CM’s China visit draws 1,024 tea enthusiasts
Published on: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
By: Jonathan Nicholas
Chan (left) and Ho at the 44th Hangjia International Tea ceremony.
Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s visit to Shenzen in November last year led to some 1,024 tea enthusiasts, mainly from China, to hold a large tea ceremony here.
Facilitator for the 44th Hangjia International tea ceremony at Magellan Sutera on Sunday, Datuk Jackson Lee, said guests came from Macau, Hong Kong and even Ukraine.
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“It was the Chief Minister’s initiatives that triggered the Chinese tea enthusiasts’ interest towards Sabah.
“Before this, Hangjia International had their event in Turkey. This is their third time in Malaysia after Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
“The group came on Saturday and is leaving on Thursday. They are going to explore Mt Kinabalu, Mantanani and Gaya islands.
“The group is blending holidays with the passion for tea,” he said.
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Lee also suggested that the trip might open up commercialisation opportunities, especially if the group could blend tea from Sabah with those from China.
Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Foong Hin, who attended the ceremony, said the economic impact would be felt as tourists on average spend or bring with them at least RM3,000.
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“They initially wanted to do it in Bali but with some sweet talks, they decided to have it here,” said the Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, adding tea is not a commodity under his Ministry but under the Agriculture Department.
At the ceremony, guests were seated sideways on long tables to face its President Ho Tsai Ping who spoke in between sips.
On stage, tea was poured for each row as servers then filled a thin cup.
“Pour it into the big cup and then smell the thin cup, and then taste,” a participant advised the media.
At the end of the first act, Chan said just of the Pu’er tea cakes cost about RM6,000.
“Prices would go up along with the tea complexion. The next one pour is going to be fermented tea,” he said.
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