Drinking tea is meditative, relaxing, healing and deeply cultural. From Japanese tea ceremonies to dainty English afternoon teas, a cup of tea is so much more than just a cup of tea.
Tea meditation
This beautiful piece is written Thich Nhat Hahn, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk and prolific writer on mindfulness. I have put a copy of it on my tea cupboard as a reminder to appreciate and pay attention every time I have a cup of tea:
You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.
Only in the awareness of the present, can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup.
Only in the present, can you savor the aroma, taste the sweetness, appreciate the delicacy.
If you are ruminating about the past, or worrying about the future, you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of tea.
You will look down at the cup, and the tea will be gone.
Life is like that.
If you are not fully present, you will look around and it will be gone.
You will have missed the feel, the aroma, the delicacy and beauty of life.
It will seem to be speeding past you. The past is finished.
Learn from it and let it go.
The future is not even here yet. Plan for it, but do not waste your time worrying about it.
Worrying is worthless.
When you stop ruminating about what has already happened, when you stop worrying about what might never happen, then you will be in the present moment.
Then you will begin to experience joy in life.”
-Thich Nhat Hahn
Thea Proctor's Tea Party - Margaret Preston. Art Gallery NSW
Preparing tea
Make your perfect cup by placing fresh leaves, flowers or fruit directly to a tea pot, adding hot water and allowing to steep for a few minutes. Use a tea strainer, to pour the tea into a cup, adding sweetener, milk, a slice of lemon or extra spice if desired. Alternatively you can make the directly in the cup by using a tea infuser or simply straight in the cup as is.
There is nothing better than making a cup of tea from the garden however there are a few pointers that will enhance the quality and help you to enjoy the tea with artfulness and mindfulness.
Always thoroughly wash the leaves, flowers or fruit to remove any air pollution, bird droppings or dust
Warm the tea pot and/or tea cup with a little hot water before preparing
Use a tea cosy to keep the tea warm for top ups
For a visual reminder to enjoy the tea mindfully use a cup that is beautiful or add a flower or slice of lemon to bring your focus back to the experience
Grow your own tea
Teas can be made from leaves, roots, flowers, fruits, stem or seeds. Whether they are iced or hot, relaxing, refreshing or medical they provide a wonderful way to enjoy the garden.
Read more about growing and blending your own tea here