A Visit With Park Jeom Ja: Artisan Tea Producer and Tea Master

Have you seen Tea Tour Korea 2015?

Over the years of traveling through Korea by ourselves or with tours, we have met and become friends with many artisan tea producers and artists.  Sometimes they truly surprise us by planning adventures for us that we could not have planned on our own.  It is these types of experiences that make our tours personal and unique.  
Tea Tour Korea 2014 was no exception and it brought a number of interesting and often surprising events planned within the tour by friends.  Park Jeom Ja, an artisan tea producer and tea master living in Gangjin is one of those friends and each time we visit her we are in for a surprise.

In 2011 she met us at an all female temple where we shares tea served by the Abbot.

In 2013 she invited us to a serene setting and carefully explained her green tea, hwangcha and ttokcha. 

This year I simply asked her to allow us to us taste her teas.  This is what happened.

 Park Jeom Ja

We had a very long day with ceramic workshops and were delayed in arriving to meet Park Jeom Ja thinking of course we were meeting only her.  But no; we had no idea that she had invited the entire Chollanamdo Myung Won Cultural Foundation from as far away as Gwangju to the East and Mokpo to the West spanning the entire Provence to meet us.  

Who knew that she was the current president of this group famous for promoting the Korean tea ceremony? 
We met in the mist of the O’Sulloc Tea fields near beautiful Mount Wolchulsan in Gangjin.  The bushes are covered, preparing the next pick for powdered tea.  This powdered tea will not be used for matcha but rather for cosmetics and other green tea products produced by O’Sulloc’s parent company AmorePacific. 

 The Chollanamdo Mung Won Cultural Foundation Greets Us

Next, we drove to the countryside near Gangjin, where we attended briefly a small local and quiet tea event with a chef who spoke excellent English and had worked as a chef in France as well as other countries.  

They hosts explained that they had planned a much larger event but plans were altered after the ferry tragedy that took place very near to where we were.  (As a quick and ironic side note of that tragedy, the captain of that ferry was found hiding on a Boseong tea plantation trying to avoid prosecution - but not a plantation that we visited.) 
 

On leaving the tea event, we passed a very interesting outhouse.
 

Then we walked 100 yards or so to a courtyard where a group was making ttokcha by hand.  It was a true community affair and quite an experience.

Mary and I and our guide MiNa had made ttokcha ourselves on a previous tea tour so it was great to see it being made by the community in this way. 
 

Finally, we were invited to a local gallery that was exhibiting some pretty significant Chollanamdo teaware.  

Two of our guests bought full sets.  The quality was so high I found myself wondering if a 9 day Chollanamdo only tea experience could gather enough quests.  Certainly it would be an exciting adventure and there are plenty of exceptional tea, famous tea temples with wild tea, tea history, tea artisans and teaware artists to make such a tour a memorable one - even without visiting O’Sulloc.

 
One of the highlights of the exhibit was the serving of tea by a couple of . . . salt enthusiasts.  Those who were on the tour will understand this statement and might embellish that thought in the comments below.  All in all these combined experiences, provided by the artisan tea producer and tea master Park Jeom Ja, were indeed memorable and I can’t thank her enough.  Unfortunately, she provided so many other memorable tea experiences that the one experience I had hoped for - having the group taste her tea - never happened.
Will we taste her delicious teas on Tea Tour 2015? 
It is not too late to join us.  Contact us now.

Tea Tour Korea 2015

 Click Image to Enlarge

 Sadly this tour was cancelled due to lack of participants.  Although our tours are exceptional and truly unique they are not advertised broadly - essentially only on our posts and by word of mouth. Please contact me to be on the list for Tea Tour Korea to take place in May 2016.  

The above image illustrates both wild and semi-wild tea growing side by side on the mountain slopes of Jerisan the 'holy mountain' of Korean tea.  These tea bushes are descendants of tea seeds from China planted in 828 CE.  But were these the first teas to be planted in Korea?

This year's tea tour is a very exciting one.  In addition to being a fascinating adventure into Korean tea and tea ware, its history and practice, Tea Tour Korean 2015 may finally solve a Korean tea mystery.      

Korean tea is both humble and captivating.  Korea is home of some of the best green teas in the world and wonderful balhyochas that are receiving rave reviews. At the same time Korean tea ware artists are extraordinary.  They create tea ware that truly serve. 

Our tour record is strong, we have hosted a number of very knowledgeable tea connoisseurs from several countries on previous tours - some more than once.  That our tours exist at all is a testament to the quality of our tours.  Nearly all participants learn of our tours from those who have been with us on previous tours.      

Because of truly unprecedented changes in their schedules, Tea Tour Korea 2015 will visit not one (1) but three (3) amazing festivals. What are the three festivals?  We will visit the International Mungyeong Teabowl Festival, experience the exciting and greatly anticipated Hadong Tea Festival in the heart of Jerisan the ‘holy mountain’ for Korean tea and attend Korea’s internationally renowned World Ceramic Exposition GOCEF.  As on all our tea tours participants will enjoy personal meetings with some of the best artisan tea producers and tea ware artists in Korea.  This year in particular will be a truly exciting adventure.  

Will you be one of the 6-9 participants?  If so, you will be visiting with some of the most important artisan tea producers in four (Jejudo would make it five) of Korea's most important tea producing regions. 
In past tea tours, because of unusual weather conditions, we arrived in Korea a little too early, unfortunately interrupting their most important early picking and processing.  This year we will arrive a little later in the ‘pick’ which means more of their first picks will be available and you will have early choice of a broader range of their finest teas.  The balhyochas should also be available.  Their delicious and unusual ttokchas may still be in production.  They will still be picking and processing their teas, and you will pick and process your own.  Will it be at a famous tea temple or with a highly respected artisan tea producer?
The beautiful Korean tea ceremony will be presented to you by one of Korea's most renown tea masters.  You will discuss Korea's tea history with Brother Anthony co-author of both The Korean Way of Tea and Korean Tea Classics - perhaps the two most important books on Korean tea. (Bring your copies and have them signed).  In addition, David Mason another authority on Korean tea and many other aspects of Korean culture may join us.  He was one of the first to introduce Korean tea to the Western world and knows Korean Buddhism like few others.

 Yi Ho Yeong, Artisan Tea Producer

Among the tea ware artists we will visit are 3 Human Intangible Cultural Treasures and some of the more interesting and important tea ware masters in Korea.  The tea artisans include Yi Ho Yeong who is featured in the book The Korean Way of Tea by Brother Anthony and Hong Kyeong Hee.  You will also visit ‘Halmone Hwangcha’ or ‘Grandmother Hwangcha’, Jeong Jae Yeun, who epitomizes the Korean Tea Grandmothers who for generations have made wonderful teas.  Jeong Jae Yeun's delicious balhyocha was discovered by monks who told one of our friends . . . and a tea legend began.

Park Jong Il, Teaware Artist

Among the teaware artists we will visit is Chan Han Bong, one of the 'grandfathers' of Korean teaware.  He recently opened a museum on Korean teaware.  We will visit the studio of Park Jong Il the very spiritual teaware artist who built his home and studio of raw clay and trees he cut in the mountains - thus continuing this ancient potter's tradition.  
This tea tour will also visit Gimhae, and attempt to uncover a unique Korean tea mystery.  Gimhae is famous in Korea for their Janguncha.  Last year the question was, "Is Janguncha a real tea or one of Korea's many 'flower' teas?  Ans: It is definitely a camellia sinensis tea. This year the tea mystery is, "Is Janguncha really made from Assamica tea leaves growing in Korea?" There are those Korean authorities who deny this claim.  Think of the ramifications if it is Assamica tea!  If so, are these tea leaves from bushes originating in India?  If so, did the first of these bushes come over in 48CE with an Indian princess who married the first Gaya King?  Think of the ramifications of that!  Did camellia sinensis tea arrive in Korea hundreds of years before tea arrived in Japan?
This is truly a unique Korean tea tour. Consider this:  Tea Tour Korea 2015 will visit not one but three amazing festivals, have personal meetings with some of best artisan tea producers and teaware artists in Korea, experience the Korean tea ceremony hosted by one of Korea’s masters, you will pick and produce your own tea plus possibly solve a Korean tea mystery.  It will be an exciting adventure.  Will you be one of the 6-9 participants?  If so, you will be visiting with some of the most important artisan tea producers in four (perhaps 5) of Korea's most important tea producing regions and will also be visiting with some of the most interesting and important teaware artists and tea masters in Korea.

 The Korean Tea Ceremony

  
It is always difficult to know exactly when to hold our tea tour.  One year large numbers of tea bushes had been damages due to the harsh winter.  Another year the weather was very mild and they picked early.  We have also hosted Tea Tour Korea a little too early, unfortunately interrupting their most important early picking and processing.  This year, as stated earlier, our timing should be perfect. Although the first picks will be complete, you will witness the picking and processing of their teas, as well as pick and process your own tea.

Brother Anthony - An Sonjae

The beautiful Korean tea ceremony will be presented to you by one of Korea's most renown tea masters.  You will discuss Korea's tea history with Brother Anthony co-author of both The Korean Way of Tea and Korean Tea Classics - perhaps the two most important books on Korean tea. (Bring your copies and have them signed).  Among the teaware artists we will visit are 3 Human Intangible Cultural Treasures and some of the more interesting and important teaware masters in Korea.  The tea artisans include Yi Ho Yeong who is featured in the book The Korean Way of Tea by Brother Anthony and Hong Kyeong Hee.  You will also visit ‘Halmone Hwangcha’ or ‘Grandmother Hwangcha’ Jeong Jae Yeun, who epitomizes all the Korean Tea Grandmothers who for generations have made wonderful teas.  Jeong Jae Yeun was discovered by monks who told one of our friends . . . and a tea legend began.
After visiting Gangjin/Haenam where we will be immersed in both their tea history and tea we travel to Boseong considered the most beautiful area for Korean teas then to Jerisan the holy mountain for Korean teas and will visit Gimhae, to attempt to solve a Korean tea mystery.  Gimhae is famous in Korea for their Janguncha.  The mystery to us in the West? Is Janguncha Assamica tea?  If so did it originate in India?  If so did it really come over in 48CE with an Indian princess who married the first Gaya King?
This is truly a unique Korean tea tour and possibly the last tea tour we will host.
The price is based on very low or no profit and will depend on the actual number of participants.  Normally we take 4-8 participants.  The itinerary is available for serious inquiries.  
Included in the price of our tours are our own bus with a knowledgeable English speaking guide/translator, good to outstanding accommodations, most meals and all entry fees.  Air to Korea is not included as guests arrive from several continents.  The content of our tours is unique.  We have established a personal relationships with artists and artisan tea producers throughout Korea.  Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Please contact us to be placed on our list to receive information.

We will not be hosting any tour in 2016 but will continue to plan various types of tours to Korea.  This may be your last opportunity to travel with us but we will continue our work.  Watch for the revision of our Morning Earth Korea website coming very soon.  Please consider liking us on Facebook?

Respectfully,
Arthur K. J. Park
Morning Crane Tea
See Below

 Some of the famous cultivated tea bushes found in Boseong.

Tentative Dates Tea Tour Korea 2015
May 2015 

0. 5. T Arrive In Korea

 This is now a 14 day tour
It is open for 6-9 possibly 10 guests.  
Guests will have input into some of the events. 

14. 19. F  Leave for Home

These are still tentative dates.  A more complete schedule and price will be provided those interested.  Contact us.

I no longer post full itineraries as on two occasions others have used my itinerary and tried to duplicate my tours.