Archive for January, 2009

What is the Difference Between Oolong Tea and Wulong Tea?

Oolong (in Chinese, Wulong) is a time-honored Chinese tea (derived from the Camellia sinensis plant) someplace betwixt green and black within oxidization. It varies from ten percent to seventy percent oxidization.

Wulong tea history is rich with cultural resonance and a unique collection of stories shrouded in the mists of the Wuyi Mountains.

Within Chinese tea leaf culture, semi-oxidized oolong teas are together classified as “blue-green tea.” Wulong teas feature a sense of taste more akin with green tea than with black tea: it lacks the rosy, fresh fragrance of black tea yet it also doesn’t exhibit the stridently grasslike vegetable aroma which typify green tea.

These teas are generally brewed to become potent, with the bitterness providing a sweet aftertaste. Many sub-varieties of wulong, including those developed in the Wuyi Mountains of northerly Fujian and in the primary mountains of Taiwan, are amongst the most celebrated of Chinese teas.

Wulong tea leaves are cured in 2 different manners. A few teas are rolled into extended curly leaves, whilst some are pressed into a ball-like configuration similar to gunpowder tea. The former technique of treating is the older of the 2 methods.

The name oolong tea descends into the English language from the Chinese name wulong (in the Min Nan verbalized form). The Chinese name means “black dragon tea.” There are 3 broadly recognized accounts about how this Chinese name occurred.

Camellia sinensis connoisseurs classify the tea by its fragrance (frequently flowered or fruity), taste as well as aftertaste (often melon-like).

Oolongs come in either roasted or light. While many wulongs may be consumed at once, like pu-erh tea, many oolong teas might improve with long aging with regular light roasting on a low charcoal fire.

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The Basics of Health Insurance

Long Term Health Care Insurance is essential in this modern world of cancer, heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, asthma, ageing and other diseases and afflictions; it is essential to have some sort of health insurance.

There are many levels of health insurance coverage available; unfortunately, like most things in life, you get what you pay for, and good coverage can be very expensive.

The two most common terms in referring to health insurance are premium, which is the amount paid for the insurance, and deductible, which is your out-of-pocket expense before the insurance pays your provider.

For instance, you might pay $300 premium per month for family coverage, and your deductible might be $250 per person, which means if you fell and broke your ankle and went to the hospital emergency room, you would be required to pay the first $250 of the bill.

You can purchase very basic catastrophic coverage, which would carry a very high deductible and the premium would be less than comprehensive coverage which would have a higher premium and lower deductible.

It pays to invest the time to investigate various insurance options, taking into consideration your age, your general health and the health of your family members.

Your employer may offer group health insurance, which is most likely the least expensive option for you, and usually the premium is deducted from your paycheck.

Health insurance is a calculated risk; can you afford the premiums or are you willing to risk that you would pay less out of pocket for medical expenses in a year than the premiums would cost? Consider carefully.

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Condo investment in Bangkok

One of the largest markets among foreigners is condos in Bangkok. Like the rest of Thailand, this is due to the many restrictions on foreign ownership of land. Buying a Bangkok condo is the quickest and easiest way to find a suitable place to live in the Bangkok area. There really are a huge range of offers in Bangkok but most foreigners find themselves settling for modern condo buildings in the Sukhumvit and Sathorn areas, which are suited to the expatriate lifestyle of occupants and are centrally located. Most of the latest Bangkok condos cater to middle and upper class income individuals, and are a great investment for the discriminating buyer. A key factor in buying a condo in Bangkok is the proximity to the transport system. To avoid the terrible traffic and the Skytrain with its limited routes, the introduction of a metro system in 2004 opened up more transportation possibilities.

Another great reason to purchase Bangkok condos is as a cashflow investment. The average yield is between 5-8% yearly and would definitely be considered a good return. Keep in mind that real estate appreciates in value over time. Aside from the fact that investing in Bangkok condos is legal for foreigners, this rental return is one of the main benefits that this type of real estate investment has to offer you.

There is no doubt that real estate has the potential to provide you with a very large profit, as long as you know what you are doing. If you have plans on investing in Bangkok condos, this is the right time to do so. Real Estate in Bangkok is booming and growing today, and there are so many Bangkok condos on the market that it creates an ideal situation for the buyer to find some great deals.

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