18.4.13

Mesostic tea






































after Lu Tong

the first cup of tea
breaks the silence

the second cup of tea
wets my thirst for it

the third cup of tea
gets me in

the fourth cup of tea
gives a wee buzz

the fifth cup of tea
sees me right

the sixth cup of tea
tea’s me up

aye, the seventh cup
that’s the one
that’s the real tea






tea-prints with mesostic name poems, from an ongoing
series, begun in 2004.

Each print features a tea spill, and the imprint of a cup –
a tea-moon – from which the tea was drunk.

Some of the teas come from Imperial Teas (Lincoln)
and East Teas (London).

On the road north one tea was drunk and one tea print
made for each of the 53 stations. The teas are listed
below, along with the whiskeys we drank.

A selection of tea-prints were exhibited at HICA
Loch Ruthven, You'll have had your tea? (2009).

Some tea-prints are available from Ingleby Gallery.





the road north, teas and whiskies

1. Edo (Edinburgh): Gabalong Black & Nikka White
2. Ueno (Falkland): Tie Guan Yin (Monkey on the Mountain) & Auchentoshan
3. Soka (Kinloch-Rannoch): Heather tea & The Blend of Nikka
4. Muro-no-Yashima (Isle of Boreray): Wuyi Red Robe Oolong &  ***
5. Mt. Nikko (Slioch): Curly winged Silver Dragon & Nikka Pure Malt Red
6. Toshogu (Achnabreck): Buddha's Hand Foshou Hon Cha & Isle of Arran
7. Mt. Kurokami (Killin & Acharn): Tea of Life & Tomatin
8. Kurobane (Loch Insh): Goomtee White Ball Darjeeling & Dalwhinnie
9. Nasu (Monreith): Moroccan Mint & Bladnoch
10. Unganji (Carbeth): Summer Green Tea & ***
11. Sesshoseki (Tingwall): Yunnan Imperial & Nikka from the Barrel
12. Ashino (Aberfeldy): Emperor Jiaqing (Old Tree Phoenix Oolong) & Ledaig (1993)
13. Shirakawa no Seki (Sma' Glen): Oriental Beauty - Bai Hao & Glenturret (10 years old)
14. Kagenuma (St Fillans Hill): Jasmine Hei Cha & Glenturret (8 years old)
15. Sukagawa (Dalchonzie & Dunira ): Yonnan & Tullibardine (1993)
16. Kurozuka (Ossian's Cave) Liquorice pink           & Aberfeldy
17. Shinobu (Kilmartin): Yun Ti Kuan Yin Ta & Islay Mist
18. Mt. Maruyama (Dun Carloway): Himifuuki Japanese black tea & Aberlour (10 years old)
19. Iizuka (Munlochy): Osmanthus Black & Glenmorangie
20. Abumizuri (Glenelg): Hei Cha Hunan Dark Tea & An Cnoc
21. Takekuma (Dunkeld & Birnam): Liquorice pink & Edradour (Dougie Maclean)
22. Miyagi (Crarae): Master Wang's 'Old Peach Nut' – Guan Dong & Glen Scotia
23. Tsubo no Ishibumi (Glen Lyon): Silver Tips & Deanston
24. Sue-no-Matsuyama (Sand Chapel, Gruinard Bay): Black Spiral & Penderyn
25. Shiogama Myojin (Dunsinane): Grasshopper Oolong & Super Nikka
26. Ojima (Isle of Luing): Buddha Mt Dao Ren & Yamazaki
27. Ungozenji (Sandaig): Huiming Temple Gold & Speyburn
28. Zuiganji (Jupiter Artland): Keemun Black Tiger & Glenkinchie
29. Hiraizumi (Isle of Hoy): Puerh (Yunnan Chitsu Pingcha) & Highland Park
30. Izumi (Dunstaffnage & Beregonium): Black Mao Hou Monkey Fur & Ledaig (1990)
31. Shitomae (Ben Dorain): Iron Buddha Oolong & Nikka All Malt
32. Dewa (Huntly): Peaceful Monkey King & Glenfiddich
33. Obanazawa (St Weems): Rose Flavoured hei Cha dark tea & Aberlour
34. Ryushakuji (Outlandia): Rou Gui Oolong & Dew of Ben Nevis
35. Shiraito (Falls of Bruar): Black Ruby & Edradour (1997)
36. Mt. Haguroyama (Schiehallion): Little Dragon Long Jing & Tullibardine (1992)
37. Mt. Gassan (Loch Etive) Yunnan Imperial & Springbank
38. Tsuru-ga-oka (Glen Fruin): Liu An Guapian & Nikka Pure Black Malt
39. Noin (Isle of Raasay) Ali Shan Taiwan Oolong (10yr) & Poit Dubh
40. Nezu (Isle of Bernerary): Assam Night Jasmine & Mac Na Mara
41. Komagaeeshi (Rhenigidale): Jasmine Chung Hao & Tobermory
42. Kurobe (Inverianvie): Jun Shan Golden Needle & Old Pulteney
43. Mt. Unohana (Loch Ruthven): Hong Shui Red Oolong & Laphroig
44. Komatsu (Dunadd): Japanese Cherry Tea & Caol Ila
45. Mt. Shirane (The Quirang): King of Ginseng & Talisker
46. Yamanka (Loch Maree): Phoenix Honey Orchid B & Ardbeg
47. Zenshoji (Stonypath & Brownsbank): Iron Warrior Monk Tie Luo Han & Glen Dronach
48. Shiogoshi (Loch Eilt): Gyokuro Organic & Cú Dhub
49. Eiheiji (Langais): Rou Gui & Té Bheag
50. Fukui (Kilmiddlefern): Wintertime Tea of Life & Oban
51. Tsuruga (Tarskavaig): Keemun Black Tiger & Bruichladdich
52. Iro (Loch Ailort): Summertime Tea of Life & Isle of Jura
53. Ogaki (the hidden gardens): various & Gean brandy
54. Epilogue: Keemun Hao Ya & Nikka White

AF & KC


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