If you live in Taipei, this is an easy daytrip, requiring only a bus from Wanfang Community MRT station on the Muzha (Brown) line. This bus takes you right up to Mao Kong Cable Car station in about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you could just take the cable car right from Taipei Zoo station, or any of the cable car stations on that route.

I had found out about Mao Kong from some tourist map as a recommended day trip, and although it didn't say much about the area, the tea garden phrase caught my eye and I immediately decided that I wanted to see them. Even though really, I had seen tea gardens before when I had visited Ping Ling for a day, I was hoping for a better experience, since while in Ping Ling I had ended up being rather startled by the lack of tea houses (only one, in the museum, and it was closed....), not to mention the lack of accessibility from a tourist's point of view. Keep in mind Ping Ling is written up reasonably extensively in guide books, so you would expect at least something that would resemble a painless and enjoyable experience, rather than lots of meanderings, a closed tea house, very few restaurants, a bus that came only twice a day, and such like. (Although, to be fair, the tea fields were impressive and the shops were quite interesting.)

In contrast, Mao Kong, about which I could find very little information except for what one blogger on the "Taiwan is Beautiful" website had written up, turned out to be well worth going to and vastly superior to anything that I had seen in Ping Ling (well this at least is my opinion....). At any rate, based on what that blogger had written, at the very least I would find one place to have tea, as she had written about teahouses (plural), so hey, what was there to lose! This same blogger had also raved about the amazingingly refreshing local teas you could enjoy, and so even though that was probably not true at all, I wrote down the name of that tea, and the trip was planned!

 

Possibly, because of my typically low expectations when traveling to any place in Taiwan (this is my view only of course), I was too easily impressed, and the fact that there were signs, maps, regular buses, more than one restaurant, clearly marked trails, and even staff who spoke a bit of English was all it took for me to be pretty much blown away.....!

Well actually, it was good for quite a few other reasons as well. The trip there was straightforward, I only had to wander around a teeny bit to find the appropriate bus stop, the bus ride was only about 20 minutes, and the bus driver was very sensibly driving around corners up the mountain at a nice reasonable speed, not to mention the cliff-like drop offs here and there were actually quite well guarded by nice blindingly white (that is, easily visible!) concrete guardrails!

As well, when I got to Mao Kong, this was very easy to figure out, what with big signs and a HUGE cable car station with MAO KONG STATION written on it. That's the sort of obvious information that is a nice bonus when traveling to some new, unknown place!

Plus, once I had arrived at my destination, there were literally dozens of teahouses to choose from right in the immediate vicinity. Not to mention an exciting looking, clearly marked hiking trail right in my line of vision as well. There was also a big, clear, English sign pointing the way to the MaoKong Information Centre. It was very strange not having to spend any time at all trying to work out a map, or bus stop, or......etc!

Well, seeing as how it was lunchtime, I went straight to one of the bigger tea houses, right next to the station, and sat down on some rock-seats at a rock-table and proceeded to order the local variety of tea as had been recommended by that oh so useful internet as well as some lunch (which was of course rice and stuff to go with it....in this case, some very good vegetables and some not quite as good egg dish). The waiter serving me was very good at translating things for me and at understanding the kind of tea that I wanted to try, even though he kind of kept giggling whilst taking down my order.

The tea turned out to be really really nice and amazingly refreshing. I was very pleasantly surprised. The various tiny tea cups and miniscule teapot and lots of hot water made for a very enjoyable little tea party that could last for a long long time if one so felt inclined

This all cost a reasonablish 20 dollars Cdn in total I suppose, which to me seemed okay for lunch and tea for 2. Then off I went to have a look at that hiking trail, a set of stairs going up one of the mountains past a tea field or two, and probably up to the top to some great view! I excitedly started up the mountain only to find out that actually this was the “Neverending Stairs” trail, and that the humidity was a bit much for doing strenuous stair climbing activity, and that the stairs also kept becoming narrower, steeper, and more uneven with each step. But I persevered, thinking "I'm almost there by now...!!!" and "there will be a great view at the top!", but a good hour later when I finally got there, I am afraid to say there was no view at all, just an intersection of more trails going left, right, or down. Suffice to say that I was not too impressed by all of that, and back down I went, regretting the rather excessive exercise I was giving my poor (by now shaking!) knees and legs. Unless you can handle stair climbing for several hours, give this trail a miss.

Next, off I went to the Information centre, down a nice flat road, where I was able to see some pretty grand views of the mountains and valleys of this area, including a view of the city of Taipei (although the misty weather didn't make for great pictures of this...). As well, while I as walking, I came upon Even More teahouses, I couldn't believe it! It was quite the little industry here, and it was quite something to come upon so many little teahouses, literally hundreds of them, in the valley, in the mountain, along the street.....everywhere! Some were a bit ramshackly, some were really nicely set up, some were teensy, some seemed to be able to accommodate hundreds of people...it was amazing!

After strolling along for awhile, I eventually came to the information centre, which, by this time, was closed (that's what I get for persisting in getting to the end of that hiking trail!), but I didn't really care as I was enjoying the views and walk quite well enough on my own. So I kept strolling along, and after awhile I came upon a path that looked rather more interesting than the road (plus it didn't have any stairs…!), and so I walked along it, with Narnia-like lanterns lighting my way (it was getting near dusk by now), and next thing I knew I was in a teahouse that could have doubled as a fairyland. Fairylights were strung everywhere on trees and houses alike, and little winding paths and stairs seemed to go everywhere. I decided to have another tea break, and soon I was following some waiter down all kinds of little stairs and past all kinds of little gazebo like structures with tables and chairs in them, until I ended up nearly at the bottom of the tea house grounds in my very own little gazebo to have my tea!.

This was the highlight of the day, what a place! This time, I had tea according to the exact ritual you are supposed to do when drinking tea here, guided by our waiter and by a handy little handout with all the pictures of each step of what to do nicely set out for tea-drinking newbies.

This is what you do, for those of you who may be interested in that kind of detail:

1. Rinse out the teapot, various cups, strainer, and straining container with boiling water
2. Measure loose tea of your choice with the special wooden measuring shovel into the teapot
3. Add hot water, block up the tea spout for better brewing, and allow to steep
4. Pour tea through strainer into pouring pot
5. Pour from pouring pot into the tall, thin, tea cups (in order to appreciate the aroma of the tea first for awhile)
6. Pour tea from the tall thin cups into the tiny round cups
7. Drink your tea!

For this second tea experience I tried a different kind of tea recommended to me by the waiter. It was not quite as good as the first type of tea I had, but it was still a very good, kind of earthy tasting tea.

As well, when you buy tea for two, you get the whole canister of tea, so that would also explain why 20 dollars for tea for 2 was about right for the cost.

Well, and that was that pretty much it! I walked off to get the bus back, but what with one thing and another kept going around the next corner to see what was there, as this was a truly fascinating area to walk around in. Needless to say, I came across dozens and dozens of more teahouses, all lit up with lights, and all crowded with people. I kept on walking as by then I had gone a good mile down that road, and it seemed logical that eventually I would get somewhere. Sure enough, after awhile there was a sign directing me to the cable car station. This was a long walk by the way, and in hindsight, it would have been a shorter walk to turn around and head back to Mao Kong station.

However, some other people were also walking in the same direction, and eventually we did indeed come to a (totally different) cable car station, but we were happy enough to be near public transportation of some sort. I simply used my MRT card to get on and off we swooped down the mountain, through 2 more cable car stations until we got to the end of the line (Taipei Zoo Station), where I disembarked, and walked a few steps more to the MRT station that connected to that particular cable car station.

If I were a guidebook writer, I sure would write up Mao Kong and leave out Ping Ling.....but hey, being a tourist and being an intrepid explorer are possibly two different things. At the very least, they both deserve a place in a guidebook about Taiwan, especially considering the importance of the tea industry for this country. Enjoy!

 

Owner Rene' Guerrero brings to us a bit of whimsy in a face-paced world. Stepping into the establishment one feels the pressures of life slipping away amid the colorful interior and warm confines. Madhatters offers an eclectic array of fine teas, wonderful food and an awesome atmosphere to enjoy it all in. The upbeat personality of Guerrero brings a good feeling to all who stop by.
“I don't know if I ever thought I would have my dream job. This is my dream job,” says Guerrero in a tone full of enthusiasm. This effervescent quality permeates through the whole cafe. It's hard to enter the confines of Madhatters and not feel the warmth and happiness of the place.
Of course, tea is a staple on the menu. Guerrero opines, “Tea is all about slowing down.” With an amazing array of teas to choose from everyone will find a favorite to enjoy.
The menu at Madhatters features fare that is both diverse, as well as delicious. Featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner and open seven days a week, the cafe serves a varied clientele. “75% of our customer's are regulars,” states Guerrero. Keeping the menu appealing is quite a chore when so much of your business is repeat customers. Sandwiches and salads are the main fare for lunch and dinner with Eggs Benedict, French toast and English muffins some of the staples for breakfast or brunch. Wine and beer are also served. No matter your taste in food Madhatters will have something for you to sink your teeth into.
The sundry clientele of Madhatters attests to the fact that Guerrero really loves his customers. “If you get people to feel something when they come into your place then you got "em,” Guerrero muses. From the looks of things and the success of the business people must feel a lot when they visit!
A great feature of Madhatters is tea parties. Whether for bridal showers or baby showers these parties are wonderful events. Guerrero related a story about a kid"s tea party where the little girl's all dressed as their favorite princesses. They were pulled around the neighborhood by a horse drawn carriage. Guerrero clearly likes hosting tea parties.
Madhatters Tea House and Cafe is a bona fide San Antonio institution. Great food, service, tea and atmosphere combine to make a trip to this cafe a most pleasurable experience. Fueled by the wonderful personality of owner Rene' Guerrero, Madhatters is truly an experience worth enjoying. Just remember back to your child days. Madhatters will let you reclaim some of that feeling.

In recent years, foods with black or dark colors have been recognized as a health food with medicinal effects. Japanese scientists discovered that black-colored food is rich, not only in antioxidants that prevent cancer, heart diseases and menopause, but are also loaded with isoflavins, minerals and anthocyanins. Scientists from the University of Georgia have proven that these foods are indeed very beneficial for the kidneys. Let us examine some black-colored foods and learn about their unique their benefits.

Black Rice

Emperors of China began eating black rice nearly 3000 years ago, although this was a food that was at that time forbidden from the ordinary people. Vitamin B, Niacin, Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron and Zinc are found in much higher levels in this rice compared with white rice. Moreover, this is a specially enriched in anthocyanins and a highly nutritional food, although it is not readily available. Some types of black rice turn into purple color when cooked.

Silkie Chicken

Surprisingly, the feathers of the Silkie chicken are white in color even though its skin color, meat and bones are black. The meat of this chicken is very tasty and rich in iron and it is useful when used in the preparation of foods for the improvement of the blood.

Mushrooms

Black mushrooms like Shiitake and Black Trumpet have a high nutritional value. It is known that Shiitake mushrooms have anti-tumor and anti-viral properties and can treat arthritis as well as severe allergies.

Blackberry

The antioxidants are very rich in these in blackberries when compared to other fruits. The polyphenol antioxidants in these fruits can help regulate the metabolic processes.

Black Soy

Black soy beans are very rich in proteins, fiber and anthocyanins. In some cultures, a tea is made with these soy beans that strengthens the bones. Studies show that black soy beans reduce the LDL cholesterol.

Vinegar

Black vinegar is a combination of rice, wheat and sorghum. Japanese use a brown colored rice for the preparation of this vinegar. The acetic acid in this vinegar reduces hypertension, LDL cholesterol and improves blood circulation.

Black Tea

Black tea is a tea made with oxidized leaves. The leaves are fermented and dried due to which they turn black. This tea has shown to be beneficial in the prevention of cancer.

Black Sesame Seeds

The Chinese traditionally begin their day by consuming this drink made from ground black sesame seeds mixed with hot water. This drink is rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, proteins and fatty acids.

In Ely, Cambridgeshire, George Peacock and Rachel Lemkov have opened a tea shop that offers this special soothing and timeless experience in their newly furbished restaurant by the river within easy walking distance of Ely railway station.

George's skills acquired as a lawyer soothe the customers with enthusiastic words of welcome and his experienced hands have permeated the spacious restaurant with critical touches that stem from his real understanding of the need for fine detail. Rachel's culinary skills fill the menu with homemade scones and cakes that are packed with flavor no stinted ingredients here. Her knowledge of antiques ensures an environment graced with the usually elusive qualities of the best of Victorian gentility ranging from the lace table cloths and the finest bone china to decorous black and white portraits of people in dated costumes taking tea.

Catering for local people and visitors world-wide, their menu offers all that you need for a light lunch and morning and afternoon tea. Drinks include traditional, flavored, and herbal teas as well as Oolongs (semi-fermented teas known for their healthy qualities). There is also a range of decaffeinated and filter coffees, soft drinks and milkshakes available. A variety of salads and sandwiches are served and range from smoked salmon to brie and cranberry sauce.

The details in the menu listings provide a mine of information for the specialists in beverages and foods and for those who are interested in gardening, the property boasts a special moss garden to view.

The highland is surrounded by lush rainforest said to be among the oldest in the world. Due to the thin air of the Highlands, one may find it slightly difficult to breathe. It is said that Cameron Highlands has 150 species of wild orchids and 1,500 species of ferns along the meandering road to the resort at higher latitudes. If you are lucky, you might even spot a mountain goat. The nature enthusiasts are recommended for a Hill Forest Nature Walk in search of pitcher plants and other flora. It is a 2.6 meter forest walk and it takes less than two-hours to complete. The enthusiasts will marvel at this unspoilt natural beauty along the journey, especially the wild blooms like lipsticks and orchids.

Terraced flower gardens, strawberry farms, orchards and vegetable gardens are the main features of Cameron Highlands. The flower gardens are grown with beautiful and fragrant flowers which come in many colors. One can buy the rose plants at a 20% discount and roses at 10% discount. You may bring home some rare roses plants for your lover or parents. In the strawberry farms, one can see lots of planted red strawberries. Ripe strawberries are sold in boxes according to sizes. You can also buy a bottle of homemade and tasty strawberry jam. Fresh fruits and leafy vegetables which can be eaten raw are grown in the vegetable gardens. There are also many fresh and big tomatoes grown here. The tea bushes are grown mostly on the hillsides. The tea leaves will pick and toss by the women carrying baskets behind their backs every seven or eight days. The leaves are then taken to the Sungai Palas tea factory for further processing. A picturesque tea plantation to Gunung Brinchang is an aerial view photography stop. Visitors may also amazed by the varieties of tea served at the "Umphh Tea Shop".

It is really an exciting cool highland to visit in Malaysia!

At the top of the stairs we pushed through the door and found ourselves in a place called Tea Chai Te, a really neat little tea bar that offers over eighty varieties of tea from all over the world. On the wall before us was the tea menu and below that on a table was a wooden rack with alcoves containing small urns that were each filled with a different sample of tea and labeled with its name.

We spent a good amount of time at the rack, slowly going from urn to urn, smelling each sample and reading from a little booklet which divided the teas by type(Green, Black, Oolong, etc.) and gave very thorough descriptions of the countries of origin, the flavors and the properties of each variety. We made our selection, placed the order and found a place to sit and wait.

The interior of Tea Chai Te is set up in such a way as to promote relaxation and conversation with music from a diverse assortment of artists drifting down from speakers in the ceiling, posters and artwork hung here and there on the walls, chairs and couches arranged in a haphazard fashion and low tables strewn with various books and magazines.

We picked up our order and sat back down to chill out and enjoy the wonderful beverages and atmosphere. The place also sells tea-making accessories and after we finished our drinks we bought a small, ceramic teapot and an infuser that would fit inside it. We also purchased some gifts for family and friends back home.

Back outside we returned to our rental car to go in search of a Portland landmark, the famous Powell's City of Books. After wending our way through the streets and actually driving past the place a few times trying to find a way to turn and go back to it we finally swung back around to pull into the store's parking garage. Yes, Powell's City of Books has its own parking garage and the store itself spans an entire city block and occupies nearly all the real estate at all four corners.

We deposited our keys with the attendant and went inside to discover that the place was even larger inside than can be gleaned from a view from the street. Powell's boasts that it has any and every book one might be looking for. The store is supported by literally dozens of warehouses located all across Portland, some open to the public, some not. If it should come to pass that a particular item is not available in-house, then a call will placed to one of these warehouses and the sought item will be sent over.

We spent a long while among the shelves, going from floor to floor and back again until we ended in the in-store café, sipping more tea and perusing our finds; another pleasing and relaxing experience.

It was early evening when we decided to drive back over to the area where we'd come across Tea Chai Te. As before, we left the car and just strolled around. After a short while we heard music drifting over to us and followed the sound. It led us to a small park in the middle of a neighborhood where a band was performing retro rock, blues and funk.

The show had drawn quite a crowd and we decided to join them, sitting right down on the grass to listen. We never out the name of the band but they were very good. The sun was dipping below the horizon and we went in search of a place to have dinner.

Again, our wandering brought us to somewhere interesting, a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Van in the downtown area. Though they were very busy we were able to get right in. The atmosphere and the food were both excellent. It was dark by the time we came out and headed back up toward the quiet neighborhood where we'd left the rental car.

This is just a random sampling of one day out of the week we spent in Portland. But every day there was the same, serendipitous. We'd both wanted to see the Pacific Northwest since we were in our teens and when we finally made it out there it was everything we'd hoped it would be and more.

Dolls on the Mount is described in the Melbourne ‘Cheap Eats’ Guide 2003 as ‘something kooky’. The woman dressed in the long skirt and equally long, full crisp white apron frowned and asked, “Do we look kooky to you?” Looking around the tiny tearooms, there is a table with eight grey-haired grannies sipping tea and our trio of middle aged females waiting at a circular table, covered with a good imitation lace plastic tablecloth.

“No! No, you don’t.” I stammer.

Certainly Dolls on the Mount is a unique experience for an afternoon tea in Melbourne, but ‘quaint’ may be a better description. The waitress turns out to be Vivienne Dodd a maker of dolls and creator of some of the best baking to be tasted in Melbourne.

Take a train to Heidelberg and stroll up toward the residential end of Mount Street. Half way up the street there is an old Edwardian villa with a sign stating that this is a doll’s museum. Lace covers the dark windows and a second reading of the sign, explains that afternoon tea is available.

The woman in the long apron answers a knock on the door. As the door opens, it reveals a house frozen in a bygone era. The parlour is set up for afternoon tea guests and as ‘newbies’ to the house, you are ushered into a side room. This is where the museum is housed. One room, with a large dining table in the middle is crammed with dolls from yesteryear. Plenty of porcelain ladies and here a number of retired Noddys and Alice-in-wonderland figurines have found refuge from the modern world.

Saturdays are often noisy affairs with a dozen young children who have come to dress in the costumes crammed into boxes in this room. The birthday girl is dressed as the Queen and seated on her ‘throne’ she entertains her guests dressed in an assortment of characters from sailors to old fashioned ladies.

The house has been home to Vivienne and her mother and has operated as a tea rooms and doll museum for five years. The front rooms were redeveloped to include the dining area. Many locals have learned the art of doll making here and can bring dolls for appraisal or to be mended. There is no need to advertise as people who come invariably return with friends. Today it can be important to book in advance, especially for weekends.

A few minutes browsing in the museum and ruing of days when dolls were closer to true human body proportions and sighs of relief that this house hasn’t quite caught up to Barbie and we are back in the parlour.

The menu includes a high tea, or traditional pastries or sandwiches. You can choose the ‘fat rascal fruit scones and Devonshire tea for $8.50. We go for the Devonshire tea. It takes a few minutes and we are correct in our suspicions as we bite into the scones that this small delay is because they have been freshly baked just for us. They are set at the table with an accompanying mountain of whipped cream and fruity jam.

The tea arrives and each of us has ordered a pot. Each pot has an individual tea cosy adorned with a porcelain doll torso and head. My two companions get delicate slim ladies that uncannily resemble my companions. My teapot arrives and the doll is a chubby blonde dowager with rosy cheeks. The table of eight turns and evaluates and laughs.

Dolls on the Mount, a must for girls. A brave man may enter.