Tea Merchant, Chaozhou (潮州)

Posted by GJC (Kyoto, Japan) on 23 March 2008 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.

More from China. This was a wonderful tea merchant who was also a professor of tea studies at a nearby university. Best oolong tea (烏龍茶) I've ever had. Bought enough to float a battleship.

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Comments (18)

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

lovely moment to have captured :)

23 Mar 2008 12:42am

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

It all looks very exotic. And you've caught a nice action shot of the tea being poured.

23 Mar 2008 1:27am

timothy sullivan from tokyo, Japan

nice image-- makes me feel as though i am joining this chap for a cuppa; i really like the slight motion blur as well-- makes the scene more realistic somehow

23 Mar 2008 5:47am

Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom

Brilliant image, I love the inclusion of everything in the scene, and I must go and make some tea after seeing this, I need a brew.

23 Mar 2008 6:13am

Teresa Durães from Portugal

a good movement photo

23 Mar 2008 6:31am

Ron from Saint Louis, United States

A beautiful composition: the neatly organized shelves; the reflective canisters along the bottom row; the magnificent carved desk/table; and, then, the ever-so-slight blur of movement seen on the pot. You've invited your viewer into the scene: a cup for you; a cup for the tea merchant; and a cup for me. Thank you!

23 Mar 2008 7:32am

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

Yeees, I've seen such a merchant in one of the documentaries on Chinese tea on TV. I like the capture with all the many things it contains, plus the merchant in action!

23 Mar 2008 9:38am

e. from New York, NY, United States

I love tea merchants! :) It's wonderful to try all the different teas.

23 Mar 2008 1:08pm

yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece

very beautiful portarit - I like the moving og his hand, the framing and the one side lighting

23 Mar 2008 1:24pm

Dara from Irvine, United States

nice closeup and portrait

23 Mar 2008 1:34pm

standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France

You captured a great moment. I love it!

23 Mar 2008 1:37pm

Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

This looks very hospitable! Do you mind when I use this picture in my classes at the hotel school? A professor of tea studies at a university! It's an indication of the importance the Chinese attach to tea. Not even the British, great tea drinkers, have such professors as far as I know. We Dutch are more coffee-addicts, and my favorite tea isn't Chinese but South-African, namely Rooibos.
Anyway, again, this is a very hospitable picture!

23 Mar 2008 4:38pm

@Illuci: You are always very kind. I would be honored if you used this in your classes. Thank you for your visits and for your generous comments.

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

I sure hope you didn’t try to discuss battleships with the guy! But what a great capture of the environment, the man and the object of his studies.

23 Mar 2008 5:14pm

Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States

Oolong is my favorite! If I have to choose, I still prefer Taiwanese Oolong, it contains a bit more flavor and aroma. Just thinking of the apple-green color of some Oolong blend is making me thirsty.

23 Mar 2008 7:11pm

farmermarn from Baltimore, United States

The rows of canisters across the top with the bags along the left side do a wonderful job of framing the merchant.
I'd love to start opening bags and smelling all the different teas!

23 Mar 2008 8:08pm

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Beautiful portrait in situation of this tea merchant. I've gone in China but i've been desappointed by chinese tea because it's very light and in France we like strong tea....

24 Mar 2008 12:09pm