Many of you know that I LOVE Fitz and Floyd.
Today I want to share one of my favorite Fitz and Floyd tea cups.
The pattern is called Chinoiserie.
The flowers are from my Beautiful God-Daughter's wedding.
I carried a bouquet of white hydrangea and gardenia.
The tea is straight from China. A gift from a dear friend.
They are the four favorite teas in China:
Kuan Yin
Puerh
Dragonwell
Chrysanthemum
The decoration on the cup changes depending on what side you see.
The designs are truly beautiful on the black background.
Kuan Yin tea is also known as TieGuanYin.
It is an oolong tea.
Oolong tea offers tea enthusiasts a wide-ranging choice of styles, aromas and flavors.
Oolong tea is the most intricate and complex tea to manufacture.
In some ways oolong tea is a composite of all tea.
There are several legends about TieGuanYin and I'd like to share my favorite.
WIE Legend
Deep in the heart of Fukian's Anxi County, there was a rundown temple which held an iron statue of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Every day on the walk to his tea fields, a poor farmer named Mr. Wei would pass by and reflect on the temple's worsening condition. "Something has to be done," thought Mr. Wei.
Being poor, he did not have the means to repair the temple. Instead, the farmer brought a broom and some incense from his home. He swept the temple clean and lit the incense as an offering to Guanyin. "It's the least I can do," he thought to himself. Twice a month for many months, he repeated the same tasks.
One night, Guanyin appeared to him in a dream. She told him of a cave behind the temple where treasure awaited. He was to take the treasure and share it with others. In the cave, the farmer found a single tea shoot,. He planted it in his field and nurtured it into a large bush, from which the finest tea was produced. He gave cuttings of this rare plant to all his neighbors and began selling the tea under the name Tiequanyin, Iron Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Over time, Mr. Wei and all his neighbors prospered; the rundown temple of Guanyin was repaired and became a beacon for the region. Mr. Wei took joy in the daily trip to his tea fields, never failing to stop in appreciation of the beautiful temple.
Thanks to our tea party hostesses.
These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.
Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea!
