. They just lie down on beds and sofas and sleep. No one bats an eye. Can you imagine doing this in Ikea near you?

Any resting place does, it doesn't need to be too comfortable either, they seem to be able to drop off at the drop of a hat. It amazes me that even with the traffic roaring by, the honking of horns and the general noise a big city brings it doesn't stop them from catching a quick shut eye. I can't imagine being able to sleep as easily as they do. Don't they hear the noise, or can they just shut it out? And if this is so, how do they do it? I'd love to know the secret. Not that I want to sleep in the street, I would just love to know the secret of shutting out the noise of a city. A city is never quiet.

 

The guy above seems to be having sweet dreams as his other half continues cooking food for the lunch time customers. Sleep obviously trumps even the lunchtime rush. Can you imagine going for a quick bite only to find the proprietor asleep on the job? No one seems to mind here. They walk on without a backward glance, whereas I am sneakily trying to get a photo:

 a) without walking them, and  b) without being too intrusive.

 Thankfully never woken anyone up so far.

So next time sleep overcomes you maybe you could take a leaf out of the Chinese book and simply check yourself out for a bit. Take the time to relax, shut out the noise and chaos going on around you, and simply lie down wherever you are and close those weary eyelids. Can you imagine the reaction of people in the West were this to happen? I wonder how long it would take before you were asked to move along by a policeman, or someone reported a drunk, or worse lying in the street. Don't think we are chilled enough to sleep when the urge takes us, irrespective of where we are. Maybe we should give it a go. 

A wall, a bench, a food counter, a deckchair even a ladder will do. Whatever you have serves the purpose. Perhaps we are too hung up on sleeping in a nice comfortable bed, and at night. Although none of these places seem to me to look like a particularly comfortable place to rest a weary head, the ladder does seem to be the most uncomfortable one. Also the sun beating down on you can't be good for promoting good sleep.

I have so many of these photos I think as well as a "dish of the week" I might blog a "napper of the week" too. I have so much material here, and love collecting more. 

This Shanghai experience is proving a wonderful one. I am enjoying the differences and celebrating the diversity. What a boring world it would be if we were all the same. 

So as you nod off tonight in your comfy bed, sleep well and hopefully you will make it through tomorrow without the need for an unscheduled nap.

DISH of the WEEK

Tempted? Not me. I was spoiled for choice this week, so many "unusual dishes" appearing on menus.

I spend as much time searching them out as I do choosing my meal lol. But it is fun.

So because of all the choice this week I am delighted to offer you two delectations this week.

Always on the lookout for something new and different for you.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Tomorrow is Dragon Boat Festival here in China, and as it falls on a Saturday then businesses take either the Friday before, or Monday after, to give people a three day weekend. It falls on the 5th day of the 5th month, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. And as with most festivals there is a special food to be eaten over this period. Also Dragon Boat races take place along the rivers.

The festival is to remember an ancient, famous Chinese poet, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself after being forbidden to write.  After his death the people would throw parcels of glutinous rice into the river for him to eat. So during this holiday people give "ZONGZI" as gifts and also make, or buy them to eat at home.

ZONGZI

These parcels can be either sweet or savoury. The rice is boiled for a long time until it becomes very sticky. It is flavoured with pork for the savoury and red bean, or red bean paste for the sweet version. This is then wrapped in either bamboo leaves or reeds. Some are served plain, but are best enjoyed dipped into sugar to give them extra flavour.

Pork Zongzi

We were lucky enough to be given some homemade zongzi, made by the mother of one of my husbands colleagues. We felt very honoured to be given them. Some savoury and some sweet. We also received more zongzi from Wen, my Chinese friend. Once again the kindness and thoughtfulness of the people here is amazing. It all makes us feel very welcome, in what is a strange, and at the same time fascinating country. Makes us feel as if we belong, as if we are slowly being accepted.

To enjoy these parcels of rice they have to be boiled for 10 minutes before eating. I have to admit glutinous rice is not my favourite, but I do prefer the savoury to sweet. I won't be rushing out to buy more, but might be interesting next year to try and make some myself.

Red Bean Zongzi

I  feel privileged to be part of this ancient Chinese festival. My knowledge of Chines traditions increases with every passing holiday. I am enjoying learning about the culture but even more being part of the celebrations. I hope to experience many more before my time here is over.